tips for itchy kids

Is your child a ‘Houdini’?

Hot at night?

What should I look out for on other clothing or bedding labels?

What about bath time?

Is it ok to dry my washing outside?

My baby has a mobile over his cot – is that ok?

I know hot washing gets rid of house dust mites but what if I can’t hot wash things – like my child’s teddy?

What about washing clothes made out of things like nylon or bamboo?

What’s wrong with ‘envelope’ necklines?

Is it ok to use socks or narrow mittens over my child’s hands to stop him scratching?



Is your child a ‘Houdini’?

If they try to pull their hands inside their nightwear to tear at itchy eczema consider cutting down a sleeveless vest and popping it over the top.  Otherwise, try cutting a buttoned cuff from an old shirt, adjust the button so it fits around the wrist without being tight and button that over the top to prevent the hands being drawn inside to scratch consider cutting down a sleeveless vest and popping it over the top. 



Hot at night?

Keep nightwear, bedtime toy and spare pillowcase in a bag in the fridge to be cooling/soothing at bedtime.  Older children enjoy being 'in charge' of their eczema and often respond to having a spare comfymitt T in the fridge that they can help themselves to when they are having an itchy period.



What should I look out for on other clothing or bedding labels?

Be wary of clothing or bedding with labels such as easy care finish, stain resistant, non iron, crease resistant and last but certainly not least Teflon coated - all may cause additional skin irritation for those with eczema, psoriasis or other skin conditions.



What about bath time?

Consider bathing your child in the morning as the warm water and temperature change may make the skin more itchy and disrupt their sleep.   Whenever you do have baths, try to keep the bathroom warm so that there isn't a dramatic change of temperature for them when getting in or out of the bath. 



Is it ok to dry my washing outside?

If your child has pollen allergies or a tendency to hay fever then be careful when drying washing outside, especially if it is windy as pollen can be blown over the clothing or bedding.



My baby has a mobile over his cot – is that ok?

Try not to hang mobiles above your child's cot or bed - they tend to gather dust which then falls on your sleeping child when the mobile moves around.



I know hot washing gets rid of house dust mites but what if I can’t hot wash things – like my child’s teddy?

Anything that cannot be hot washed – coats, soft toys etc. can be placed in the freezer for 24 hours (in a plastic bag) to destroy house dust mites.   



What about washing clothes made out of things like nylon or bamboo?

If you can’t wash it at 60c or higher we’d recommend you don’t buy it or use it for a child that has eczema or other skin conditions that require regular creams applied.

Hot washing gets fully rid of emollients and other creams which otherwise can result in a build up of medication, dead skin and allergens on the fibres.



What’s wrong with ‘envelope’ necklines?

Babies and children with itchy eczema will do anything to find a way in to scratch – even to the point of pulling clothing down to 'escape' via the loose neckline.

Envelope necks become slack and baggy with use. Our necklines are designed to hold their shape, make it difficult for little hands to find a way in and still be flexible enough not to tug on little ears when dressing



Is it ok to use socks or narrow mittens over my child’s hands to stop him scratching?

Eczema often develops between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, at a time when vital hand/eye co-ordination skills are developing. Any constriction of the wrists and fingers severely restricts natural movement, delaying normal development of the child's fine motor skills.

Socks or narrow mittens will squash the fingers, making them hotter and itchier causing additional distress and discomfort to the child. Sore little fingers need room to move to facilitate the healing process.

There are some mittens on the market that are the same width as the wrist, are square or are single layer fabric that little fingers can scratch straight through. None of these work effectively. All hands are wider than a wrist and no hands are square!

Our integral mittens are roomy, double thickness and hand shaped.

Using a Cotton Comfort Scratch Mitten T with integral mittens encourages the development of normal hand/eye co-ordination and does not squash the fingers. It allows unrestricted movement of the wrist and fingers whilst protecting damaged skin and turning a scratch into a protected rub.


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