Our Battle with Poison Ivy {And What I Wish I Knew Sooner}
It’s still in the 70s here in South Louisiana, so most days feel like spring. The groundhog may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but around here? The sunshine says otherwise. And if you have toddlers, now is the perfect time to prep them for what’s growing in our yards.
Because let me tell you… we learned the hard way.
How It Started
One Sunday, my little girl was outside picking me flowers — like she always does. She came running up so proud, handed them to me, and I did my usual dramatic pretend smell and told her they were beautiful.
A few seconds later, after she ran off, I whispered to my husband,
“This is a funny-looking flower.”
He looked at it and said, “That looks like poison ivy.”
Well.
A few days later, my 5-year-old had bumps on her hands and face.
At first, I thought it was eczema. She had a breakout as a baby, so I started treating it the same way — creams, keeping it moisturized, watching it closely. But instead of improving, it was spreading.
She started scratching. The bumps got bigger and puffier. She was miserable.
The School Lesson I Didn’t Know
I sent cream with her to school when she complained about itching. I was used to daycare rules where you could send what your child needed. The school system is a little different.
I got a call from the nurse asking me to pick her up and bring her to the doctor for clearance before returning. That’s when I learned:
The only things you can send to school are Vaseline or Aquaphor.
Mental note saved forever.
They were able to fit us in same day at Women’s & Children’s, and that’s when we found out — it was poison ivy, not eczema. That’s why it kept spreading.
She went home with two prescription creams and clearance to take Benadryl to help with itching.
The Long Two Weeks
For two weeks, she woke up in the middle of the night scratching.
I tried:
• Rubbing her back
• Cold compresses
• Oatmeal baths
• Every over-the-counter ointment I could find
• The prescribed creams
And still — she was miserable.
She had bumps and rashes all over. Sleep was broken for both of us. Then her first Daddy-Daughter Dance came.
It was the quickest dance in history.
She got so itchy and irritable from lack of sleep that they had to leave early. I was happy that they still went but my mama heart broke for her since she was so miserable.
After week two, I called the doctor again. They prescribed an oral medication for nighttime itching and another ointment.
That made the biggest difference.
The moment she stopped scratching at night, healing finally started.
Now she’s left with dark spots where the rash was, and I’m praying they fade with time.
What We Did After
After that first doctor visit, she and her dad walked around our yard and he showed her exactly what poison ivy looks like. She now knows what to avoid.
Because every flower that looks good doesn’t feel good.
What I Learned {So You Don’t Have To}
Teach Toddlers This Rhyme
“Leaves of three, let it be.”
Poison ivy typically has:
• Three-leaf clusters
• Shiny leaves
• Sometimes a red tint in spring
Other rules we’re teaching:
• Stay on cleared paths
• Avoid thick bushes and wooded areas
• Don’t pick vines
• Don’t pet animals that have been running through brush
• Wash hands and arms immediately after playing outside
What To Do If Your Child Touches Poison Ivy
If exposure happens, quick action matters.
1. Wash Immediately
Rinse with lukewarm water and soap as soon as possible (ideally within 10 minutes).
Clean under fingernails — the oil (urushiol) hides there and spreads.
2. Oatmeal Baths
Colloidal oatmeal baths help calm inflammation and itching.
3. Cool Compresses
A cool, damp cloth can soothe intense itching.
4. Antihistamines
If itching is disrupting sleep, ask your pediatrician about something like diphenhydramine (Benadryl®). Always use proper dosing.
5. Topical Relief
Calamine lotion or low-dose corticosteroid creams may help reduce inflammation.
6. Severe Cases
Your pediatrician may prescribe oral corticosteroids like prednisone for stronger relief.
Important: Is Poison Ivy Contagious?
Poison ivy is not contagious.
However, it can spread if the oil remains on:
• Skin
• Clothing
• Shoes
• Pets
That’s why washing everything quickly is so important.
For school:
• Open lesions should be covered
• A student may return 24 hours after treatment has started and no fever is present
From One Lafayette Mom to Another
Living in South Louisiana means we’re outside year-round. Our babies are going to explore. They’re going to pick flowers. They’re going to love nature.
So let’s teach them what not to touch.
If this post saves one mama two weeks of midnight scratching and one broken-hearted Daddy-Daughter Dance, it was worth sharing.
Because sometimes the best lessons come from the hardest experiences.
