One of the most frustrating situations any parent can be faced with is a baby who scratches. There are many causes for itchy skin, but sometimes it can seem like a true mystery to figure out just what’s behind the irritation your baby is dealing with. The good news is that there are some general treatments and techniques that may help alleviate or at least cut down on the itchy skin that causes your baby to scratch.
The first thing to keep in mind is that if your baby scratches – there’s a reason for it. Scratching is a very natural reaction to irritated, itchy, dry, or inflamed skin, so if your baby is showing the signs of scratching more that a few times a day, something is probably going on. Working with your pediatrician to rule out any easily treated skin issues is a great first step. Eczema, allergies, and rashes are common with babies, and your pediatrician may have some great resources for you to help handle the situation. If something more severe is happening like advanced allergic reactions, your pediatrician can also help rule that out.
We recommend a two part process to tacking the trouble caused by itchy skin in your baby. Number one, keep a journal. This may sound silly – but it can create miracles in your life! Every time you notice that your baby is itching, make a brief note in a special notebook about what they are wearing, what they ate last, any products you recently applied to their skin (soaps, lotions, shampoo, powders, etc.), and anything else of importance. This can help you quickly find a pattern and handle a food allergy, detergent sensitivity, fabric sensitivity, or even just time of the day when things seem to get worse. Knowledge is power!
The second step is to choose an all natural and totally gentle moisturizer that is safe for use on all of your baby’s skin. Moisturize several times a day – especially if dry skin seems to be part of the problem. Often time a little hydration can cut back on how irritated the skin feels which can help baby stop the itching and scratching cycle. Make sure to choose a lotion that is light, without heavy fragrance, and one that is completely hypo-allergenic. For a list of what works with other baby’s, keep an eye on our other blog posts to see the suggestions posted by other parents.
Finally, recognizing that itching and scratching can be a vicious cycle can help stop the process all together. Often times a few days of itchy skin leads to scratching, and the scratching leads to more irritated and itchy skin! Stopping the cycle can sometimes solve many of the problems associated with scratching babies. For a simple way to stop the cycle in its tracks, check out our flip-mitten sleeves made from the softest fabrics and the most joyful designs and colors!
ScratchMeNot flip mittens are made for babies that scratch or rub themselves consistently due to skin irritation. It may be surprising to know that no matter how often or how low a babies nails are clipped, they can still scratch themselves painfully well. From eczema to chronic scratching, your baby’s skin has a chance to heal without the interference of little fingers scratching and damaging their skin. It can also be used alongside any necessary medications or creams. No matter when scratching begins, ScratchMeNots help end it by flipping the mittens to the position! Open them to continue with hands-free time.
DISCLAIMER: SLS, LLC is not endorsing ScratchMeNots product recommendations but offering this article as a resource. Article reprinted with permission from ScratchMeNot.
