Hi Mommas! I'm already thinking about swimsuit season and am wondering what to do about a bathing suit for my 5 year old daughter. She has very sensitive skin. From the time she was a year old until last year, she had an eczema-like rash just under her bottom and behind her knees that we finally discovered was from sitting on the rubberized bath mat while bathing. For a long time I thought it may be her diapers/pull-ups. After removing the bath mat, she is rash-free. Last summer's bathing suit caused a rash on her torso that was the exact shape of the bathing suit. You could even see where the straps had been. So I bought her a pair of cotton shorts and a cotton tank top that she swam in and we had no more problems. But as she gets older she'll want a real bathing suit and the cotton t-shirt material stretched out when wet. She's been tested for latex allergies and the results came back negative. I think it may just be a latex sensitivity causing dermatitis. Anyway, I don't know where to look for a bathing suit for her and what material would be best. Has anyone else had a problem like this? Thanks so much for your help!
What about the rash guard shirts (long or short sleeved) and jam-type shorts that land's End sells?
You can maybe try an organic fabric. There are rash guard swimsuits too.
http://www.eleven44.etsy.com sells organic and cotton custom swimwear.
There are a lot of etsy sellers that do, that can probably custom make something.
http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=organ...
Cotton, hemp and bamboo are good choices that swimwear can be made from.
some more info on it here (and in the comments)
http://greengoddessdressing.blogspot.com/2009/06/organic-...
She probably has a latex sensitivity. I do not know how to get around that in a swim suit. Maybe one of the organic brands that would be more likely to use natural rubber elastic instead of synthetic latex. Or get her 2 or 3 suits that you can switch out so they don't wear out as fast?
My son has the same thing, he breaks out where ever his bathing suit has been. We've determined it must be some type of polyester allergy as most bathing suits have some sort of poly in them. He has a 100% cotton suit that I got from Chez Ami, which doesn't cause the rash, or at least not as bad. My problem is that he is outgrowing their clothing (he is almost 10). I am desperate to find something all cotton for him, as he is NOT going to wear anything babyish and doesn't really want to swim in cut off sweats. He told the doctor last week, he wanted to be a part of some scientific study so that they can cure this, and that no one else would have to suffer with it. He too has ecesma (spelled wrong, sorry). But this is different, the rash is red, raised, and itches like crazy! We control it with a steriod creme, aquaphor, and cetaphil lotions, but it is an ongoing challenge to stay on top of. He loves to swim and loves the water. I so feel your pain! I'm glad I found these answers to your question...I'll look on etsy and see if I can find a suit for him! Good Luck! Cindy S. from Georgia.
Make sure that when she is done swimming that she rinses off well in the shower and takes the suit off. Changing to dry clothes after swimming helps.
I think it's the moisture left in the suit that causes the rash. Because cotton dries quickly, the water dried from last years clothes rapidly...hence, no rash last summer.
My 5 yr old daughter has sensitive skin, too. I noticed alot in the summer time with the heat, she would get rashes as well. Just need to work at keeping the skin as dry as possible. I need to look into this as well so I will keep checking back for tips! :)
