Is she allergic to something non-food?

[catty47]

Hi,

Wondering if anyone has problems with non-food allergies...despite huge amounts of patient, kind and caring sleep strategies (!) and allowing for the contrary nature of a Touchy, I am nowhere near getting my daughter, 9 months, through the night.

She wakes up really bunged up and congested and rubbing her face and eyes and nose manically all the time.  She just seems so uncomfortable, and mad with irritation.  She is not blocked up during the day - this is only at night, which makes me wonder why on earth it's happening.

Are there any boards here for other allergies, or does anyone have an advice they can give me? 

x

[Mom to M&M]

Could she be allergic to something in her crib? Like the detergent or a certain fabric?

[Doj]

Hi

My dd has a diaper rash on her bottom for about 6 mths straight. Dr kept saying a yeast infection, but no medicine cleared it up. After eliminating certain foods, there was no change with the rash so i decided to look elsewhere. I changed her brand of diapers, no change, changed the wipes no changed, change diaper cream no change then finally i changed her bath soap and within 1 week the rash was gone and has never come back. Your dd could be allergic to the detergent on the sheets, many things. try eliminating 1 thing at a time and see what happens

[catty47]

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies.  Yes I'm in the process of trying to change things - have started using Indian Soapnuts instead of washing powder, which are a great eco solution so I'm being environmentally responsible too!  I've removed wool blankets/fleeces etc, and am trying natural soap products (which I usually use anyway, but sometimes people give presents etc which are standard manufacturers and you feel obliged to use them!).  I've also been using an ioniser in the room.

Nothing doing yet - in fact these last few nights she is worse than ever.  Some of it is I think behavioural - it's almost impossible not to fall into some accidental parenting when you have to mess about so much trying to make them comfortable.

Let's hope it's the teeth too or I have really got my work cut out for me now - she was an absolute nightmare last night.

Thanks for the suggestions
x x x

[jennyh]

could it be dust mites or dust.i have to wet dust the bedroom every day as it sends her crazy.....jenny

[catty47]

i'm wondering if it is that - what are your daughter's symptoms....?

x x x

[jennyh]

her nose becomes really  bunged up even if she is perfectly fine when she got out of the bath.you can hear her trying to breathe through her mouth .a really dry cough,rubs her eyes and nose.really unsettled even when asleep and snuffly.....hth...jenny

[litomi]

It can be mites.... does your LO have any lovies, soft toys in her cot? Try an Honeywell air purifier, it helped with my LO.

[catty47]

Jenny - that's quite like Hetty too.  She doesn't cough but seems very irritated in the head - she does get bunged up but I don't know whether it's just because she's crying and gets very quickly snotty, or whether it comes first and causes her to get annoyed and start crying!  I really don't know any more - but I've given up trying to figure it out and have a sleep therapist coming to see us!

You just get to the point where you don't know which way is up, and become very ineffective at trying to see what's really happening don't you?

Litomi - thanks, yes I've got an ioniser, not sure if it's helped really...

Well, we'll see how our consultation goes!

[jennyh]

good luck

[JennŠ]

jenny, have you tried an antihistimine at night for a few days?  That won't tell you the culprit, but would possibly help the sleep.  Chat with your doc, there are several 24 hr non drowsy ones.  Also, wash all bedding/crib buddies in hot water to kill any mites.  And have a big hug!!!!!!!!  I have allergies and know how miserable it is.   

[jennyh]

jenn yes we do use it.india has loads of food intollerances,and swells up quite a bit when something doesnt agree with her .they even tried inhalers but they didnt work.keeing her cuddlies in the freezer works though......thanks ...jenny

[catty47]

I tried an anti-histamine and it made her go the opposite way!  Maybe she had an allergic reaction to something else in the syrup - she became hyperactive instead.  Like I needed that!  I feel like I'm a bomb disposal expert - it's like trying to defuse mines getting them off to sleep when they're so massively touchy.

[jennyh]

i know what you mean,i feel like its one big guessing game half the time .India is like that with infant paracetamol too and i can only use one type.ibuprofen is a no no too.

[Mandy]

Hi, just a thought from a different angle. Why don't you try Kinesiology? I don't have any experience of such a LO but friends with slightly older children have had great success with this. E.g. 6 yo with a prolapse, couldn't cure it then the Kinesiologist, thorugh muscle testing, found he was allergic to tomatoes and this cured it. A friend's DH also consulted one recently when he was getting a rash. Found out it was washing powder and also that he should stay away from cheddar cheese! You can take things along to the appt that you think are causing the issues and they can be tested.

Hope it gets better soon.

X+x