Shaped like cartoon characters or baby animals, gummy multivitamins are one way to make sure your child gets vitamins and minerals. They taste good and fill the nutritional gaps in the diet. They sound like a win!
And they are, as long as they’re taken correctly.
As you can imagine, this is one supplement that a young child looks forward to in the morning. Often, kids pick the color, flavor, or shape for the day. Still, children can be indecisive. Even though your little one may have wanted the cherry-flavored red star when given the opportunity, they may decide later that they really want the grape-flavored purple moon.
When your back is turned, your child may go to the cabinet to look for the purple moon.
Gummy vitamins are a substance that many parents and caregivers aren’t too worried about — and with good reason. Most gummy vitamins are not a cause for concern, even if your child has an extra vitamin or two.
Treating a Bee Sting on a Child
If your child gets stung, follow the first four steps below to treat the stings. Depending on the severity of the sting, the last two may or may not be necessary.
Move Inside
Get you and your child away from the bee. Going inside will protect you both from being stung by other bees or wasps in the area.
Remain Calm & Comfort Your Child
Do your best to stay calm. If you’re panicking, your child is more likely to panic as well. Panicking can make their symptoms worse and make it harder to treat the sting.
Use kind, soothing words and offer something to help keep your little one calm, like a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, or toy. If need be, take a few deep breaths yourself.
Remove the Stinger
Remove the stinger right away. Taking the stinger out quickly can stop the venom from getting into the wound and worsening the reaction.
Remove the stinger by scraping it out with a fingernail or a sharp-edged object like tweezers.
Clean the Wound
Clean the wound gently with soap and water. Wash it two to three times a day until it’s healed to prevent infection.
Apply an Icepack
Ice will help reduce swelling and pain. Put a towel between your child’s skin and the icepack to avoid ice burn.
Use Creams or Lotions
Use a topical cream or lotion such as calamine or hydrocortisone. It’ll provide relief from the redness, itching, and swelling. Talk to a medical professional and pharmacist to ensure whatever lotion or cream you’re using is safe and recommended for your child.
Take Over-the-Counter Medications
An antihistamine such as Benadryl can give your child stronger relief from itching and swelling that won’t go away, and an acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) can ease the pain.
Again, if you have any questions about a medication or the best products available to treat your child’s symptoms, talk to a pharmacist or medical professional.
Keep an Eye on the Area
Sometimes swelling and redness can get worse. This may be normal, especially if the sting is on a finger, hand, or face. Follow the above steps and trust your instincts.
Some key things to watch for include:
- Lack of improvement or increased swelling after 24 hours
- Yellow or green fluid coming from the sting
- Your child develops a fever
If you notice any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor. These could be signs of infection, and your pediatrician may want to take a look.
Home Remedies For Bee Stings
There are some natural and home remedies for bee stings that don’t have much scientific backing, but they work for some people and fall into the “can’t hurt to try” category.
- Apply toothpaste or freshly crushed parsley leaves to the wound to neutralize acid in the venom.
- Rub it with a slice of raw onion to draw out toxins and prevent infection.
- Crush a bit of peeled potato and apply it to soothe inflammation.
- Use plain lemon juice or a paste of baking soda and vinegar to reduce itching.
When a Bee Sting is an Emergency Situation
While stings can hurt and cause your little one to feel a bit shaken up, they normally don’t require emergency care. However, in some cases, bee stings can turn into an emergency or require additional medical care.
When situations arise, trust your instincts, especially if your child can’t verbalize how they’re feeling or what happened. It’s always better to err on the side of caution.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is a severe allergic reaction that happens to people who are allergic to something (like bee venom) when they get exposed to it.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis in babies and children include:
- Swelling of the tongue or throat
- Skin reactions (hives, severe swelling)
- Trouble breathing and wheezing
- Vomiting
- Dizziness or loss of consciousness
If your child shows any symptoms of anaphylactic shock, call 911 immediately. Things can get very bad in as little as 15 minutes.
If you know your child is allergic to insect stings, carry epinephrine injector pens (EpiPen®) to prevent their reaction from getting worse. Use it right away, even before there are symptoms of shock.
Stings in a Sensitive Area
Bee stings in sensitive areas — like eyes, throat, mouth, or genitals — can cause more complications than stings on other parts of the body, even if there’s no allergic reaction.
Stings in these areas can be much more painful and impact vision, breathing, and other daily functions, especially for a developing child. In these situations, it’s best to seek medical care as soon as possible to rule out any risk or damage.
Multiple Stings
A single bee sting usually causes a small local reaction. But when a child receives multiple stings, they’re getting more venom at once. That extra venom can overwhelm the body due to their smaller size, even if your little one doesn’t have a known allergy.
Seek medical attention if:
- Your child has severe allergic reaction symptoms (anaphylaxis), especially trouble breathing, dizziness, or swelling around their face, lips, and throat. Call 911 immediately.
- Your child was stung more than 5 times in a short amount of time (like they disturbed a hive or swarm)
Even if your child seems okay at first, delayed reactions can happen. It’s always better to get checked by a medical professional if there are multiple stings.
Tips to Help Prevent Future Stings
While stings can happen, here are some helpful tips to avoid them and protect your little one as best you can.
Avoid Strong Scents & Bright Colors
Colors and scents naturally attract bees. When possible, stick to more neutral colors and avoid heavily scented sprays, lotions, and food when spending time outdoors.
Teach Your Child To Stay Calm Around Bees
A child’s natural instinct when they’re afraid may be to swat at the bees and wasps, which can make things worse. They learn from watching you, so model how to calmly move away from bees and other insects.
Inspect Outdoor Play Areas
Frequently check your yard for hives or nests throughout the warmer months. Pay close attention to playhouses, jungle gyms, doorways, and other areas your children frequently play. If you spot a nest, contact an expert to discuss removal options.
Wear Shoes
Make sure your child covers their feet when outside, especially when playing in the grass. This protects against bees and other potential injuries.
Wear Hats & Sunglasses
Encourage your child to wear a hat and/or sunglasses while spending time outside. While stings can still happen, these can help protect sensitive areas around their face and eyes.
You’re Doing a Great Job
Even stressful situations like bee stings are part of parenting. And how you show up with love, patience, and care makes a world of difference for your child.
The early childhood experts at Penfield Children’s Center are here to support you with the knowledge and confidence you need through all your parenting ups and downs.
