To be freaking out about my son’s dust mite allergy

[BastianBaIthazarBux]

My DS2 has rather bad eczema which we’ve learnt today is most likely being caused by a dust mite allergy. I’ve done a bit more research into it and now I’m freaking out because I don’t know how we’re going to get this under control.

First of all a lot of the preventative measures seem to involve spending a shitload of money. Replacing mattresses and bedding with allergy free. Buy covers for bedding (he and DS1 share a room so would have to get 2 of everything). Getting rid of carpets and getting wooden floors. Buy an air purifier. Get rid of the curtains and replace with blinds. A new vacuum with a filter.

And the sheer amount of laundry and cleaning! Change the bedding at least once a week if not more, hoover every day, including under all the furniture, dusting every other day. Wash teddy every week. Put teddies/bedding in the freezer. We have 3dc, one of which is only 7 months old, DH and I both work, we live in a tiny 2 bed flat with no tumble drier. How the fuck am I supposed to find the time for all this washing and cleaning? How the hell do I get it all dried without turning the place into a Chinese laundry 24/7 or spending a king’s ransom at the launderette?

I really wish it had been something like dairy. Dead simple. Just cut out dairy. But I feel so guilty about how much my poor boy suffers with his eczema. I feel completely overwhelmed by this.

And yes as above we have a hoover attachment for soft furnishings, do this every so often, microfibre cloths etc
also - we don’t have a drier either. In winter we take sheets to the (admittedly very nearby) laundrette to tumble every Friday eve when my husband wfh. Rock and roll. It really helps us though, we find it easier as is a routine now and then we don’t have them drying around the house all weekend. But honestly I would TREAT the eczema first, then gradually work on the dust, and definitely get antihistamine prescribed - GP can do this.

But honestly I would TREAT the eczema first, then gradually work on the dust, and definitely get antihistamine prescribed - GP can do this.

Treating and managing the eczema obviously comes first.

I had the same as your DS as a baby plus asthma. My mother drove herself to distraction cleaning, washing bedding, airing out the house etc By the time I was a teenager I’d grown out of everything and barely noticed the allergy. My mother had a carpet relaid in my bedroom when I was about 15 because she got tired of hearing me ‘thumping around like an elephant’ on the wooden floorboards. This too shall pass.

Thank you all. We are trying to treat the eczema but our dermatology appointment keeps getting pushed back, we requested the referral in late January and our appointment isn’t til October

My ds has this. We didn't replace the mattress, just bought an anti-allergy cover that zips over it. I did replace his duvet and pillows, but got fairly inexpensive ones from the supermarket. I bought a spray from the supermarket that claims to kill dust mites and spray that around his room every so often on the carpet, curtains and any soft toys. (it's actually a flea spray, but says on it that it kills dust mites too). You just need to close the door and leave it for a few hours.

With the eczema, pick a routine, stick to it like it’s law and be very, very, ridiculously generous with whatever non steroid creams you’re using. Even if the eczema calms down, keep up the routine. If you want to change the routine - a cream that helps one person might aggravate/do nothing for someone else’s eczema - you need to follow it for 8 weeks+ to give it a chance to work.