Baby with eczema not sleeping - feeling desperate

[PragmaticWench]

My three month old has

[chilli273]

We bought a sleeping bag called Bamboo Bubby off Amazon- it was designed by an Australian mum who had a baby with severe eczema and has special sleeves to cover their hands to stop scratching.

[Leftygirl]

SurfMama, do you know what remedy finally did the trick? I know what works for one may not work for another, but we have been going to a homeopath since March and are still battling this itch! We have tried SO many remedies to no avail.

[mooomeee]

for what it's worth I have suffered all my life with it. all through my childhood I was prescribed oily lotions and creams etc.
I now realise that i cannot use oily things, makes me itch even more!
I need a good moisturiser that is not oily and sinks in quickly. all the normal creams for eczema make mine worse because they are normally very oily.

[surfmama]

by over night I mean instantly...not just at night ... sorry badly written!

[surfmama]

oh it's horrid...homeopathy stopped our bubba scratching over night...still don't get any bloomin sleep though. ..

[chilli273]

There is a great sleeping bag designed by an Australian mum especially for babies with eczema called Bamboo Bubby - www.bamboobubby.com.au It has great reviews and helps babies with eczema sleep by. It has just launched in the UK and is available on Amazon UK - definitely worth a try for any babies not sleeping well because of eczema

[Nosleepnotme]

I can relate!! My daughter has woken up with itching for the past 4 years of her life.

I have tried a great cream which seems to help. She sleeps better at night and it seems to reduce her itching. I got it first as a sample from a friend and now its in my local health food shop. Its called Dry2Alive and you can use it on newborns too I think. The website is //www.dry2alive.com. Its not bad at around £10. I even use it on my hands as I have found these get dry after washing with anti bacterial soap all the time.

[Fibreoptic]

Have you checked your laundry products?.It may be either the ingrediants in your soap or conditioner or both!
I recommend you have a look at www.skinsalveation.com/shop/ss/laundry-powder/
Its pretty frightening whats contained in the normal supermarket products,
regards
Jane

[GentleGiant1965]

Just spotted 2 errors in the first line!!! why can we edit our posts??

[GentleGiant1965]

The problem can be that is become a habit, even though the original cause of the itching problem was cleared up, my daughter now scratches her head EVERY time she gets tired. It is a good way of knowing when she needs to sleep, but not so good for the skin on her head.

BTW, I just bought a selection of silk underwear for her - Dermasilk leggings and Cambridge Baby organic silk vests and pyjamas, even after only a 6 hours, the reduction in redness and irritation on her legs is noticeable.

Not cheap though, nearly £160 spent for 5 items of baby clothing.

[Helenc19]

My 5 month old has eczema on his head which he rubs at constantly at night, I have given up on creams and started putting breastmilk on it, looks lots better after just 24 hours.

[GentleGiant1965]

BTW

If your child has a milk intolerance, BEEF can make their skin itchy (it contains milk proteins ).

MANGO is known to make their skin itchy.

SOYA can make SOME childrens skin itchy; our daughter cannot drink dairy or goat formula, so soya has been our only option as the we saw doctor wouldnt take us seriously.

If your doctor fobs you off, try a different doctor, or a different Practice; our first few attempts were fobbed off and I REALLY wish I had pushed harder before our poor daughters skin got so bad.

[GentleGiant1965]

The creams the paediatric allergy doctor prescribed seem to be making our babies skin worse, not better; she had only mild eczema until after she suffered a major allergic reaction. Since then she has been reacting to anything and everything - we are considering going back to baby rice and baby porridge only, until her skin calms down and the allergic reactions stop.

We have tried loads of OTC creams, and the only ones that really worked at all were Aloe Vera and Star Flower, a silk vest seems to be helping, however at 10 months, there dont seem to be many choices in long sleeved tops or legging, and so I am gritting my teeth and ordering a Dermasilk top and leggings. If they help I will be badgering the doctors for some more on prescription.

As even a bog standard silk vest has helped, I am asking my sister in law in China to have some bedding sets made up in natural silk and sent to us; silk is SO much cheaper in China that I do sometimes wonder how they can justify the prices in the West - my silk wedding suit cost ~£30 and a full 3 piece cashmere suit cost me £55 both CUSTOM MADE TO MEASURE.
I might even ask her if she can find a tailor to run up some silk base layers for when our baby outgrows the Dermasilk set.

[Alileigh]

I'm coming late to the discussion and hope you have found a solution. My 15 month old has had ezcema from about 10 weeks and for the past 3-4 months we've had it under control. I use Aveeno Baby Ezcema Therapy cream, wash and collodial treatment - all available on Amazon and this seems to have worked for him. I spent months going to the doctors getting prescribed a different cream every time and then going back when it didn't work and getting something else. in the end we were told by the health visitor at a weigh in that there was an 'Ezcema, Allergy and Asthma nurse' we could be referred too. I went back to the docs and asked to be referred. Amazingly sympathetic nurse who gave me sample sizes of pretty much all creams on the market to trial. The good news is once you are referred then you can contact them directly - no need for the docs! To start with Diprobase ointment worked with the use of either hydrocortisone 1% on flare ups, then we moved onto Fucibet which stamps on any flare up immediately. The most important thing is to apply the creams correctly (I know! I was surprised there is a specific way) which is to put the moisturising cream on first leave it 20 mins and then put on the steriod cream. I was also told only use the steroid cream on a flare up, not all the time.... the thing is that what works for one doesn't work for another so it is just trial and error

[Theyoniwayisnorthwards]

My eldest had horrible severe eczema as a baby. Best thing I ever did was take him to a paediatric dermatologist privately. The NHS just don't take it seriously enough.

[MarcieMom]

I totally understand the lack of sleep issue! My girl with eczema would scratch her scalp like crazy (meaning with SUCH FORCE I think she can take up a character in the x-men).. I haven't found what would help her itchy scalp at night, but her skin is very well managed.

The thing about sleep that I've figured out is:

1. Need to treat the eczema
   
2. Bathe closer to bedtime
   
3. Moisturize within 3 minutes, don't rub dry the skin
   
4. Moisturize with thicker cream that can last longer at night
   
5. Wet wrap if skin is very dry
   
6. Keep room cool
   
7. Keep room not too dry - humidifier
   

A little of the sleep guidelines here that I've compiled :)
eczemablues.com/2011/07/is-eczema-affecting-your-childs-sleep/

Take care everyone, and hope everyone can get some eczema free zzz
Mei

[GinnyMac]

I've found a combination of things that have helped my baby's eczema no end. He's 16 months old now and completely clear. I cut down on dairy products and I use evening primrose oil (split the capsule and rub half into his groin area daily) I also give him Biocares childrens banana acidophilus and I use Themba herbal cream which is brilliant. I bath him in organic oatmeal which I add to the bathwater. I don't use any products which contain SLS and all this seems to have worked really well. I hope this helps to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel

[runningforme]

Your poor DD! the oat baths that a poster further up mentioned will help to soothe the skin. Another thing I would recommend is pure, unrefined coconut oil rubbed into the damp skin. It can be added to food too (by cooking in it or drizzling a little over food or in soups/smoothies) to help from the inside. This worked brilliantly for my nephew in soothing and helping to heal the patches. He had them all over his body and face as a baby. He also responded well to the sunshine - the family went on holiday to Egypt and he came back clear as anything! Of course, going on holiday in the sun isn't necessarily an option for all. I hope the new regime works and you both get some relief

[PragmaticWench]

No, that's helpful to know as I can't ask DD, so thank you!

We've just had swab results back and DD has been prescribed two antibiotics for a strep and a staph infection. How on earth I'll juggle them at three and four doses a day I don't know, on top of everything else. Feeling swamped but also that I need to stop being so negative, lots of people manage much tougher things for their children.

[thepestinthevest]

Firstly OP you have my sympathies. I know how heartbreaking and frustrating it is seeing them scratch and being so irritable with it. DS would end up looking lie he'd been in a fight with Wolverine. I tried all the various lotions and potions to no avail. Consultant at hospital said olive oil, which did work well (we used to slap it on and leave him in a babygro so he couldn't get at the skin as much) and prescribed piriton medicine, which did work and gave him some much needed sleep.

Also in your later post you mention Ucerax. I didn't know it could be prescribed for kiddlybops, but it was prescribed to me when I had Polymorphic Eruption in Pregnancy and it was fantastic at stopping itching and helping sleep. Sorry don't know why I felt the need to share that

[PragmaticWench]

Just seen your post HelloBear, I can totally understand where you're coming from. How did your appointment go with the consultant dermatologist? Was better than you hoped?

We were referred to GOSH and had a first appointment last week, hurrah! They were so kind and gentle with DD and gave us a new regime of creams to use (have put details below for anyone who may be interested), plus antihistamine to use at night. DD is still itchy but her skin is less red so I'm hoping it will improve more gradually. She's not sleeping much but it's slightly better than before - think fewer feeds but it's still taking about an hour to get her back to sleep after each one.

As for allergy testing, the consultant seemed positive and said we'd discuss that and weaning at the next appointment, next week.

Regime is;

Two lukewarm baths a day with dermol 600 bath oil and using aqueous cream as a soap. Must wash the aqueous cream off thoroughly.

Immediately after the bath use diprobase, then steroids after half an hour. Hydrocortisone 1% for her body and daktacort for her head.

About 3 or 4 hours later, apply doublebase all over. Repeat frequently until the next bath.

Antihistamine at night. Think it is Ucerax (hydroxyzine)?

[HelloBear]

Oh and also I give him prititon when bad as he has very obvious ''flare ups' like a reaction. Also supposedly makes him drowsy...I've yet to notice that side effect (am I a very bad mummy for hoping that it will make him drowsy enough that I can get some sleep?).

[HelloBear]

Quick one as late!

But just wanted to say you are not alone, we are going through this currently and it is heart breaking but also infuriating. I just believe that my DS would be so much happier and settled with no fucking scratching!!!! Scuse the French

I am currently sat with him on my lap, swaddled and he is constantly itching his face and neck by shaking his head from side to side, it's been non stop now for 30 mins. He has slept the grand total of 1 hour since 10 (it's now3amish) and I am exhausted. He has to be in scratch sleeves 24-7 and when I give him 'play' time he inevitably ends up bleeding from scratching.

He is 5mo and has had excema since 4wo. He has not slept longer than 4hours once. His back of his neck is red rore and won't heal.

We see the consultant dermitologist for the 1st time on Weds and I'm praying for a miracle cure, I suspect know I'm going to be disappointed.

I know people above have said go dairy free...a word of warning it is HARD (I'm a vegie so it would mean being vegan). I tried and failed.

Sorry I realise this is not helpful to you and I have just ranted about my situation. But I guess I found it useful to read about your frustration and I don't feel so guilty for just wanting to scream 'STOP ITCHING!!!'

Poor babies :(

[Mika1]

Hi

I was in the same situation with my little one scratching through the night so that we had to swaddle him up to 7 months. Scratch mittens and emollients did not work for us and the cortisone cream was only temporary relief. I have been waiting since January to be referred to a Pediatrician and was to my wits end trying different creams and lotions. Everything I used seemed to make my boys face even dryer and more cracked. Someone recommended to get Dermasilk (www.dermasilk.co.uk) which is a clothing range made of medicated silk which is available on prescription so you could approach your GP about it. I got the facial mask and body suit which relieved my little one from the constant itch he had. He now sleeps without the swaddle bag and scratch mittens and has become a happy baby.

As I am still breast feeding I have cut out on dairy and wheat. I wish I would have known about this great alternative months ago, therefore I am happy to share my discovery.

[BoffinMum]

DD is allergic to wheat and dairy, which were the things that set her eczema off. Allergy clinic a good idea.