Parents expect their kids to get caught in poison ivy at least once in their life. This problem is so much simpler to treat when they are older and they know that scratching and picking at the rash and blisters will only aggravate the problem. It is harder for us to see toddlers having to suffer the pain of it all and even harder to treat it.
You need to know how to recognize the poison ivy rash so that you can treat it quickly. If you think that your toddler has it than place them in a cool bath immediately. Clean their skin with mild soap and wash the clothes that they were wearing. By washing them off you will keep the toxic resin from sticking to the skin and aggravating the rash.
The bath will help to clean the skin – but it will often not be able to stop the rash entirely. After drying them off apply calamine lotion. It is important that you remember to apply the calamine lotion between three to four times a day. Unfortunately this will not always help to fight off the itchy feeling they will have. Apply cool compresses to help make their skin feel slightly better.
Carefully trim their nails so that they will not scratch the rash. By scratching the infected area they will make the problem worse and risk getting an infection. Try to distract your kids from the horrible feeling of the rash and blisters. Try to put on a movie or give them the foods they love most.
If the rash is severe after ten days of the rash appearing than you need to contact your pediatrician immediately. They will examine the toddler and prescribe the necessary steroids or oral antihistamines to treat it and reduce the itchiness.