Child With Itchy Eczema at Night? Here's How to Stop The Itching And Scratching

|Karen Fischer

If you've ever thought, How do I keep my child from scratching their eczema at night? you're not alone. You tuck them in and then the scratching starts. By morning their skin is damaged, inflamed and you're both exhausted.

Nighttime itching is one of the most common (and frustrating) parts of eczema. Here's why it happens, and five practical things you can do to help.

Why Is the Itch Worse at Night?

Body temperature rises slightly at night, which ramps up blood flow to the skin and unfortunately that means more itch signals firing. Without daytime distractions, kids (and adults) also notice the itch more acutely, and scratching in sleep becomes automatic. Add in the wrong bedding, insufficient moisturising, and low mineral levels in the diet, and you have a recipe for a very rough night.

The good news: there are real, proven strategies that help. Let's go through them.

This first method is a short-term hack that is useful while investigating the underlying cause of the itch (like elevated skin pH, food/environmental triggers, bedding etc.).

 

1. Cool the Itch Fast: Ice Pack Magic

Image: A cold pack held against skin.

When the itch flares, cold is your best friend. An ice pack (or gel pack) placed over the itchy area works by overriding the itch signal, essentially tricking the nerves into feeling cold instead of itchy. Research confirms that cooling the skin can significantly reduce itch in eczema, hives, and psoriasis, and can even block histamine-induced itch. It’s only temporary, but it works.

Note: this method may not be appropriate for babies and very young children as their skin may get too cold. So don’t apply a cold pack on their skin for more than about ten seconds – supervision is advised.

How to use it safely:

  • Always wrap the ice pack in a soft cotton or bamboo cloth first (never apply directly to skin)

  • Place it gently on the itchy area for a few minutes until the skin feels cool but not painfully cold

  • Move it to the next spot before it gets too cold

  • Keep two or three in the freezer so you can rotate them during a flare

This is a great quick fix while your longer-term strategy kicks in.

 

2. Switch Up the Bedding

Image: Baby with healthy skin on cotton sheet. Sheets don't cause eczema but the wrong type can make it itchier. 

 

This one is a game-changer many parents overlook. The fabric touching your child's skin for eight hours every night matters enormously.

Choose these:

  • 100% cotton sheets or bamboo sheets, which are soft and breathable

  • 100% cotton or soft bamboo sleepwear (loose and airy; try wearing it inside-out if seams are irritating)

  • A sensitive laundry detergent, because standard detergents leave residue that irritates eczema-prone skin

Avoid these:

  • Flax linen or polyester blends, which increase itching

  • High thread-count Egyptian cotton (anything above 500 thread count) as its tight weave traps body heat

  • Polyester pyjamas, which worsen itch and trap heat against the skin

  • Wool blankets, which are scratchy and inflammatory on broken skin

  • Fluffy toys in the bed as they can harbour itch-promoting dust mites - a cotton cuddle blanket that has been washed in hot water is a safer alternative

Wash sheets regularly to reduce dust mite exposure, which is a common eczema trigger.

 

3. Use the Right Skincare (and Understand Why pH Matters)

Here's something that surprises most people: healthy skin is naturally acidic, sitting at a pH of around 4.5–4.7 (Lambers et al. 2006). This acidity forms what's called the acid mantle, a protective barrier that keeps bacteria, fungi, and other irritants that promote the itch out.

In eczema-prone skin, the pH tends to drift alkaline, disrupting that barrier and making the skin more vulnerable to infection, moisture loss and itching. Many mainstream creams, soaps, and body washes have a pH above 5.5, which actively makes the pH of skin drift into the unhealthy, bacteria-promoting range (Panther et al. 2015).

This is why choosing a low pH moisturiser with a biome-friendly pH between 4.5 and 4.6 is important to support the acid mantle and help restore healthy barrier function to eczema-prone skin. Paraffin-based ointments do not have a pH as they do not contain water, and they can create dependence and weaken the skin over time, and they will not correct a pH problem. In contrast, using low pH skincare that combines water and lipids to hydrate skin at a deeper level works to reduce the itch fast and improve the acidity of the skin. Apply a low pH eczema cream generously before bed as part of your child's wind-down routine.

A zinc and panthenol cream like Wonder Zinc is another option to prevent nighttime itching. Zinc plays a key role in wound healing and has natural anti-inflammatory properties, making it especially useful during flare-ups. Ensure your zinc cream is labelled non-nano as nano particles are unsafe to use on broken skin like eczema. 

 

4. Gloves and Mittens: Your Secret Weapon Against Midnight Scratching

Children scratch in their sleep without even waking up. By morning the damage is done and the skin now takes longer to heal. The simplest way to interrupt that cycle is to cover the hands. Using low pH skincare should prevent the itch enough to no longer need mittens, but these are handy to have just in case. 

Image 1: This was my own eczema baby, 25 years ago — mittens on, sitting with Grandma. A simple cotton mitten can make a big difference to help prevent skin damage from scratching. Images 2 and 3: My daughter before and after the eczema detox diet. 

For older children:

  • After applying a low pH cream or a zinc/panthenol barrier cream

  • If necessary, slip on soft cotton gloves to protect skin from night time scratching. The gloves also lock in the moisture and may reduce the risk of bacteria from fingernails entering broken skin, which can lead to infection

For babies (see section below), soft cotton mittens work the same way and can be a lifesaver during flare-ups when you are still trying to work out your baby's triggers.

 

5. Top Up Magnesium and Calcium for Better Sleep

Sometimes the problem isn't just the itch keeping your child awake. It's also that their body is missing the minerals needed to relax and fall into deep, restorative sleep.

Magnesium helps regulate sleep by supporting GABA (a calming brain chemical) and melatonin production. A child with a busy, wired mind at bedtime is often running low on magnesium.

Calcium is also important because it helps the brain use tryptophan to produce melatonin, the hormone that signals sleep. Children with eczema are often low in calcium because dairy is a common eczema trigger and many families avoid it (dairy can make some kids more itchy, phlegmy or cough—common signs of intolerance or allergy). Without enough calcium, melatonin production can be disrupted, making it harder for kids to fall asleep and stay asleep.

 

Image: A powdered magnesium and calcium supplement for children with eczema. 

For children over age one, choose a pure powdered magnesium and calcium supplement that is free of sugar, preservatives, colours and flavours as these may worsen eczema and cause itchy skin at night. Flavoured gummies, capsules and tablets may not be suitable as they could contain ingredients that could make skin itchy. 

For breastfed babies, the mother could take a a pure powdered magnesium and calcium supplement, as above. Bottle fed babies, check the infant formula contains calcium and magnesium and speak with a nutritionist to see if it meets the daily requirements for your baby's age. 

For Babies with Eczema: A Special Note

1. Mittens at night are a great short-term tool at night. Soft cotton mittens prevent tiny fingernails from damaging delicate skin during sleep.

2. Sleepwear matters even more for babies because they have less body mass to regulate their temperature. Stick to 100% cotton or bamboo, and wash everything in a fragrance-free, sensitive detergent.

 

3. Moisturise during the feed or settling window. Apply a gentle barrier cream like Eczema Friend or Wonder Zinc before they start itching. Wonder Zinc is also suitable for nappy rash (diaper rash). 

Check your detergent and wipes. Many standard baby wipes and laundry products contain fragrance and preservatives that aggravate infant eczema. Switch to fragrance-free formulations or use water.

Keep the room cool. Overheating is a major itch trigger for babies. Aim for a room temperature around 20°C and keep them wrapped in light, breathable cotton sheets and blankets rather than itch-promoting wool blankets or polyester or flax linen.

A Simple Bedtime Routine to Try At Night

  1. Lukewarm bath (not hot) followed by gentle patting dry, not rubbing. Do not use soap or cleansers on their skin - water is enough to clean their skin, safely

  2. Apply a low pH cream like Eczema Friend and/or a barrier cream such as Wonder Zinc to dry skin within a few minutes of bathing

  3. Dress in loose cotton or bamboo pyjamas

  4. Pop cotton mittens or gloves on hands, if needed

  5. Tuck in with 100% cotton or bamboo sheets

  6. Optional: If itching starts, use a wrapped ice pack for quick relief

  7. If your child is over age one, consider a pure calcium and magnesium powder supplement like Zen Friend PM to support deeper, calmer sleep

For children over age one, consider the Eczema Clear Skin Toolkit for a holistic approach to eczema relief. See below for details. 

Every small step adds up. The right sheets, the right moisturiser, protected hands, and mineral support for better sleep can together turn a rough night into a restful one, for your child and for you.

References: Lambers H, et al. Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006. Panther DJ, Jacob SE. The Importance of Acidification in Atopic Eczema: An Underexplored Avenue for Treatment. J Clin Med. 2015.

Eczema Care Checklist: Babies

for infants with eczema

Eczema-prone skin needs a little extra care, and a routine that's truly tailored to your baby can make all the difference. This free checklist walks you through simple, soothing actions to help calm skin, along with our recommended products, created by eczema researcher Ren Karen Fischer, so you can follow the plan with ease.

View PDF

Frequently asked questions

About the author

Ren Karen Fischer is a nutritionist, mother of two and author of seven health books, including The Eczema Diet and The Eczema Detox. Fischer is also a published researcher and is currently completing eczema research as part of a Master's by Research Degree at Bond University. Combining clinical research with real-world experience, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based care for eczema.
My child will complain if I don't put junk food in their lunchbox. How do I get them to eat healthier foods?

Yes, they probably will complain, so you need to have a smart response. I had the same issue with my daughter. She came home from school one day complaining how her friends got white bread and lollies in their lunchbox, while she got carrot sticks, grainy bread sandwiches and homemade muffins. I replied "Your poor friends, their parents don't know about brain foods that help you concentrate and be smart at school. You're so lucky I know what to put in your lunchbox."  (my daughter wanted to be smart so this was linked to a goal of hers, other goals may be being better at sport etc). She looked baffled but did not argue. I was not lying or tricking her. It's a fact that the additives in lollies and white bread can hamper concentration and make kids act like crazy. I added, "How about I cut the crusts off your sandwiches so you enjoy them more?" She was happy with this compromise as she often complained about the crusts being too dry. So work out a little compromise: it may be a white marshmallow in their lunchbox along with the healthy options.
Is bread bad for eczema and is it okay in my child's lunchbox?

Wheat can trigger eczema flareups in 22% of people with eczema according to research (Christensen, 2023), so it depends if you or your child are sensitive to wheat as to whether you should avoid it. There is another issue with store-bought bread: Propionate preservatives in bread (numbers 280–283) are mould inhibitors linked to behavioural problems, irritability and sleep disturbances. So if your child has behavioural issues, ADHD, sleep problems or itchy skin, check your bread. I fed my 5 year old daughter store-bought bread one day and soon after she began to repeatedly bang her head on the concrete payment in front of the shop that sold us the bread. It was alarming. Your child might not have such a severe or immediate reaction but if they have eczema, the bread in their lunchbox is worth investigating.
Does food allergy trigger eczema?

Food allergy and eczema are closely linked, and allergies can absolutely make eczema worse, but they're often not what starts it in the first place. In fact, research suggests the reverse may be more accurate: eczema itself may come first and increase the risk of developing food allergies, rather than the other way around (Tsakok et al. 2016). One study found that babies with eczema were up to six times more likely to become
sensitised to foods compared to those without eczema. In children with established eczema, up to 66% showed food sensitisation, with confirmed food allergy in up to 81% of cases (Tsakok et al. 2016).

If you or your child has a diagnosed food allergy, those foods should be avoided for now. For additional guidance, the Food Intolerance Diagnosis (FID) Program in The Eczema Detox book can help identify food intolerances that do not show up in allergy tests (see next FAQ).
Do food allergy tests help eczema?

Skin prick tests and other food allergy tests including blood tests and patch tests can be unreliable on their own, so an oral food
challenge (supervised by an allergy specialist if you are prone to anaphylaxis), is the most accurate way to confirm whether you or your child is reacting to a particular food. For additional guidance, the FID Program in The Eczema Detox book can help you to identify your personal triggers.
Are there specific food additives I should avoid?

See this blog: Food Additives to avoid in your child's lunchbox for more information.

Eczema Friend

the itch buster  |  rash cream

The low pH eczema cream that helps to relieve itchy skin, red skin rash and mild eczema and dermatitis. Suitable for all types of rashes. It's the cream you'll wish you had tried first.

learn more

The Eczema Detox

the FID program

The Eczema Detox is your guide to taking care of your skin and gut. You will learn how to identify your eczema triggers, love your liver, feed your gut, and create healthier skin from the inside out. The book contains three effective programs to suit a range of ages, from babies to adults, including the Food Intolerance Diagnosis (FID) program.

learn more

Wonder Zinc

healthy glow  |  zinc rash cream

Wonder Zinc is a soothing zinc and panthenol cream that relieves itchy skin, calms red skin rashes and supports the skin barrier. It's also beneficial for nappy rash (diaper rash) helping to calm skin and provide a protective barrier.

learn more

Childhood Eczema
How to Help Your Baby's Eczema: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents

How to Help Your Baby's Eczema: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents

|Ren Karen Fischer
This guide covers infant eczema remedies, what to put on (and keep off) your baby's skin, and the simple daily habits that make the biggest difference so they itch less...

Eczema News
Eczema Elimination Diet: Australian Researchers Register Diet Trial for Adults With Eczema

Eczema Elimination Diet: Australian Researchers Register Diet Trial for Adults With Eczema

|Ren Karen Fischer
Patients with eczema are turning to self-directed elimination diets in growing numbers, driven by a perception that food may worsen their symptoms. We registered a randomised controlled trial investigating whether...

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