In celebration of fatherhood for the month of June, I had the privilege of talking to a few dads during my Itchy Conversations segments on Instagram Live about their experiences with caring for a child with eczema, food allergies, and hay fever. We called the series Fatherhood and Eczema, as it was so fitting for our discussions. Let me tell you, it was so awesome and enlightening to hear the “dad perspective” and how they managed Fatherhood and Eczema. They shared tons of advice with other dads who were also caring for children with eczema, food allergies and hay fever. These dads were on it, and it was so refreshing! I found myself nodding my head in agreement like, “Yeah…yeah….you’re so right…say that again!” So, if you are dad reading this and searching for answers, below are the top 7 helpful tips shared by each dad during their interview. I hope these helpful tips will also assist you in your quest for answers in your child’s treatment plan.
Do the Research!
The first step in caring for your child’s eczema, food allergies and hay fever is doing the research to learn as much as you can about your child’s condition. Like my husband and I, most of the dads during my discussions did not have any firsthand knowledge or experience with these conditions. So conducting research, talking to friends with familiarity, and asking questions from medical professionals was vital to managing their child’s medical condition. Do as much research as you can, join advocacy groups and organizations, like the National Eczema Association and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. This will help you to gain the knowledge you need to learn about your child’s condition and to develop the best treatment plan for your child.
Know Your Child’s Triggers
Knowing your Child’s Triggers will save you so much time and energy when caring for your child. If your child has food allergies or if you suspect they may have food allergies, you may already have an idea of their triggers. However, knowing for sure, what your child is allergic to or what triggers their eczema will guide you on the best protocol for managing their condition…..and of course, save you that unwanted emergency room visit. Been there! So how do you discover your child’s triggers and allergies? Allergy Testing! One thing we all agreed upon during my discussions with each dad is that allergy testing was the key element to properly managing your child’s eczema, food allergies, and hay fever. With allergy testing, you get concrete answers of what your child is allergic to and what will trigger their eczema if they ingest or encounter the allergen. Knowing your child’s triggers gives you the clarity you need to manage your child’s care and develop a plan tailored to their needs. Additionally, knowing your child’s triggers and allergies will also assist you with meal planning, examining food ingredients on labels, and knowing what questions to ask the waiter when dining out. For example, with us, our son is allergic to fish, but LOVES chicken fingers; however, most restaurants cook their chicken fingers and fish in the same oil. Therefore, it is vital that we ask the waiter or waitress how the food is prepared to prevent an allergic reaction and eczema flare. So, dads if you have not already, talk to your child’s pediatrician or dermatologist about scheduling an appointment with a pediatric allergist.
Do as much research as you can, join advocacy groups and organizations, like the National Eczema Association and Asthma and Allergy Foundation to learn as much you can to develop the best treatment plan for your child.
Be Aware of What Products/Medicines Your Child Is Using
If your partner is the primary shopper in the household, make sure you are aware of what products and medicines your child is using. This will ensure that you are knowledgeable of the products and medicines used in your child’s healthcare routine. Plus, you want to make sure that you are an equal partner in taking care of your child’s medical condition. And let’s be honest….you want to make sure that you can take care of your baby when your partner is not around. Don’t be that lost dad in the restaurant not knowing what to do when their child is in a full out itch fest due to an eczema flare because you forgot to moisturize the baby’s skin! We’ve ALL seen it happen before!
Know Your Child’s Daily Routine
In addition to knowing the products and medicines your child is using, be sure to also familiarize yourself with their daily care routine. Once again, it is important that you understand your child’s daily routine so that you can properly take care of their needs and manage their condition. A valuable piece of advice that one of the dads gave in our discussion is that the best way to know your child’s daily routine is to not only research, but to also help develop the healthcare routine that is best suited for your child. It also makes you an equal partner in managing their care.
Talk to Your Child/Build Their Confidence
Throughout our series, each dad expressed the importance of talking to your child about their condition and the significance in building their self-confidence. Having real conversations with your child about their eczema, food allergies or hay fever affords you the opportunity to educate them on their condition and prepares them for managing their condition in the future. It also includes them as partners in managing their care. Words of affirmation are also essential to building their confidence and must start at an early age. This world can be cruel…kids can be cruel. So, as a dad you must not only give your child the tools necessary to be successful in this world, but you must also provide them with the tools to be confident in themselves and to love themselves regardless of their medical conditions.
Work With Your Partner As a Team
Regardless of the tips provided above, in order for it all to work, you and your partner must work together as a team. You are both in this together! Therefore, it is vitally important that you are both on the same page and working together to give your child the best possible care based on their needs. Research together, ask questions together, develop a plan together, execute together, and if necessary, regroup TOGETHER!
As a dad you must not only give your child the tools necessary to be successful in this world, but you must also provide them with the tools to be confident in themselves and to love themselves regardless of their medical conditions.
Dads you got this!
I hope this information was helpful as you and your Itchy Warrior continue your journey in this eczema, food allergy and hay fever world. Do not be afraid to reach out to another dad for advice or just to share experiences. Remember, we are all in this fight together. You got this dad!
To hear all the wonderful nuggets the fellas shared during our segments on Instagram Live for the Fatherhood and Eczema series, check out the full interviews on our Instagram page @myitchybrownskin.
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