Starting School or Daycare With an Eczema-Prone Child

When your little one is eczema-prone, starting school or daycare can feel pretty overwhelming. They’ll be in a whole new environment with a whole new set of triggers, and you’ll be relying on another caregiver to help your child manage any flare-up symptoms. But with some extra preparation and communication, you can help the transition to starting school or daycare feel more exciting and less daunting!

We’ve shared some practical tips for parents and carers to help your child with eczema-prone skin have a smoother transition to school or daycare.

Tips for when your eczema child starts school or daycare

1. Keep open communication with your child’s educator

Be sure to speak to staff at your child’s school or daycare to let them know that your child has eczema and ask for their help with managing triggers or symptoms where appropriate. Some things to consider for discussion may include:

Your child’s triggers

Let them know your child’s eczema triggers and discuss ways they can be avoided or minimised throughout the day. Some common classroom or daycare triggers can be carpets, bedding, grass, air conditioning or heating, soaps, messy play materials or art/craft supplies. You can offer some alternatives to help your child avoid triggers while still being able to participate in activities, like providing a cotton towel for them to sit on, alternative soap for the bathroom, non-latex gloves to use during messy play or suggesting alternative materials for these sorts of activities.

Moisturiser and/or other eczema treatments

Discuss your moisturising routine with your child’s educators, including how much needs to be applied and how often, so that they can remind your child when it’s time to moisturise. Your child may be required to apply their own moisturiser (with supervision), so it’s helpful to demonstrate to the educator how it is applied so that they can provide guidance through the process. Their school should have a private and clean area (not the toilets) where your child can apply their moisturiser.

Consider providing instructions for any other treatments if they’re required to be applied while your child is at school or daycare. You may also need to discuss any possible side effects that may arise from eczema treatments you’re using at home.

It should also be discussed whether the school or early learning centre will store your child’s eczema treatments, or if you will need to carry it in their school bag.

Temperature control

Heat is a common eczema trigger, so be sure to let your child’s teacher or carer know if this is a problem for them. Keep this in mind when dressing your little one for school or daycare – and if sending them with an extra layer on during chilly mornings, consider asking the educator to remove it once they start running around outside. On hot days, you may want to request that your child be given more indoor play time to avoid the heat.

Food sensitivities or allergies

Food allergies and eczema can go hand-in-hand, so consider finding an allergy-aware childcare centre if your little one has food allergies or sensitivities – this may mean that they’re more familiar with how to manage eczema. If your little one has food allergies, make sure you let the centre or school know, and if you have an anaphylaxis plan, make sure you give them a copy. You should also discuss whether you need to provide your own EpiPen or if this is provided by your child’s school or daycare.

Possible disruptions to their concentration or behaviour

Consider letting the school or daycare know if your child is likely to experience changes in behaviour due to their eczema. Eczema-prone children can feel more tired due to lack of sleep, or might feel distracted in the classroom because of itchiness or tiredness.

2. Prepare an ‘eczema pack’

Prepare an ‘eczema pack’ for your child and clearly label it. You can request that this pack be kept on hand in your child’s classroom or daycare centre, or you may need to keep it in their backpack. In your pack, you can include:

Any moisturiser or other products/treatments that you’re using on your child’s eczema
A soap-free hand wash for your child to use
A cotton towel to sit on
Your child’s personal sunscreen that doesn’t irritate their skin or cause an eczema flare-up
A copy of your child’s eczema management plan with details of how their educator can help manage or prevent flare-ups at school or daycare

3. Help your child understand their eczema

Chances are, your child already has a lot of awareness about how to manage their eczema at home and with your help. As they get older and move into this next stage of independence, it’s a great time to empower them to understand their eczema, their triggers and how to feel confident to speak up and ask for help when they feel itchy or uncomfortable.

They may also receive questions from their peers or feel worried about receiving comments about their eczema. Have a gentle discussion about positive ways they can respond to questions and describe their eczema to others.

4. Continue to manage your child’s eczema as best you can at home

Managing your little one’s eczema as best you can at home will hopefully lead to fewer flare-ups when they’re away from you in an environment you can’t control. Talk to your doctor to regularly update your eczema management plan and communicate any changes with your child’s school or daycare.

It’s a good idea to apply their moisturiser right before school drop off, and be sure to stick to your daily skincare routine. Popping them in the bath with some Itchy Baby Co. Oatmeal Bath Soak after school or daycare is a great way to wash away irritants and get moisture back into their skin after a busy day of play.

This free eczema school kit is full of useful tips and resources to help with the transition – definitely check it out!

This blog post was brought to you with love from the Itchy Baby Co. team x.

Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional.

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Lifestyle & Environmental Factors, Parenting Support

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Starting School or Daycare With an Eczema-Prone Child

Starting School or Daycare With an Eczema-Prone Child

Tips for when your eczema child starts school or daycare

1. Keep open communication with your child’s educator

2. Prepare an ‘eczema pack’

3. Help your child understand their eczema

4. Continue to manage your child’s eczema as best you can at home

Itchy Baby Co. Skincare

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