toddler scratching back of neck repeatedly for months - help!

[Anonymous]

Its the velco on bibs!

[Anonymous]

Its the velcro on bibs ?

[Anonymous]

My 3.5 yo does this and has since I can remember. It's part of his self soothing. I have to keep his nails short because he also breaks the skin and I constantly now tell him not to scratch which helps a bit. It is starting to decline a bit but I am worried also especially when I see his back at bath time. I almost consider putting socks on his hands during sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone experienced anything like this? A few months ago we noticed that our son had some small scratches on the back of his neck (well, really his upper back just below his neck). We thought it was weird but figured he must have had a bug bite or something. Anyway, we eventually started noticing that the scratches kept coming back, and at times got worse. And then we started noticing him scratching the area himself (he can barely reach) when he was either going to sleep or waking up. I'm starting to wonder if it's some sort of obsessive compulsive thing? He's 21 months. I will probably call his pediatrician but not expecting they'll be too helpful...

Anyone experienced anything like this???

TIA!

I would talk to your pediatrician about it. We just discussed something similar at our 18 month check up as DD has been doing the same thing for about 6 months, although she gets an red, bumpy rash there as well. It was initially diagnosed as contact dermatitis and we've been using Aquaphor twice a day, Zyrtec one a day, and hydrocortisone cream as needed. This helps a lot, but we still get occasional flare-ups. We suspected blankets and bibs with synthetic fibers, car seat, sleep sack, etc., but changing these things didn't seem to help. We've always used fragrance-free detergent and Cetaphil soaps. Ped now suspects eczema but we'll be going to the allergist in a few months if it does not clear up.

[Anonymous]

The same thing is happening to my 14 month old. Can anyone who posted provide an update?

[Anonymous]

Check under his fingernails. Is there black stuff under them? If so, it could be lice. Their feces falls out of the hair and irritates the neck. The feces appears as black specks under the nails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it the tag on his shirts bothering him?

This.

Had to cut out all the tags on my kid's clothes.

[Anonymous]

My 5 year old still does this sometimes. I think that the tags bother him. Although he also twirls his hair so it might be a nervous tic type thing.

[Anonymous]

Hello, my daughter is 1.5 and she does this is the same spot too. I don’t think it’s anything as these people are describing. I could see it being these things if the child has multiple Areas they were itching or a rash etc. I do feel it’s more along the line of mentally. I was wondering was your child progressing in daily activities slower then the average child? Example: walking , crawling, talking ?

[Anonymous]

shampoon that is not properly rinsed. Change to kids champoo chemicals free and rinse well and see if it helps. fragrance free ideally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First thought-- HEAD LICE

Mine too. My ped even thought the rash on dds neck was an allergy but it was lice.

[Anonymous]

FLEAS

They’re active at night and might be biting him. They hide in the daylight so you wouldn’t know.

This happened to our son and I felt SO bad, and disgusted!

[Anonymous]

My 22 month old is doing the same thing. Gradually worse scratch marks on her upper back lower neck. She does have sensitive skin but I think I’m going to get it looked at after today she woke up from nap with scratches all the way down to her shoulder.

[Anonymous]

Doctor!

[Anonymous]

Is it where the back of his neck hits the car seat fabric?