Plea for moral support with on-going sleep problems! :(

[TalkingBadger]

6mo DD is currently cooing away to her winnie the pooh mobile thingy. Fine.

She has eczema that was under control over wednesday/thurs and we got some really good sleep. Today however...

I don't know why but her skin that was clear this morning is now smothered in eczema blotches. I have used the Fucibet cream as doc said on the flare ups and smothered in emollient, and while it has gone down a little it is still angry, she is trying to get to sleep but just can't. I've also given her a bit of calpol to take the edge off any bad bits.

I feel so awful. She didn't have a decent nap this afternoon, which hasn't helped at all (was kind of expecting unsettled) but the eczema is just ridiculous.

Don't know what else to do for her right now...

Crying, got to run, back in a bit.... (help...)

All quiet for now, if anyone checks on here over night though ideas are still welcome!!

I have no experience of this sort of thing, DD only 19wks with no eczema but I've heard that breastfeeding can give comfort and pain relief so have you tried feeding her if you are breastfeeding? Otherwise, what about a cooler bath with the emolient in it? And this might be a really stupid suggestion and I'd strongly recommend researching it before trying it in case in creates more problems but what about calamine lotion? As I said, no experience and these might all be really stupid ideas so I wouldn't try without checking yourself first.

I am currently trying a gradual retreat method (see 'What worked for us' thread) with DS 8.5months, so my sympathies with the lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation was used as a torture technique for a reason ;)

With regards to the eczema, my DH, DB and DS (although to a milder degree) all have eczema. My DH has tried many things over the years, when his skin is quite flared up a bath in oats really helps soothe the redness. He ties them into a piece of flannel and then let's the 'milk' from the oats go into the bath, he also gently rubs the flannel on his skin.

We also use a cream called, 'Frog Leaf', which isn't cheap but works wonders and isn't full of chemicals like many skin treatment creams, I can never understand why eczema creams would contain allergens?! I will try and find the link in a sec.

Weaning can also affect eczema, my DS had eczema on his chest whilst he was weaning, that has mainly cleared up now. If you are still Breastfeeding this can offer some protection during the weaning process.

Some children, and I do give it to my DS, are reactive to the E numbers and things in Calpol. I believe you can buy an oral suspension that is preservative free.

And finally washing powder, perfume, bath stuff etc. We use 'Surcare' washing powder, I don't wear strong perfume (just naturally derived essences like ginger) and wash in chemical free shower gel. We use Sanex Zero, The Jason range (some chemicals but DH seems fine with them) and on DS Weleda products.

And one more thing ;) We use chemical free 'Jackson Reece' baby wipes.

This maybe all stuff you know but thought I'd post what has worked for us :)

www.frogleaf.co.uk/

Wow secret, that's a lot of stuff! Thanks do much!! Some I have discovered by now, some I haven't. Getting rid of probs step by step. Dog got all her hair taken off yesterday- poor thing... Changed to surcare last week.

Breatfeeding's another story. Stopped just over a week ago. Body has resumed normal service. Really miss it, especially at 4am. Eczema had started long before though, same with weaning. Jotting down a food diary anyway just encase.

Really think pollen might be a big factor as her skin gets angry when my nose itches! Hard to protect her from that one.

Oh and getting her up this morning her skin looks loads better again, but already reddening. Either pollen or something else downstairs...