Neglect??

[Tameside C/M]

I've been minding a child for the past 2 and a half years. He often comes unwashed and in the same clothes as the day before, sometimes wears them 3 days in a row!
He suffers from terrible eczema and i feel it isn't dealt with properly. Over the years the doctor has suggested he doesn't wear jeans but cotton pants. But mum says he looks cute in jeans! The suggested changing his diet which I believe helped his skin, but it was more expensive so that stopped. He has been admitted to hospital on several occasions with infection in the skin.
I just don't know what to do. Now he's leaving and going to a private nursery I don't know if things will go unnoticed. I feel like I have somewhat let him down if I don't say something, but to who?
He's never marked or bruised so don't think it's physical abuse, but the way they speak to him and how he is unwashed breaks my heart!
Any suggestions?!

[sarah707]

It is incredibly hard caring for a child with eczema - it's a full time job - and soul destroying when you do all the right things and they scratch themselves silly and undo all your good efforts in a few minutes flat

Jeans are cotton - they are not necessarily bad for an eczema sufferer if the environment is kept cool - it's when they overheat it tends to flare up.

Some parents are better at it than others. Some cope and manage the condition and others need some support.

Why not find out if there is a specialist eczema nurse at your local surgery and give parents his/her details? Then you know you have provided them with the best information possible.

Hugs to the little one xx

[K.EAST]

My little boy has had eczema since a baby, he is now 5. I keep his nails short, bathe him only twice a week and give him washes in between, as baths suck all the moisture away! It's heart breaking to hear that his infection has got that bad he's needed to be in hospital. When my son has a outbreak and he has scratched I bandage it up so he can't scratch anymore! I use a crocodile fatty acids balm which not many know about and should! Dont think I could of managed without it, it's called repcillin it's from South Africa and is natural! It rapidly heals and moisturises and should be on the nhs but isn't! And I use hydrous ointment for the rest if his body for a moisturiser. I've tried steroids but they thin the skin so no good if your child scratches! But eczema is so frustrating and more so for the child! You can maybe look up that repcillin and print stuff about it for them. The website is repcillin.com and its founder is John sweet. I also think colourants and processed foods effect eczema too! All you can do is give advise and help, and hope they try there best. You can alSo educate the little boy of his condition and teach him about foods and how scratching doesn't help! Best of luck x

Sent from my iPhone using Childminding Forum

[catherine1968]

I've been minding a child for the past 2 and a half years. He often comes unwashed and in the same clothes as the day before, sometimes wears them 3 days in a row!
He suffers from terrible eczema and i feel it isn't dealt with properly. Over the years the doctor has suggested he doesn't wear jeans but cotton pants. But mum says he looks cute in jeans! The suggested changing his diet which I believe helped his skin, but it was more expensive so that stopped. He has been admitted to hospital on several occasions with infection in the skin.
I just don't know what to do. Now he's leaving and going to a private nursery I don't know if things will go unnoticed. I feel like I have somewhat let him down if I don't say something, but to who?
He's never marked or bruised so don't think it's physical abuse, but the way they speak to him and how he is unwashed breaks my heart!
Any suggestions?!

Hey you,ve done nothing wrong ! Air your concern with the social services they will advise you of what to do .
It's all confidential and they are really helpful.
Sounds maybe as the parent may need help and stern advice and that's what there ,there for. The social services are not there to shatter people's live or make them feel inadequate but to try and work out what's best for the child and that's what is important .