Toddler won't stop picking his forehead scratches

[Nikna]

My 18 mth old had a small graze on his forehead, that is not healing as he picks it during the night. He fell over and grazed his head on Friday, so now has a matching graze on other side of his forehead, which I fear will get the same treatment.

I have gone through packets of plasters. Put plasters with medical tape over the top. I'm sure it has become a game to pull all this off as soon as I leave his bedroom.

Someone suggested putting vaseline over the scab to stop it itching. Not sure that has helped though.

MIL suggests mittens - I can't keep mittens on him during the day time - let alone him wear them in bed?!

I've had this. What worked (my DS a bit older mind, but worth a shot) was giving DS a bit of stick lipbalm. He got to put the chapstick on his lips and any other bits of his face -- like little cuts and scratches, if they were bothering him. He carried the chapstick around in his pocket all the time.

I think my DS would eat the chapstick

lol, probably right, too.

What if you gave him a mild antihistamine (that would reduce any itching)... am thinking you could ask a chemist or your GP. Homeopathic remedies, too.

Put gaffer tape over the plasters, that'll stop him pulling them off

DS did this with a mosquito bite on his face - scratched it until it turned into a scab and then picked that. It went on for months. Tried everything that has already been mentioned here.

In the end, I sewed socks onto the cuffs of his pjs so he had un-removable fingerless mittens. Worked a treat- scab was gone in a week, although it has left a scar

Thanks quimstrings. It is highly likely he will have chicken pox by the end of the week (DS1 has had it) - so sew-on mittens might be a good idea!

I am about to try and sew some fold-over covers on to the sleeves of his sleep-suits.

Just came across this though:
www.scratchsleeves.co.uk/index.html

Might be helpful to someone that is having similar problems.