Help Your Kid Fight Spring Time Allergies

Tracey Clayton - 6 Apr 17

Ah, spring. What a lovely time of the year. The sun shines bright, the flowers are in bloom, everything is waking up… including your allergies. While lighter clothes and bright colours of springtime sure feel nice after a long, dull winter, having a perpetually stuffy nose is annoying. I am not a fan of red eyes and sneezing, and neither are my kids. I want them to be able to enjoy spring, not just sit sullenly while I wipe their noses for the umpteenth time that day. Luckily, I found some ways to help me control the allergies, so I’m sharing them here in hopes that you can use them yourself.

Find ways to have fun indoors

First, make sure that your kid really does have an allergy, and not just a cold. Does this happen every spring? Does the mucus discharge look clear and watery? Then it’s probably an allergy to pollen. The best way to avoid problems is to keep your kid indoors during the time pollen spread is at its peak, which is usually around mid-morning. Wind can also be an issue, so get sunglasses for your child to protect their eyes. Think of fun indoor activities to make sure your kid isn’t cranky and nervous, and brave the first few weeks of spring until pollen settles down a bit.

Over-the-counter medication

There are a lot of good antihistamines out there, but you should find the one that won’t make your kid feel drowsy. Antihistamines work by blocking your body’s response to allergies, and they are very effective if used regularly. Check with your pharmacist which OTC drugs are safe for kids, and if the allergies are severe try using them together with a nasal spray. Eye drops can also help. The best time for your child to take antihistamines is right before bedtime, so they’d be ready for the morning.

Try air purifiers

Kids can be more sensitive to allergies than adults, and sometimes not even escaping indoors helps. This can be a real issue, as the kid can become cranky and tired very often. So, in order to make your house safe, try finding a quality air purifier for allergies that should keep the air in your child’s room clean. These can be real life savers, especially if your little one has asthma, or is allergic to more things than just pollen. Animal dander, dust, mould, all of this can harm your family, so be cautious and create a clear, safe space that will reduce the number of allergens in the air.

Take allergy shots

If nothing else helps, then it’s important that you go and see your kid’s paediatrician. They might recommend allergy shots, if the medication and controlled environment treatment haven’t been successful. These shots help build immunity against certain allergens, but the process is slow and you will probably need to take your child in for a shot every week, then every month for 3-5 years. The big benefit is that this treatment solves the problem forever, so they won’t have any issue with it when they grow up.

It’s sad to see children stuck indoors while all of their friends are playing outside, but luckily none of this lasts for too long. You can easily keep it in check, but be extra cautious if your child has asthma, because allergies can cause asthma flare ups. Spring is the perfect time for picnics and outdoor fun, and I enjoy taking my family outside and spending time with them. Hopefully, after reading this, you will be able to do the same thing. Pack sandwiches, bring a frisbee and have fun with your kids.

Tracey Clayton

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