How to Treat Burns in Infants

Co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD

Last Updated: May 4, 2023 References

Nothing is scarier than knowing that your child’s health is at risk. Unfortunately, kids are extremely prone to exploring the world in ways that might cause them harm. Be careful and take reasonable precautions. If something does happen, a few quick steps should protect your child from burns.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Handling an Emergency

1
Remove your child from danger. If your child is on fire, cover him with a blanket or jacket, and help him roll on the ground to extinguish the flame. Remove any smoldering clothing. Stay calm; panic can be contagious.
- If you are dealing with an electric burn, establish that your child is not in contact with the electric source when you touch him.
- In cases of chemical burns, run water over the burn for at least five minutes. If the burns are large, try soaking in a tub, or shower. Do not remove clothes until after the area has been cleaned. ^{[1]
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- If clothes are stuck to burn site, do not try to peel them away; this might cause additional damage. Cut the cloth to remove the article of clothing, leaving the piece that is stuck to the wound.^{[2]
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2
Call emergency services if necessary. You should call emergency services if the burn is larger than three inches (77 mm) or if it is charred and white.^{[3]
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Research source} You should also call a doctor, 911, or go to the nearest emergency room if the burn is from a fire, electrical source, or chemicals. If the burn shows signs of infection, including swelling, pus, or increasing redness, you should call a doctor. Finally, call a doctor if the burn is in a sensitive location, like the face, scalp, hands, joints, or genitals.^{[4]
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- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if your child has any trouble breathing or is very lethargic after suffering a burn.
- Once you have contacted emergency services, you can begin treatment while you wait for medical professionals to arrive.
3
Run cool water over the burn site. Use cool but not cold water. Run it over the burn for approximately 15 minutes to cool it down. Do not use ice or apply any gels except for aloe gel. Do not burst blisters. ^{[5]
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- For large burns, lay the child flat and raise the burned areas above the chest. Rub a cool washcloth over the area for 10 to 20 minutes. Do not put large parts of his body under cold water because it could cause shock.^{[6]
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- Ice will damage the skin. There are also a number of home remedies that are thought to be effective but will actually make the wound worse. These include butter, grease, and powder. Refrain from using these.^{[7]
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After washing the burn and before covering it, you can apply Aloe gel to encourage healing. If you loosen the wrap, you can reapply it several times throughout the course of the day.
5
Cover the burn. Pat the burn site dry. To protect the site from further injury, wrap the burn in gauze. To avoid aggravating the burn, use non-stick gauze and wrap it loosely around the site of the burn.^{[8]
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- If you do not have sterile gauze, a clean sheet or towel might work.^{[9]
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  Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  
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6
Provide pain relief. Give the kid a child or infant strength dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). Follow the instructions on the bottle and consider calling a doctor if the child has never tried the medication before.^{[10]
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Research source} Refrain from giving Ibuprofen to babies under six months.^{[11]
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- It is difficult to tell if a baby is in pain. A good sign though is that his cries are louder, more high pitched, and longer than usual. He might also grimace, wrinkle their brow, or squeeze his eyes shut. He may not be willing to eat or sleep at regularly scheduled times.^{[12]
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  Michigan Medicine
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Facilitating Healing

If your child experienced first degree burns, which are characterized by redness and mild swelling, it will take approximately 3 to 6 days to heal. Blisters and severe pain, signs of a second degree burn, could take as long as three weeks to heal. A third degree burn, which will cause waxy white, leather, brown, or charred skin, will likely require some type of surgical procedure.^{[13]
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Doctors often prescribe custom pressure garments, silicone gel sheets, or custom made inserts. None of these directly heal the skin, but some do reduce itching and protect the area from further damage. Furthermore, they will all prevent your child from scratching the wound when it itches, which could cause scarring.
3
Manage your child's pain. Give him a child or infant strength dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). Follow the instructions on the bottle. If he has never had this medication before, consider contacting a doctor first. ^{[14]
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Research source} Refrain from giving Ibuprofen to babies under six months.^{[15]
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- It is difficult to tell if a baby is in pain. A good sign though is if her cries are louder, more high pitched, and longer than usual. She might also grimace, wrinkle her brow, squeeze her eyes shut. She may not be willing to eat or sleep at regularly scheduled times.
If your infant suffered a second- or third-degree burn, your doctor should provide you with a home care plan that involves dressing changes, special creams or ointments, and possibly other treatments. Follow this plan to the letter, call your doctor with any questions or concerns, and make sure you bring your child in for follow up appointments as recommended.
5
Massage scar tissue with moisturizer. If your child appears to be developing some scar tissue, you can start treating the scarring with massage. Rub a moisturizing lotion into tissue gently, working up and down the scar with a small circular motion.
- Wait until the area is fully healed to begin scar massage. You should do this several times a day for at least a few weeks.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Future Accidents

To prevent your child from coming into contact with an uncontrolled fire, be sure that detectors are spread throughout the house. Put them in hallways, bedrooms, the kitchen, living room, and near the furnace. Test the fire alarms monthly and change batteries at least once per year.^{[16]
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Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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To prevent the occurrence of a fire, you should never smoke indoors. Either smoke outside or, better yet, not at all.^{[17]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Hot water scalding is one of the most common causes of burns among children. Set the water heater below 120°F (49°C) to keep the water temperature safe.^{[18]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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If you have children around, watch the stove carefully when in use. Otherwise, keep children away from the kitchen and watch them carefully to make sure they do not make their way to the stove.^{[19]
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HealthyChildren.org
Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Go to source} Always keep pot handles facing toward the back of the stove so that it will be harder for children to reach them.^{[20]
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5
Hide flammable objects. Matches and lighters should be someplace where they will not be found. Otherwise, they should be inaccessible. Consider putting them somewhere too high for children to reach or in a locked compartment. Lock up flammable liquids, preferably outside of the home, and far from any heat sources.^{[21]
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Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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- Keep any chemicals locked up or out of the reach of children.
Put child-safety covers on electric outlets and throw out appliances with frayed cords. Avoid plugging too many appliances into an extension cord.^{[22]
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Health information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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