Little Moomin has Eczema. Awful Eczema.  All over her gorgeous face.  Three courses of Hydrocortisone cream and three different moisturisers (one of which made her howl) later and we're in the  midst of yet another flare up.

During the day I can distract her or at worse put socks on her hands.  Yes, socks.  She makes impressively short work of removing 'scratch mits' within mere seconds.  Night is a whole new ball game, aptly called 'baby scratches her face off'.  She can now remove socks from her hands within seconds too and despite them being cotton they're still textured and ever so mildly abrasive.

Some retailers sell sleepsuits with nifty fold over cuffs that become mits yet it would appear that once your baby outgrows size 3-6 months you'd have more luck acquiring rocking horse shit.

Then there's the conundrum of not always needing a sleepsuit with sleeping bags dependent on temperature due to overheating risks.

Then I found Scratch Sleeves.

I don't get much time to type at the moment so the review is through videos.  Bare in mind I'm not a 'v-blogger', It's one handed using my phone and I'm sleep deprived.

First impressions...




Part 2



Since the videos were made we've been using the Scratch Sleeves for around a month or so.  Poor Moomin's eczema is worse than ever at the moment so they've been a god send at night

There's no getting around the fact that they're expensive... more so when, in my opinion, one pair simply isn't enough.  If needed for day and night I'd suggest a minimum of 3-4 pairs. It's not even a 'want', once you've tried them you'll quickly realise they fall very much into the 'need' category if you have a baby/child with eczema.  Then there's the fact they're sized so you'll then have to purchase in the next size up when they grow as too small will be restrictive and uncomfortable yet too big and they'll be able to slip their hands out, so it really is important you buy the exact size you currently need.  It's a shame they can't engineer a comfortable adjustment yet the obvious button or press stud options would probably be uncomfortable for baby.  I'd also like to see these available on prescription as I genuinely believe they're that essential!  No matter how much she rubs her face (and believe me she rubs a lot) I can sleep knowing she's not drawing blood or clawing strips from her face as opposed to putting matchsticks in my eyes to keep them open so I can constantly retrieve/return mittens/socks to her hands throughout the night because all it takes is one scratch and there's blood.

Even more impressive is the fact she genuinely doesn't seem to mind wearing them!

I'm sold on them.  Unfortunately we only have the one pair so we save them for nights and she's growing quick so as soon as the purse strings allow we'll be buying at least two more (whilst starting to save for two more to make four) as she's getting quicker and quicker and removing socks from her hands which she needs to wear during the day.

It was only when I forgot they were in the wash pile and had to resort to socks one night that I fully realised how much we'd come to rely on them! What a crap night's sleep that was!

Obviously they won't cure eczema but anything that makes it more bearable is worth it's weight in gold.  It's heartbreaking seeing your baby in so much discomfort.  I can't stop her rubbing but with these I can at least minimise the damage she can do to herself!

You can purchase these direct from www.scratchsleeves.co.uk  or via Amazon.


***I purchased these myself and felt compelled to review them.  All opinions expressed are genuine and my own.

Dress your kids up...

When Thing One was smaller there didn't seen to be much choice in clothes and I doubt I'd ever even heard of 'organic' clothes, organic was just a word added to eggs to hike the price up. So, he had the typical mini man clothes that the high street stores are populated with in predictable pastel blues and yawnsome beige.  Add to that the fact he grew like a weed so I seemed to be in a perpetual cycle of buying clothes and let's face it, boys clothes are pretty unimaginative bordering fatefully close to being downright boring. Don't even get me started on the boys shoes, before I had kids I didn't ever dream shopping for shoes could actually be, well, boring.

Then Thing Two came along and what a revelation that was, shopping for a...girl! That's much more like it! Oodles of choice!

By the time The Toddler graced up with his presence I'd had enough of the bland boys clothing. It's only when you have bigger kids that you realise and appreciate just how small and delicate babies genuinely are. The thought of stiff denim, metal buttons, unnecessary zippers etc just seemed....well....awful! More so seeing as he wore soft, fluffy cloth nappies.

Also, pale colours just didn't even seem to suit him! I was remarkably impressed when I managed to find some orange, red and bright yellow vests, even the midwife commented on them!

So, I let a bit of me loose on The Toddlers wardrobe (ok, If you're going to be pedantic he only has drawers) I filled them with bold bright colours in comfy soft jersey and cotton populated with stripes and spots. He looked vibrant. He looked fun. He looked, dare I say, funky. Best of all he looked comfy!

The only problem I found was finding things! H&M proved amazing for basics (and incidentally fit really well over cloth nappies!) And eBay gave me access to quirky, cheap and amazingly practical leggings from China which he has lived in! They were brilliant for crawling, climbing and don't ride up when he is in the sling.

I just wish I'd known that he would be the opposite to Thing One insofar as to say, he doesn't actually seen to grow! This would have made it infinitely more justifiable to go shopping for funky organic clothing like Molo. I adore their stuff and often fantasy shop for it.

Who knows, Maybe I can justify it this year. Am currently drooling over  Love It Love It Love It  they have bright colours, stripes and it all looks super comfy, oh and It's organic! Just need to sell a kidney now to have some funds.....

You know you're a mum when It's more fun shopping for kids clothes then your own!

May be a bit quieter then usual as the computer died. As in Totally. I am devastated and so are the kids as we can't afford to replace it.  It's no easy feat blogging from my (crappy dying) phone, my thumb is positively withering at the sheer injustice of it.

Baltic Amber

Excuse the poor photo, the only time The Toddler is remotely still is when he's nursing and even then he has a penchant for gymnastics.  So, Baltic Amber.  Specifically Baltic Amber teething necklaces.

For those who've never heard of them, Baltic amber is the only fossil resin that contains 3-8% succinic acid. The amber warms when in contact with skin and releases an oil that has analgesic properties.  It's been used for many centuries and is especially popular on the continent.

When Thing One was a baby I had no idea they existed.  Thing Two got one as a freebie but by then she had all her teeth.  The Toddler has had his necklace since he was really quite a small baby.  It has been taken off only a handful of times in his life, the only time that immediately springs to mind is when he needed a chest X-ray.  Otherwise he wears it 24/7, yes even in the bath.

Does it work though?  Good question.  All I can say is that he has a mouthful of teeth and half of them I had no idea where on there way until they'd already arrived.  He rarely drools or has red cheeks.  When teething he doesn't scream and cry, he just feeds even longer then usual (i.e throughout the entire day and night).  Even his molars have been no issue.  Infact the only issues with teething we've had is occasionally they bring upon cold symptoms and this exacerbates his breathing issues and has resulted with him being taken to hospital three times in four months. 

Just this week, he was giggling away and I took the opportunity to glance in his mouth and saw a tooth emerging, we had no idea yet in retrospect is does explain why he's upped his nursing antics lately.

So in my experience of three children with only one wearing Baltic Amber I'd have to say, yes.  I do believe it works.  Unfortunately The Husband remains sceptical, as he does with anything like this he believes it's all a load of old tosh.  Same with Arnica cream.  He doubted the magic cough relief of putting vapour rub on feet then socks on top at night time yet even he can't deny how well it works (yet he refuses to humour me and try the half an onion next to the bed cough cure)

So around a year ago I decided to purchase myself an Baltic Amber necklace and bracelet.  Amber bracelets are highly effective for controlling the pain of rheumatism, arthritis, and aching muscles and joints whereas necklaces can provide significant pain relief for head, neck and throat areas Baltic amber is also an anti-anxiety remedy that rids fatigue and weariness. As someone who suffers from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, anxiety and depression I figured I could benefit from it.  Unfortunately despite the amazing effect it appears to have on The Toddler I can't say I noticed any affect at all.

Yet, before we completely write it off as total twaddle it's important to remember not all Baltic Amber that is sold is actually genuine.  There are some very simple tests to check the authenticity of Baltic Amber if you're at all in doubt.  Unfortunately I am doubtful of the authenticity of mine after carrying out the acetone test on my bracelet which may explain things. 

However, I feel I must mention that recently many small companies are recalling baby teething necklaces due to Trading Standards investigating the safety of infants wearing them so many makers are now having to market them at being suitable for for 3yrs and over.  There have been no incidents reported connected with them, it's purely speculation of potential danger.

I know one thing though, I won't be returning The Toddlers.  It's invaluable.