How do you apply cream to a child who can't stand it?

[debs40]

DS (6) has strong sensory issues. Dressing is a nightmare likewise eating.

He has had a rash around his mouth for the last month. I took him to the doctors (not easy) and we got a cream to clear it. The problem is that he cannot stand to have cream applied. He will fight me and get hysterical if I try to do it.

We have resorted to putting it on when he is asleep but he wakes up and licks it off. Then gets hysterical at the taste of it

The rash is now getting much worse. He licks it because it is so dry and of course that makes it drier.

I have an appointment at the GP's again on Wednesday but I wondered if anyone had any tips.

I've tried bribery too and I feel such a failure. it looks just awful and is causing him such discomfort

Just a thought but would he be up for applying it himself as part of a messy game? With a reward at the end if he manages to cover all bits?

Debs, my dd also has severe sensory issues and has had what sounds like the same rash around her mouth -I feel your pain! She would lick and chew the skin until it bled.

I agree with redsock -ask him to do it himself. DD will literally dab a few microscopic dots of cream around the affected area. However, I found that better than her hitting out at me while I tried to apply it. She would then rub it off, so it was a total waste of time.

Just a thought, but dd is better with unscented creams and lotions eg an aqueous cream. It moisturises the area and does help it to heal, but is less 'smelly and sticky' in dd's words.

I think that they may cope better if they do these things themselves, as they can apply the correct pressure etc and it isn't as intrusive for them.

However, I have had to lower my standards, as dd's efforts at washing/teeth cleaning/hairwashing are often less than spectacular

oh we have this struggle with sun cream every year. ds is better if you put the cream on something to wipe onto him...or better still give it to him to wipe on.

i had to get my ds to do his himself got a mirror sat him in front of it and then let him apply the cream again was a rash around the mouth

Thanks all. I will try letting him do it and offer him a choice of creams. He has Diprobase etc from having eczema.

He did it a bit this morning but didn't like it but I'll try and make it more of a game and less a stressful must do job!

For suncream, I find the coloured stuff is tolerated better... green cream = monster cream.
You probably can't colour the cream... but may be something to ask the GP - what would happen if you added a couple of drops of food colouring to the cream?

Another thought, let him apply the cream himself using a cotton wool bud... may prefer that to using his finger.

Debs, i have exactly the same problem!

To be honest i have given up trying during the day - but your DS is a bit older than my DD so it might be worth trying a few of the suggestions above.

At night, i always find its easier to go in about an hour after my dd goes to sleep. She seems to be sleeping quite deeply earlier on and its much easier to get in on than later as we're going to bed if that makes sense

Sometimes we succeed and it gets better, sometimes we fail and it looks worse for a few days. Keep persevering