5 Must-do’s For An Eczema-Free Toddler

My toddler struggled with eczema for the first two years of her life. It is so common among babies and young kids that most people fail to recognize how difficult it can be to deal with. Eczema dramatically affects quality of life and it has been our biggest hurdle as parents by far. That’s why I want to share with you five must-do’s for an eczema-free toddler.

Eczema interfered with my toddler’s ability to participate in common daily activities. Car rides were unbearable. Skin contact with things like glue, slime, most soaps, and many food items aggravated her so forget about sensory activities, food exploration or kitchen play. Toddlers have no self-control but they are much more capable of responding to an itch so I personally believe that toddler eczema is much more difficult to handle than baby eczema.

My little one’s eczema appeared on her extremities (elbows, wrists, hands, knees and ankles). Her eczema was moderate, not severe, but what really made our situation difficult was the way she handled it. My toddler had uncontrollable itches and she would scratch in a way that would constantly rip open her skin. Dealing with her eczema was a mental battle for everyone. The daily battle was wearisome. 

BUT by the grace of God, my toddler’s eczema completely disappeared before she turned 2.5 years old. There is no other explanation except that it was an answer to prayer. Rosie had the biggest and longest flare-up of her life and then boom – we’ve had soft and clear skin ever since.

I cannot express how thankful I am. Hopefully, we are done dealing with eczema for good. Along the way, I’ve discovered a few hacks that helped us survive.

Check out five ways to beat toddler eczema and find relief:

Make a sock shirt

Mitts are great to prevent babies from scratching but they’re quite useless for a toddler. They just pull them right off. Sew some cotton socks to a light sweatshirt. Dress your toddler in it when they have an uncontrollable urge to scratch their itch. This was a life-saver for us! My toddler wore it in the car seat and when she went to sleep. 

Use medication

We don’t have any issue with using medication sparingly to ease the little one’s discomfort. Initially, we’d give my little one Benedryl to help tame a hopelessly itchy flare-up. I never found it to be very effective. After she turned two, the allergist prescribed Rupall. It was not as drowsy, long-lasting and it actually effectively stopped itches. Consult your family doctor or allergist to explore medication that may ease eczema symptoms.

Make wet wraps

My toddler’s eczema became increasingly agitated as she got older. By the time she turned two, I could not manage her flare-ups without wet-wraps. Use wet-wraps to soothe tender and dry flare-ups. Gently cleanse, moisturize and wrap the irritated skin in wet gauze and secure with a dry layer. Leave it on only for a few hours at a time. Wet-wraps were really effective in calming and rehydrating her skin. They took a lot of time to apply and reapply every day but they were well worth the time. 

Find creams that work

Try a variety of creams. Stick to one that provides the most relief and re-evaluate its effectiveness often. We went through a ton of different lotions and creams with my toddler’s eczema. Most creams seemed to work well initially but after weeks or months, they’d start to become ineffective.  I learned that it’s important to change creams often as the little one’s skin adapts. Glaxal-base and Eucerin Eczema-Relief Cream have stood out as effective creams for us! 

Be aware of food sensitivities

Be aware of how different foods affect your toddler’s eczema. Avoid foods that trigger flare-ups. My toddler has a few food allergies but she had MANY food sensitivities (mostly high histamine foods). Her eczema would flare up within minutes after eating foods like avocado, mango, and strawberries. Since her eczema has dramatically improved, I’ve added some of these to her diet again and she’s been tolerating them just fine.

I hope these tips were helpful. Eczema in toddlers can be a real challenge. Be patient. Stay strong. Work hard to maintain your toddler’s skin. This too shall pass. Do you have a toddler with eczema? What are your best tips? 

P.S. Is your baby struggling with eczema? Check out my post on must-do’s for an eczema-free baby.