Soon to Be 2 Year Old Not Sleeping

I agree with trying to find out if he has any food allergies. My daughter had eczema so bad that it would keep her up at night too, until I cut dairy out of *my* diet (we're nursing, and she was getting the allergens through my breastmilk). Within a week of cutting dairy, her eczema was almost completely gone.

You could try an elimination diet for him, but your son is old enough for you to start exploring allergy testing which is a lot easier than just guessing at what to eliminate. I highly recommend it - eczema is rarely just a "dry skin" issue, it's usually caused by environmental, seasonal, or food allergies and exacerbated by dry skin and irritating fragrances/lotions/detergents/soaps.

Once his eczema is gone, he'll be more comfortable and hopefully be able to sleep better! Good luck!

T.,

When my son was a baby he had a rash of some kind on his cheeks and often people thought he had rosy cheeks, but really it was the rash. His pediatrician recommended Eucerin cream for his skin (it was mixed sometimes by the pharmacist with Cortaid, but I wouldn't do so without the doctor's directing it). Still the Eucerin is non-prescription and did seem to help. Also, I would suggest playing some soothing music to help him sleep and maybe rocking him first and then put him down once he is asleep. My sister used to play Alex Bugnon (107 Degrees in the Shade or even some Chopin) to make my son sleep in the middle of the day. I tried it too late I think, but I have heard that baby massage is good for babies too; rubbing him soothingly all over to relax him.

Hope these suggestions are helpful.

God Bless.

M.

Hello, My daughter is 10 mths and has eczema too, and was having trouble sleeping (naps mostly), the itching was driving her crazy. I heard that food alergies play a big roll in eczema so I had her tested and I was amazed at the results. She is alegeric to eggs, wheat, and peanuts, so we changed her diet and now she is a much happier baby and taking great naps. Her eczema flares up a little now and then, but we give her benedril (sp) and keep the areas very moist with aquaphor (sp) and its help tons.

Hope this info is helpful! Good Luck!!!

I don't know if he has food allergies, but as soon as he gets out of the bath put "Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Lotion" all over his body (if you don't want to use this make sure you find a lotion that is fragrance free) This has always helped my kids You need to keep his skin moisturized Don't dry him off too much when he gets out just lather him up with lotion this is the only lotion I have found to help with my kids Put it on right after the bath and when they go to bed or if they take a bath at night put it on the affected areas before you get him dressed in the morning too It is the cheapest at Target

Hi T., My daughter also used eucerin and it helped, it really has to be aplied while they are still wet out of hte bath, my doctore gave me a Rx for it. Only bathe them every other day, etc. But it sounds like you have the allergy thing as the cause. Parents magazine had a great article on excema, go to parents.com and do a search.

As far as the sleeping with you goes, you will have to decide to be firm and then do it. I would talk to him during the day and tell him that he is a big boy and he needs to start sleeping in his own bed. He is old enough to remember this. When he wakes up, go and confort him and make sure that there isn't something wrong and then put him back to bed. He will yell, the other tenants will get mad, jsut explain it to them if they complain, maybe even talk to them before hand so they can wear earplugs or something for a week or two. If you don't stop it now, then it will go on a long time. Another option is to make a bed ont he floor in your room and tell him that he can sleep there. Phase out the holding, make it shorter and shorter. Talk kindly and tell him that he is okay, and mommy is just down the hall, or right next to him. Then you can move the bed on the floor slowly closer to your door and further down the hall until it is in his room. I would try treats though I think. Talk to him in the day. Tell him what to expect. Give him stickers and if he gets 5, or 10 or whatever, then he gets to go to the zoo, or whatever it is that he likes most. Keep it up and slowly make it so that he has to stay in bed without yelling for you. Hope some of this works.

hello. T.. i just signed on to mama source. your posting was the first thing i read. i'm a grandma of a 2 1/2 year old grandson. he is my center of the universe. he also was born with eczema. nine months ago i got involved with a health beverage that has changed my life. i had many health issues i was dealing with. i starting drinking this juice. also starting giving it to both my grandsons. my fifteen year old grandson was on inhalers with steroids for asthma. the happy ending is, both grandsons are symptom free. thanks to the juice!!!! if you would like some info i would love to tell you about

Hi T.-

I feel for you on the sleepless nights. They are very taxing on you mentally and physically...and your poor little one!

I know it sounds odd, but my son also has eczema and it used to be pretty bad. He had it on his back, legs and arms. We started giving him FIsh oil (or you can use flax oil) and after about 2 weeks, it cleared up. We give it to him daily and we have yet to see another outbreak! I also agree that it can be diet related. SO many factors can cause flare ups. THe fish or flax oil contain high levels of Omega-3, which is great for the skin (and the bran development). It has so many other beneficial properties that it can't hurt to try. If it doesn't help the eczema, it may help other things!!!

Good luck.

Hello! I have twins that will be 4 in December. One has suffered with it, the other doesn't have that problem. There is a new cream on the market, but it's a prescription. It has NO steroids in it. I was sceptical at first, our insurance it costs $25/tube. It has made a WORLD of difference in her skin!! Almost to the point that she's grown out of it, except during the winter months. It's called Mimyx. We had to go to a dermatologist at first, but now the regular doctor will prescribe it. The first dermotologist we went to prescribed her the steroid cream, and it made her skin very thin. We were also told that young children should use it very minimal, this MIMYX is safe. With none of the harsh stuff. We tried EVERYTHING!. This cream has olive oil and other ingredients in it. If anything, it's worth a shot!!