Crusader Emma T.: Our Battle Against Our Sons' Eczema And Why Frugi makes us Smile

No parent can easily bear to watch their child suffer. The worst feeling when it comes to protecting our children from harm is that of helplessness, not knowing what to do to help them.

One in ten children suffer from a condition called eczema, a form of dermatitis, which is an inflammation of the outer layer of the skin, symptoms of which include dryness, redness, swelling, blistering, flaking, crusting, cracking, and even bleeding. It can be very painful, and the persistent itching can be a great burden for any person, especially children. It is terrible to watch one’s child go through repeated flare-ups and sometimes very long periods of constant discomfort, which are often aggravated by many environmental factors, some of which can we can hardly protect them from. Luckily, there are also some very helpful products which can treat and reduce flare-ups, from creams and other suitable hygiene products, and nutritional products to clothing and toys, etc., which are made from non-aggravating/non-toxic materials and ingredients.

There are many great sites that provide information on eczema and its possible triggers and treatment options, and since we crusaders are not medical professionals, we cannot assume to be able to give great advice for specific cases. All we can do is share experiences and tell you a little bit about how the availability of certain products and companies have made our lives a bit brighter and easier. The following is an account by our lovely crusader Emma whose sons have both suffered from eczema:

I have two sons, now aged 5 and 2, and they both have had infantile eczema.  I was quick to congratulate myself when the eldest's improved, but much faster to blame myself when my youngest's did not.

Our eldest son had eczema: little patches behind his knees.  We were careful about bathing - no bubbles and very mild soap, experimenting for a limited time with some creams and adding ointment to the bath. It was manageable, sometimes a little sore, but with the prescribed cream it was quickly resolved, and by the time he was two, the symptoms had nearly disappeared.  We knew there was a family history: I had eczema as a child, and my partner's brother and cousin both still suffer in their twenties, so we were mindful. In our eldest's case, we felt that we were victorious and gave ourselves parenting gold stars.

My second son, Finn, had lovely newborn skin, but I was no longer duped by promises of Johnson baby perfect skin. I knew what to expect and, until three months, I praised myself for using only organic creams and enjoyed his skin, with its spots and wrinkles.  Then he cut his first tooth and – whether it was hormones or just excessive dribble, the change in weather and temperature, or some other factor – angry, red patches started to appear. These patches were on his face and neck, mainly in the folds of skin in his neck where the dribble collected, the skin rubbed together, and the neckline of his clothing rubbed, too.

I visited my GP who explained that trial and error was the best method as everyone's skin was different and was given a selection of creams with which to experiment. This seemed good advice and I was prepared for the possibility that some of the creams might make it worse. Unfortunately, however, it seemed to get worse much quicker than it ever improved. It was a trying time, I was sleep deprived, trying to meet the needs and demands of two children, and I found it near impossible to keep the treatment as regularly as I should. Sometimes I couldn’t even remember which cream I had last applied. Managing anything was proving problematic. 

Finn's eczema was so visible, it appeared that everyone, family, friends, strangers, noticed and couldn't help but express their opinion.  As a second-time Mum, I knew that babies attracted a lot of usually kindly-meant attention. However, it seemed that everyone wanted to comment on Finn's blemished face: had I noticed it, wasn't it bad, what was I using, had I tried this product, etc. ?  Frankly, the advice and suggestions were dizzying.  I felt guilty that it had got to be so sore, as I told myself that he hadn't been born with it and had had three months without it.  Had he come across something in his environment – possibly our home?  I'd carried him in a sling initially, had cleaned and hovered with him in it. Had I been daft enough to use surface sprays with him in the sling, and why would I do such a ridiculous thing?  Perhaps it was the dust?  I was breastfeeding, so was it something I was eating?  I didn’t seem to be able to make it better - wasn't I doing enough?  It seemed to add another dimension to what seemed like the already enormous responsibility of looking after two little ones.       

I booked another appointment with a different GP (the wait was so long to see my usual GP), who dismissed this as localised to a few areas, nothing to worry about, and just recommended a different cream. It was late Autumn, and everyone got sick with a nasty stomach bug, the symptoms of which lasted with the boys for a fortnight. I was exhausted.  Finn had lost so much weight, I had him checked by yet another GP, who again was very dismissive. I was starting to feel that they suspected I had some sort of National Health Loyalty Card, with reward points for frequent visits. Then Finn caught a nasty cold, and I was so busy just going through the motions of looking after everyone that I tried to manage his various symptoms as best I could. When I took him to yet another GP, he was quick to point out his “very nasty infection” on a patch in the fold of his neck, which I had been trying my best to treat for close to two months. This time, however, I was reprimanded for not bringing him sooner, and more potions and lotions were prescribed.

That patch improved somewhat but the area around his mouth flared up again and cracked open one evening when he woke up for a nappy change. I worried about infection and didn't want to wait too long again. However, I knew that the cream prescribed for the infected area on his neck contained strong chemicals. I don't like the idea of applying these to babies' skin anyway, especially not around the mouth, and the guidance on the packaging seemed to suggest it wasn’t suitable for that location. I looked on the NHS Direct website but couldn't find whether it was safe to apply, and as the surgery was closed, I phoned NHS Direct, who redirected me to the out-of-hours Doctor.  The nurse who handled the call couldn't answer my question either, so she asked me to drive the 12 miles to see the Emergency Doctor. I am fully aware that eczema isn't necessarily an emergency case, and at 9pm on a November evening, the last thing I want to do is get in a car with my five month old baby and drive 12, dark, cold, miles to see a Doctor, but I was concerned for my son, and wanted an answer to my question, and so I did as she said. 

The Emergency Doctor forcefully told me I was misusing the service, and I snapped. Since becoming a mother, it felt like I had received so much conflicting advice from medical practitioners and had my judgement about needing to see a doctor and make an appointment criticised (on record, I only make a GP's appointment when I feel it is absolutely necessary). I was frustrated that none of the advice and practices seemed to be working, I was tired and angry. The Emergency Doctor didn't seem to realise that I didn't want to be in that appointment room. I explained that I never asked to see a doctor, I had just asked for a health professional to answer my very clear and simple question about applying a certain cream to the skin around my child's mouth. I was given apologies, prescriptions for more creams and a soap substitute to use in the bath, and a follow-up - with yet another Doctor. 

I started taking stock of my medicine cupboard, which now looked like a pharmacist’s, quite literally overflowing with prescription creams and ointments, every doctor, it seemed, favoured a certain product, all of which contain a list of ingredients which I didn't recognise. Overall, there had been very little change to Finn's eczema.
In the first conversation with the initial GP, I remembered telling her that, in my opinion, allowing the area to dry out and having clothes that didn't aggravate it would help, but I hadn’t yet achieved that, especially due to layering up in the cold season.  Feeling I was losing the battle with the artillery of prescription creams, I decided to try a new strategy. 

Rather than regarding his eczema as problem skin which needed treating, I started to think of it as highly sensitive skin that needed protection and care. I searched on the internet for clothing made from organic and natural fibres and kept reading the words “recommended for eczema”, “for the most delicate skin”, “gentle” and “breathable”, and finally seeing clothing which seemed designed with children like my son in mind. I suddenly started feeling like we were in with a fighting chance. We also found Frugi organic cotton vests, without label in the neckline and a wide envelope neck. On their website, I found organic cotton t-shirts with tractors and trucks on them, with the same wide envelope neck, in bright, bold colours, and I smiled.  When the items arrived, and I felt their quality, their softness and their general cheery gorgeousness, I smiled some more.  My son looked gorgeous, we all smiled, and I became a devoted Frugi customer. 

Finn's eczema did improve at this point. In my memory, it happened rapidly, and while I am certain that the clothes played their part, it would be over-simplistic to say this was the only variable.  However, by changing his environment - his clothing, using fewer household chemicals, eating more organic products, using creams with organic ingredients, I was taking charge – and managing his eczema. It seemed that by doing less, I was doing more, by changing some aspects of our day-to-day life I ended up not having to worry about the around-the-clock, ritual cream routine. By doing things our way, by following our instincts a little, rather than trying to follow often conflicting and confusing advice, we were achieving something.

Finn is now a happy two-and-a-half year old. He still has eczema, little patches behind his knees. They fluctuate, and we are still learning: a recent holiday in Ireland suggests that softer water might be really beneficial. I have, at times, described our journey as a battle, with winners and losers, and there have certainly been points where I have felt like I was losing. From experience, the problem felt more manageable when I started focusing on simple changes to and choices in our everyday life, on what I could change, rather than on what I was failing to do or not achieving.  The first doctor was right in her emphasis on trial and error, but for us, thinking about our home environment and day-to-day living overall was easier that thinking about the effectiveness of a range of creams. 

We are aware of the fact that, compared to many others, our experience has been of a relatively short duration and may be considered minor. We have never had to stay in a  hospital or resort to bandaging or stressful allergy tests. I know that we have been very lucky to not have been worse affected, but anyone who has had to experience dealing with eczema, especially when it affects our children, will understand that it has nonetheless been a real source of stress and anxiety. We have been fortunate, Finn's eczema is now very manageable, thanks to some very lovely organic, natural products and companies such as Frugi, and I am so thankful and so very pleased for him that it is!

Emma T.

Planet Frugi – One Small Step for a Woman.....

Once upon a time there was a newly qualified professional couple, let's call them Josh and Emma, who discovered they were having a baby.  With this news, although already fully grown, they made a great stride into adulthood and did sensible things like buying a house, thinking about budgeting, and concerning themselves with the world.  Perhaps it was the heady heat in Emma's last few months of pregnancy, the weight of the boxes carried into their newly purchased property, the surprise at how little money was left when all the necessities had been deducted or the general state of the world they surveyed for their unborn child, but the couple decided action was needed.  

That June was hot, very hot, and their little plot of land, so grassy green in the Estate Agents pictures, was now parched and thirsty-looking.  People talked about drought.  So  our considerate couple decided they must conserve water.  They would share their bath water and save it and their shower water, and then use this grey-water to hydrate their dusty, brown garden.   Armed with bucket, gauze, and watering can, they set about the task of carrying the water from the upstairs bathroom, filtering it and distributing it to the grateful plants.  It was a time consuming, but rewarding job, and they felt quite pleased with themselves and smiled, smugly.  

Then, a little later than expected, their son arrived.  He was beautiful.  The need to keep the world a green and lovely place was magnified.  However, things changed, no longer was life predictable and ordered, it was unexpected and chaotic.  They did their best, the bath plug remained in, the water saved.  Someone would surely have an opportunity to  empty it soon?  

And, in the humid micro-climate they had created in the smallest room in the house, grew a black, unsightly and unhealthy mould.  It seemed simple scrubbing would not tackle  it (they did not know about the rumoured mythical properties of stale white bread), and so they resorted to spraying it with foul-smelling chemicals, not good for the world, or their baby and made them cough.              

There ended the story of the great water saving experiment, but not our green ambitions.  The vegetable patch, sporadically tendered, was similarly unsuccessful.  However, watching the broccoli crop devoured in 24 hours by a plague of hungry caterpillars impressed our budding junior naturalists and I feel  quite maternal towards the Cabbage Whites which we now have in the garden.  

For us, it sometimes seems, it is not always easy being green;  we lack the skills and knowledge to make green projects work and be effective.  Perhaps it was particular to my upbringing, but I was raised to eschew domesticity and turn my attentions to a world, at that time, full of shoulder pads and filo faxes.  My parents nurtured my academic abilities and general curiosity for the world, current affairs, the arts, but didn't teach me to knit or sew, cook and be creative with left-overs, grow my own food, or rudimentary plumbing and vehicle maintenance.  As parents of small children, we are at a stage in life when we have less time, resources and energy than we previously had, and re-skilling is proving a challenge, particularly when the temptation of sitting down and re-acquainting oneself with a newspaper or a good book, or other old friends, pervades any free time.  

There seem many people who are better able and equipped to rise to the challenge, my fellow Crusaders, for example, or the lady whose house I visited at the Cambridge Open Eco Homes.  She was surprised when she was asked if she would open her home, as she didn't think she was doing anything different.  She doesn't have a fridge.  I can only assume these saintly folk live in a different space time continuum, where there are at least 26 hours in every day.     

We have had some environmentally-friendly successes; I breast fed, used cloth nappies (religiously for my first, intermittently for my second), and much of our baby equipment has been second-hand.  My children slept in my cot, under crocheted blankets which are over 30 years old, play with my old toys, wear some very vintage clothes and our buggies (single and twin) have been bought from second-hand sales and e-bay.  It seems that we are better able to be green when we are altering our existing behaviour rather than re-training ourselves and when the green option comes with strong financial and time-saving incentives.  

I realise that this isn't the full solution.  A greener world would be one where we consume less, but I have been conditioned in a 'because I'm worth it' environment, where I see products, new clothes, home accessories, gadgets, and life-style choices, for instance, driving a car, as a necessity or a right, not a privilege.  I don't want to think of myself primarily as a consumer and was shocked when told that a mobile phone company referred to people in some of the world's poorest countries as ECCs, Economically Challenged Consumers.  Surely we human beings are so much more than that?  However, reconditioning myself, undergoing some sort of green cognitive behaviour therapy, requires the time and energy of which, at present, I seem so short.  

Therefore, eager for green success and to be a mindful consumer, two years ago, I made a New Year's resolution that I would only buy clothing from sustainable sources.  This meant organic and fairly-traded and second-hand, with a preference for charity shops where more people benefit from the exchange.  And, Ta da!  Achievement!  Big green star over here, please.  O.K., I can't deliver a completely clean rap sheet, on occasions the bright lights of the high street have seemed all too alluring and there have been a handful of purchases, but they are few and far between.  

Organic, fairly-traded garments are more expensive, however this is all part of the reconditioning, for, as I've heard Safia Minney comment, when you consider the processes and people involved in making a garment, it shouldn't cost as little as a lunch.  I tend to think more carefully about what I actually need to buy for my wardrobe, consuming less, and, making some purchases second-hand, I do think the cost levels out.  Perhaps I do forgo the odd over-priced frothy coffee from a homogeneous chain, but that only induces an even nicer, warm-feeling inside and it just can't be caffeine and calories.  And, if time is money, think of what I save trawling the High Street as, after some limited research into well-known brands' ethics, there are some shops that I simply will not enter. 

For my children, the choice to buy organic and fairly-traded seemed all the more important.  Touching their skin, so new and soft, I couldn't abide the idea of putting against it the  chemicals frequently used to treat clothes, some of which might have been in that ghastly bathroom spray.  I wanted them to understand the human involvement in the clothes they were wearing, and to know that no-one was harmed in the process, that people had been fairly paid and well treated, so that they could really enjoy wearing them.  That was a better world-view than I had previously surveyed. 

       

Early in my green mission, I was fortunate to land upon Planet Frugi.  It seems that, when new-parents, Lucy and Kurt Jewson weren't satisfied with simply sharing their bath water.  Nor did they bow to the weight of tired eyes, or feel themselves grounded by any perceived lack of skills.  As their eldest son, Tom, was taking his first steps, complete with big cloth nappy bottom, so they took theirs, walking into the world of children's clothing, to make garments that would accommodate that lovely behind.  Lucy and Kurt did the children's clothing equivalent of installing a community grey-water saving and recycling plant and I am very happy to fill my bucket at their tap (only taking what I need, obviously).  

Frugi's clothes are organically and ethically made, but are also brilliantly well-designed and of excellent quality, made to last, and their customer service is impeccable.  Shopping with them is a real luxury, as luxurious as the feel of their clothes, which means that every purchase we make feels like a real treat.  My children and I are delighted with the clothes, with how they wash and wear, and are rather enjoying being, dare I say it, careful consumers.  

Our green journey doesn't end here, we are still travelling, a little better equipped with information and certainly better aware of our limitations.  We have had some success at growing salad crops and have fruit trees, and living in East Anglia can easily buy fruit and vegetables locally.  We are embarking on some home improvements, aiming to make our home more energy efficient and think of the environmental impact of any cosmetic changes, upcycling furniture, using green paints and trying to avoid plastic storage.  We try to use public transport and cycle wherever possible and are seriously considering exchanging our car for a Dutch Cargo Bike.  One of the easiest, most achievable and instantly gratifying changes remains, however, our choice to be eco-consumers.  It was a sunny day when we jumped aboard the the good ship, Green Enterprise, and took our first steps on Planet Frugi.....”That's one small step for a woman, one giant leap for Consumer-kind”!

Frugi Autumn Winter '11

 You’re sad to see the summer go? 

Look forward with a fervent glow

to Frugi’s Autumn Winter range -

your face will then to smiling change.

Some new friends there us await, 

they’ll have us stand at Frugi’s gate

to get our hands on these new goodies,

tops, dresses, dungarees and hoodies.

First, please let me introduce,

Mother and her Baby Goose

Meet Tiny Tortoise, Harry Hippo, 

Lovely Ladybird and Dino!

Froggy Monster and a Yeti,

Doodle dog and Raglan Zeddy,

Juggling Penguin, Molly Mouse, 

please all come into our house!

The cutest ears are Elephant Ellie’s!

And did you know? We now get wellies!

With Croc Camos for muddy play,

and Puddle Goose for puddles – yay!- 

kids’ faces never will turn sour

and feet stay dry if there’s a shower.

We know with Frugi there’s no catch,

so get them ready for dispatch!

Dizzy Daisy, Patchwork Twirly,

or Patchwork Rainbow for our girly,

Vintage Ditsy, Multistripe -

we know, they'll be our daughters’ type. 

Stripey or Dalmation tights

for our girls are pure delights. 

You may ask what else is up?

A Kitty in a striped Tea cup!

Rhino, Bear, and Hungry Monkey,

For all our cuties, slim or chunky.

There’s Fishing Penguin, Leaping Lemur, 

and for our lovely little dreamer 

Yeti, Monkey, Sleepy Kitty,

Night Owl PJs are so pretty,

and keep kids snuggly warm at night -

they might go down without a fight! 

A feath’ry friend in Patchwork Owl, 

sweet Doodle Dog would never growl.

Dresses, Big Spot, Pretty Patch,

with stripey tights, a true love match!

Of Vintage Ditsy, pants and vest,

or smock top may be loved the best.

But wait till your wee girly sees

the tiny Mouse in Dungarees!

B’s for Bike and T’s for Tractor

make for a definite boy factor.

A smart and stripy Rugby Top,

even a Hooded Sailor’s Smock. 

And to ensure he’ll stay afloat,

his Pirate Ship and his Tug Boat! 

Or dare he fly at Rocket Speed?

All of those your boy will need! (and those wellies on his feet!)

In our basket the first pieces 

are the lovely Snuggle Fleeces! 

Viola Stripe, Big Spot, and Breton- 

you’ll love them all, that you can bet on!

Buy at least one every season!

To miss out, really, there's no reason!

Happy Garden’s oh so charming,

its bees and bugs sweetly disarming.

So lovely, too, is Flower power!

Oh I’m counting till the hour

that I will hear my doorbell ring,

see Mr. Postman Frugi bring!

Another few days to be waited,

with twiddling thumbs and our breaths bated -

then August 15th, it's so near,

the Autumn Winter range is here!!!

Check out 
Frugi's New Autumn Winter '11 range 
and some incredible bargains from the 
Summer '11 collection 
HERE

It's World Breastfeeding Week, 

which is celebrated from August 1-7 in more than 170 countries worldwide!! So we thought we'd share some advice with all the new breastfeeding mums out there. It can be a bit daunting when you start breastfeeding for the first time, and it’s not necessarily the easiest thing in the world to get right straight away. We crusaders are all for breastfeeding, so we collaborated with team Frugi and put together a few little tips for all new breast feeding mums that may make breastfeeding a bit more hassle-free and relaxing:

Learn to do a lot with one hand…eat, type, read, phone, that sort of thing! (You may even want to try that before the baby comes ;) 

Get someone to show you/help you feed lying down. A lazy afternoon feeding session in bed is very therapeutic and you may well find yourself choosing to feed that way as often as possible. 
Having your baby sleep in a cot up next to your bed with the side down makes night time feeds much easier, and you have the added bonus of being close to your baby.
Do as many possible for yourself that have always been relaxing for you: from a warm bath/shower, to putting on your favourite relaxing tunes, some herbal tea, or even a certain light setting. Anything that makes you feel comfortable and helps you reenergize.
At some point you will want to leave the house with your baby, which you should! And for those very important, yet potentially slightly stressful outings, do yourself a favour: Treat yourself to at least one really nice, well designed breastfeeding top or dress (with good tummy coverage!) for when you are meeting friends, going to a restaurant, shopping, etc. Such a top/ dress can make you feel a million times more comfortable, both by being cut to suit post-baby bodies, and also making feeding a bit more discreet.

Before you sit / lie down to breastfeed ...
* Go to the loo! There is nothing quite as frustrating as having a great latch and then being completely uncomfortable from your yet to be re-trained bladder. Otherwise, you will often feel the need to go to the loo, right after settling down for a feed with your baby.

** Drink a glass of water and keep a drink next to the seat/bed where you will be feeding your baby. You will be surprised by how thirsty you can suddenly get the moment you start breastfeeding. Be sure to choose a cup or glass you will be able to handle with just one hand. If you prefer to have a hot drink, get a thermos mug to keep it warm.
*** Additional things you may want to place within easy reach before you begin: snacks, TV remote, phone, a book. It is very frustrating to realise they are on the other side of the room when you have cushion in place, are perfectly comfy and positioned and baby has started feeding!

Support for Nursing Mummy
Don’t get too overwhelmed by all the different opinions on what’s “normal” or “right” from the millions of books that you may read and other advice (e.g. from pediatricians etc.) …. Do rely on your natural instincts! But if you do feel like a bit of information or advice from other mums, there are loads of support groups, online forums (we recommend kellymom.com), and Facebook groups where there are hundreds of mums who have already “been there, done that”, and who are there to support you! But now comes the most important bit:

ENJOY this time of closeness with your baby – it goes so, so quickly, and - though you may not believe this in the time of frustration - there may very likely be a time when you wish yourself back to this wonderful shared time of closeness and bonding with your new baby! We wish you and your baby a wonderful breastfeeding experience! With love,

Frugi Crusaders

**********

 If you want to treat yourself to one of Frugi's super-soft organic cotton breastfeeding tops or dresses (which btw are gorgeous clothes, be it during or post-breastfeeding!), go to 

http://www.welovefrugi.com/mother/nursing-wear/ 

and use the code WBFW for 20% OFF 

until Sunday, August 7!

Happy Shopping!

***********
Many of us crusaders have one of these tops/ dresses at the very least and can wholeheartedly recommend them!

"The Frugi breastfeeding clothes are absolutely gorgeous! You don't feel like you're wearing maternity clothes, and they look really stylish and are beautifully soft. Definitely Yummy Mummy clothing! Brilliant for when you're going out and about and want to look nice but still want something practical to feed in. They're all incredibly discrete and easy to use (very important with a baby requiring food NOW!). My favourite is the dress - I've bought one in every colour!" 
Roamy H., mother of two lovely little boys