Bodysuit for 6 year old top stop scratching!

[Galaxymum]

My DD is in Year 1 at school and suffers from eczema as well as being on the ASD. Her teacher and I are trying to break her constant habit of scratching when her hands are not 100% busy. It's very much anxiety related as well as habit, and she keeps sticking her hands down her tights to scratch in assembly and circle time. We've tried keeping her hands busy but nothing has worked.

Anyway I'm trying to find something like a bodysuit to go under her uniform but over her tights - like a long vest/leotard with poppers. They sell them at EczemaClothing up to 3/4 but not her size (this is exactly what I need!!!) www.eczemaclothing.com/product/comfymitt-body-plus/ but she is too tall for these sizes. Can anyone recommend somewhere?

Sorry "To stop scratching!!" in title!

HI not sure if this helps but some sensory training maybe the best way forward in the long term. My dd was a scratcher and the Sensory Intergration Programme was the only thing that worked. She was a real scratcher and it just takes a few mosquito bits to start it off again. Also is she on any medication my dd was on ritallin and this caused her scratching and itching to get much worse.

Can't help with the bodysuit though.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Sensory Integration Programme. We've tried various antihistamines and they don't affect her in the slightest so we came to the conclusion with medical advice that it is more connected with her ASD. She has an all in one pj suit at night and barely scratches. If she can't see it, she doesn't focus on her skin.

Ah if it's more connected to the ASD I can completely understand what you are going through. SI works really well you need to see and OT get a referal asap. My dd was OK in the winter as the tights covered up so much except her hands . Does your dd chew as well my dd always had something in her mouth. Basically they need much more feedback so hard rubbing, massages, brushes over the skin desensitise and give them the heavy feedback they need. Also exercise. Trampolining, rolling around start jumps. see if there are anyother posts about SI. It's probably just your poor little dd has to deal with the eczma on top of all of the sensory problems.

www.eczema.org/Factsheet_Clothing_Stockists_List.pdf#search=%22clothes%22
link here to list of suppliers from the national eczema society website.

They also have helpsheets with advice for coping at school - tips like avoiding sitting near radiators or in the sun, giving opportunities to apply creams during the day, etc, talking to classmates about eczema, and some specifically on itchiness/scratching.

I agree that antihistamines have very little impact but my older dd sometimes finds that firm massage takes the edge of the itchiness. We've also had suggested to us cool packs (like those used for bruises), gentle pinching or scraping with the nails as close to horizontal as possible, squidgy balls to squeeze and hand held game consoles as distractions that have worked for others.

Hope you find something that works.

Fledglings stock larger sized all in one vests.

www.fledglings.org.uk/docs/pdf/brochure.pdf

No poppers, but great otherwise NHS equivalent.

Could some poppers be sewn in later?

flegdlings and racketies are where i get my sons big popper vests and all in one suit things (to stop him taking nappy off). he's 5.

Annawiththebag - THANK YOU!!! The school shirt with poppers is exactly what we need. I'll be ordering some in the morning.

I think because our DD was diagnosed with eczema first, we've treated her skin issues as "eczema" related first rather than it being more a symptom of her ASD.

Pinkorkid - at home, the hand held games consoles are a great distraction for her as well. Thanks for the information sheet link. Lots more ideas for us to try.