Poison Ivy In Toddlers

Parents love their children and they will do virtually anything to be sure that nothing ever happens to them. There are times though when it is nearly impossible to keep them from hurting their knees or dropping into poison ivy. While we do not have the ability to stop everything there are steps we will take to make them feel better.Spot The SignsWe have not all dealt with poison ivy and will have a difficult time even picking out the symptoms that it causes. The most obvious symptom to search for is a red rash. Any portion of the skin that comes into contact with the toxic urushiol oil that comes from the plant will develop a rash and this is the first symptom you will notice. In more severe cases blisters will develop.Immediate TreatmentYou have to take immediate action the moment that you notice a rash forming. Even if you are not quite sure that poison ivy is the problem. Take off their clothes and throw them immediately into the washing machine. Draw a lukewarm bath and set the child in it. Use mild soap to wash the skin. Be careful not to irritate it. All you are trying to do is wash off the oil.Dry them carefully using a soft towel and set them in something that is light to wear. Try not to conceal the rash. If you have to than set them in something that is soft to the touch.The hardest part of treating toddlers with poison ivy is the measure of itching they will have to deal with. Cut their nails so they will be less tempted to scratch and cannot infect the skin. Apply a liberal quantity of calamine lotion two to three times each day. Cold compresses will also help the skin to be less itchy. If the rash does not look better after a week take the toddler to your pediatrician.