getting through chicken pox with a toddler?

[satinandsilk]

does ANYTHING really ease the itching? Camomile lotion is just rubbish. I remember it being hopeless when my son had chicken pox, and my daughter (17 months) is currently climbing the walls she's so itchy. We used it on her an hour ago as we had no other ideas but it's clearly not made a jot of difference. She's also had a dose of Calpol, but she's writhing around whimpering. I feel so sorry for her but not sure what else I can do. Is it just a case of surviving the next few days until it goes away?

we used the calamine and glycerin cream as it stayed on better

there is also something called poxclin which our GP recommended, but we didn't end up getting any. have seen good things about it though
poxclin

you could also try running a warm bath with a bag of oats in, that can help soothe the skin.
if you have an old sock or pair of tights just bung some oats in, hang it under the tap and run the bath, give it a good squeeze to get the oaty goodness out and pop her in

Piriton syrup and a cream called Eurex helped my DD through it.

Horrid isn't it

Piriton liquid however is what you need, ask the pharmacist for the child version, it helps to reduce the itching somewhat.

thisisyesterday has great advice about oats. I used those underwear/delicates muslin bags, if you happen to have those, they are perfect as you can then use it like a sponge to pour more water over it. Use a HUGE handful.

Add some camomile tea to the bath, one cup brewed for 10 mins (two teabags is ideal).

I was recommended bicarb of soda into the bath too, which I used for both mine (in the last month). I have heard mixed reports with some suggestions this makes the itching worse. However, both mine were in a bath twice a day for several days and their itching was minimal, so hard to say if we were lucky or if it helped. most certainly all of the things i used did not harm and did not make it worse.

Cool bath, not too warm as that increases the itching/more spots!

If she is happy in the bath, leave in there as long as you want (i found with both mine, they wanted to stay in for a good 30 mins, more if I had let them).

Piriton liquid however is what you need, ask the pharmacist for the child version, it helps to reduce the itching somewhat.

Loose clothing, night dress if she has one, or if your house is warm, a vest. No knickers if possible, or if not, very loose cotton ones.

Keep the house cool if you can, open a window for fresh cool air.

If she has long hair, and this is the very beginning, pop her hair in a pigtail/plait if you can, so that as more spots appear you won't have to brush her hair daily. I put DDs into two french plaits half way then pulled into a bunch. It stayed in for 8 days, and when it came out, no knots on top of scabs to try and get a comb through. I know that might not be possible for toddlers, hair not so long.

It is horrible, I feel for your DD and hope she overcomes the worst of it quickly.

Eurax cream is only for over 3 year olds.

Dd had cpox when she was 14 months. She hated piriton, she was very very itchy for 1/2 days and bicarb in the bath was the only thing that helped.

We used poxclin - much better than calamine

I used Virasoothe which is pricey but seemed to give instant relief to my DS who had it when he was 18 months. Fab stuff.