How can I stop ds rubbing his face to get to sleep?It's causing excema!

[nearlythree]

I've already posted about this in health, but thought I'd try here to see if any of you can help with some advice. My 4 mo ds rubs his face with his arm to get to sleep, it's a reflex that either he hasn't outgrown or that has become a habit. It's great that he can put himself to sleep, but now it's caused excema on his face! I think it's the fabric rubbing so tonight he is just in a short-sleeve vest under his grobag even though it is so cold. . Can anyone come up with any ideas as to how I could stop him from rubbing his face?

bump

If you have him in short sleeves so he is rubbing 'skin to skin' try rubbing in some moisturising cream (whatever you find okay for his skin) It takes away a lot of the friction and the sensation from rubbing normally and might help stop the eczema being aggravated.

Thank you. I wish I could get him to stop rubbing but he is too old for swaddling now.

Hi, this may sound a bit obvious, but are you washing his clothes in non bio so that the fabric doesn't irritate him?
My DD suffers from mild ezcema so I have to be careful too, even down to what I wash my clothes and her playmats with.

Another thought - my DD also rubs her eyes/face alot when she's very tired. Maybe if he went to bed a little earlier he might not feel the need to do this?

Hi, thank you. Yes, we use Ecover. As for bedtime, it's his way of putting himself to sleep, it's like some babies have dummies or comforters. I don't know howe to stop it, although I have found a grobag-type thing with a wrap part at the top - he'll probably hate it but have to try it.

It got badly triggered yesterday and I think it was the fabric of the top he was wearing when he had a nap, it was a towelling type and he must have rubbed his face with it. I saw the GP today and he's on hydrocortisone with antibiotics plus aqueous cream, plus we have been given oral antibiotics in case it flairs up over the weekend.

Thanks again.

When ds was a baby, he had eczema, and used to try to scratch it when he went to sleep. The hv suggested putting some little socks over his hands. They are longer than scratch mitts and stay on better. It really helped. I know that your baby is using the fabric to rub his face, but having socks over his hands might stop him being able to grab hold of the top he is wearing.

Incidentally, ds became very fond of having these socks up by his face, and when the eczema was better, and he was old enough to be able to pull the socks off his hands, he still liked to take the socks to bed. He does this thing with them which is between a snuffle and a nuzzle, so we call them "snuzzle socks". He still uses them as a comforter.

Thank you, I will give it a try if the grobag thingy doesn't work out!

Hi,

Saw an advert in a mag and thought of you. This company make sleepsuits with mittens sewn in.
check out www.eczemaclothing.com.
suits ar pricey at £32 each but there is a sale on. Site isn't great to navigate around - these are under eczema nightware rather than children. if in doubt, call them.
good luck

HI love the idea of long socks also IMHO are you sure he's to old for wrapping or maybe just tucking in tightly??? last resort turn heat on, I know all rest of you will suffer, and let him sleep in just vest? or if he just does this to settle turn heat off an hour before you go to bed?

Hi, thank you for the messages, only just got them! I've ordered a swaddleaze from Jojo Maman Bebe, it's like a grobag but has a wrap bit around the top like a straightjacket to pin his arms in! Sounds a bit extreme but he needs to stop rubbing his face - it got better with the cream but has flared up again since the GP said to stop it and I know you can't use HC for long on the face, so am off to the GP again tomorrow to see if there is an alternative.