Baby with eczema not sleeping - feeling desperate

[PragmaticWench]

My three month old has

[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

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[GentleGiant1965]

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

[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

[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.

[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

[surfmama]

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

[surfmama]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.