Help with 3 Year Old Son "Picking His Scabs".

Keep the scabs covered with long pants, long sleeve shirt, or bandaids. It's the only way I can get my son to stop picking. Threatening and discipline haven't helped. Try re-direction (try playing music at naptime/bedtime - or use one of those lights that shines on the ceiling) and removing the temptation.

Try a reward for a period of time not picking his scabs.

Explain the danger of scarring and infections. Show pictures, share a true story etc. not to scare but educate.

Try something to replace the habit and keep his fingers busy. Even explain that when he feels like picking his scabs he can do this instead. Something with texture to play with, a specific toy etc.
Good luck!

My son does this, and has since he was about three. He is 12 now...

When it gets real bad, just put some neosporin (sp?) on it and cover it with a band-aid during his normal "picking" times. It is a pain in the butt, and it looks so nasty, doesn't it?!

At least he isn't EATING his scabs like I used to do with my Grandpa! I know - even nastier. I guess that is the only thing that keeps me somewhat okay with the whole thing.

They both will grow out of it! That is what I tell myself anyway! (By the way, his sores have never got infected.)

We've had a child in our home who picked her skin and scabs. She picked it so much that she started bleeding and she got impetigo (infected!) Here's what we've learned from it:

1.) Use the long onesies with the zipper. If your kids won't keep this on, then what we did was to saftety pin it on, the strap has a snap. Our child never did take off the safety pin.

2.) Our child had anxiety problems. We tried calming her down. We were told to tell her that it is okay, you are safe here. The child we had in our home was a foster child. You may want to say It is alright or okay. You may want to offer a hug or a high five.

3.) Our foster child picked mainly in the car while we were driving, however did pick some at home. If driving, wear long sleeve shirts or long pants. If that doesn't work, then use the onesie and you can always change when you get somewhere else if you need to.

4.) We used band aids, however usually our child would pick them off or they would come off later. We used Neosporin for the bleeding and sometimes I used anti-itch cream. We went thru tons and tons of band aids.

5.) You might try one of the bath products by Aveena, I believe that is the company. There is a baby product that you can sprinkle it in the bathtub while they are bathing and it is supposed to help with bites, exzema, itching/scratching.

6.) Give toys, give animals, give other toys to your child when they are picking. Keep them occupied. Let them know that is not okay to do in your house or car,etc....

7.) For the infection we got Bactrim (prescription) and it cleared the infection right up. There are still scars left, however the kids will grow and the scars will fade over time and you eventually won't be able to notice them.

8.) Has he had any major changes going on with him or daycare/home? It is possible it could be related to that.

8.)You might want to reward your child if you see him doing good things and not picking at his scabs.

9.) Keep your childs nails short! This really helps out when they don't have long nails.

We mainly went to the Pediatrician and it got really while she was here. You can also go to a Dermatologist if it continues and doesn't get better with all the suggestions everyone is giving you.

It can be very frustrating! Good Luck with it and I hope it gets better quickly.

Hi Mindy! My 3 year old nephew does this as well. He is alergic to mosquitoes and other inscect bites. They itch so he scratches and then it becomes a scap and he picks. He is also alergic to the adhisive on bandaides so he can not wear them. The poor little guy already has scars all over his body. My sister gives him a bath about 2 to 3 times a day and lets him soak in ebson salt. Then covers his sores with neosporin. She has also made sure he is always covered with pants and long sleve shirts and the same with his pjs since he does it when he goes to sleep and during the night. I hope it gets better for you and your little one. Good luck!

put bandaids on them. helped my son. i bought those small circular ones...cheap and plentiful.

y 3 year old daughter does the same thing, she has done this for a while. I tried disciplining her and working to keep them clean, but when she started trying to teach her 18 mo sister to pick, that was it! I used scare tactic and it has seemed to work. I told her if her fingers and owies got infected her fingers would fall off or the doctor would have to cut them off. I worried that she might be afraid of the doctor, but she hasn't seemed bothered by it - I think she understands that it's her actions that would cause the doctor to have to take action, not that he would just do it to be mean - maybe?? Well, I really just was writing to let you know that my kid does this too and to let you know what I had tried! Let us know what works for you.

My son does this as well....his scabs never seem to go away b/c he'll just keep picking them. We just have to try and keep band-aids on them......we've go through boxes and boxes :)

Bandaids! I have 2 boys that did the same thing. I took them to the store and let them pick out the Nexcare Tatoo bandaids and then we went home and put them over all the spots he had been picking at. The bandaids are waterproof and stay on really well. I would replace them when needed until the wound had healed. My sons did great with this.

Hope this helps,

G.

I had a little girl in my 3rd grade class w/ this problem. It seemed worse during bug season when she'd have several bites. she was always bloody and have blood under her nails ect....i mad her put bandaids on every single spot on her legs, arms, face, ect. our school went through tons of bandaids! but she did quit picking and didn't have to have the bandaids anymore. ( her parents were very thankful:) don't know if this will help, as she was 8.

I had a similar issue with my son last summer when he was scratching himself so much he started bleeding and he did get an infection in a couple of spots on his legs. It got so bad I couldn't even go anywhere with him in the car because he'd scratch his legs up and he'd arrive all bloody to our destination! Anyway, as you know threatening him with taking away privileges probably won't do much. Toddlers are all about immediate gratification :) One thing that worked for us (other than finding the source) was to get him long-sleeved footie pajamas. That way there was no way he could get to his legs and arms. At its worst, I even had to change him to his PJs for nap time too. I also had to start dressing him in long pants and long sleeved shirts, even when it was 100 degrees out. You probably wouldn't have to go that far if your only issue is sleeping times. We got through it. I know you will too. Use plenty of neosporin on those cuts. We ended up needing antibiotics and bactroban. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I found the PJs at Children's Place and Target.

When the picking became an issue at our house, my husband would "scrub clean" the wounds. He would calmly explain that we didn't want infections. Then he would use soap and water, alcohol or any other disinfectant that would sting. (Campho-Phenique stings and smells bad.) They really hate it, but understand that we don't want infection. That along with prodigious use of bandaids seems to curb the behavior.

My oldest had this too, but it WAS and infection and as they heal they itch Her doctor noticed the sores on her legs and gave her an antibiotic and it went away. no problem. (infantigo? I dont' remember the actual name; something like that) It was coming from the inside and manifesting in small little sores. The solution was to heal the inside. It is a simple and relatively lost cost treatment. Just go to your doctor.