This week is Indoor Allergy Week in the UK and comes at the time of year that we’re all starting to realise that winter really is on its way.
I thought I’d share a few things that we’re doing to prepare for the onslaught of what may well be a frosty winter:
1. Scarf – I have looked high and low for MyItchyBoy’s scarf from last year. It’s hard to lose such a thing, but lose it I have. It’s in the house somewhere and it’s 100% cotton and he’s not grown out of it, so I need to find it. All suggestions welcome! In the meantime, I’m scouring shops for a new one to keep the wind away from his neck on the walk to school
2. We finally bought a tumble dryer. I love it! Not only does it mean that I can finally feel on top with the amount of washing I have to get through on a weekly basis, but it also means no laundry hanging off every airer, radiator, door or door handle in the house. This is good news for a tidy house but also, since we’ve found out that MyItchyBoy is allergic to house dust mites, it should help to improve the air in the house
3. We got MyItchyBoy a fab winter coat in a sale this summer. It’s waterproof and wind proof and has storm cuffs so should make sure he’s toasty warm outside so he’ll be happy to get plenty of fresh air. He usually feels the cold a lot due to him being quite a skinny minny so a warm coat is a must
4. 
Gloves – am scouring the shops again for a pair that is lined with cotton, but we do have last year’s mittens that still fit. I’m terrible for wearing gloves myself in winter so frequently find my hands are cracked and sore by January. Despite my own reluctance, I do try to instil in MyItchyBoy how important it is to wear his gloves to protect his hands over winter. His hands are never eczema-free so they get sore easily in the cold on the way to school. Long sleeves on a coat is a good substitute to gloves!
5. So far our heating hasn’t been on but when we get to that point, we do try to keep at least one window upstairs and one window downstairs open when we’re at home. We don’t have any vents in our double-glazing unfortunately, but we do live in an old house with an open fireplace so we do get a few draughts!
6. I got a blanket for MyItchyBoy’s bed last winter. It is washable and 100% cotton and we used it last year to layer up his bedding. We use a cotton duvet on his bed which isn’t as warm as other fillings so the blanket helps add an extra layer of warmth on the really cold nights
7. MyItchyBoy uses Epaderm cream and ointment as part of the daily routine for his eczema. Although we usually use the cream in the morning rush as it soaks in quicker so we can put his school uniform on, we make sure we always use the ointment on his face. The thickness of it protects much better against the wind in the cold weather
8. Cotton pyjamas with long sleeves and legs are bought and washed and ready to wear. I always find that Sainsburys has a good selection for boys at a reasonable price.
What do you do to prepare for dealing with eczema and allergies over winter?
Allergy UK have a great symptom checker where you can find out more info on keeping your skin tip top over winter.
MyItchyBoy
My son has atopic eczema and he reacts badly to dairy, soya and we are slowly working towards him eating eggs again. He's had a mild anaphylactic reaction to peanuts and has regular flare-ups to random things that we rarely manage to pinpoint. I started the blog to share my experiences and frustrations of having an itchy boy.
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