Like clockwork, it’s “that” time of year again – allergy season. Let’s see…chronic runny nose, hacking cough, itchy and watery eyes, and scratchy throat – check, check and CHECK. I was endowed with the hand-me-down symptom from my parents – hay fever. Seasonal allergies growing up were never fun, but fortunately I learned some useful tricks and tips to help ward off pollen, and keep my sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, and overall allergy misery to a minimum.
Many researchers don’t fully know why some people are highly allergic and others are symptom-free (a.k.a. scot-free!), or why some things set-off allergies while others don’t. I have learned over the years that common nasal type allergies can occur in spring and carry on through fall (when ragweed pollinates).
I am no doc, but for a kid growing up with seasonal allergies, experts (and I) offer these tips to breathe a sigh of relief:
- Check the pollen count. Let’s get real, pollen is everywhere and practically invisible; it comes from grasses, trees, weeds and flowers. Usually your local TV and radio news stations will announce the amount of pollen in the air or just hop on the computer and go to www.pollen.com to find out pollen levels.
- Plan your outdoor time wisely. It is unpractical to try and keep your child indoors, but try to have he or she avoid days outside when it is windy and a high pollen count. In the springtime, pollen counts are usually the highest in the early morning. If you walk your pet in the morning, please remember they are a pollen-carrier too and try to walk your pet later in the morning if possible.
- Change your babe into clean clothes. If your kid does play outside, try to change his or her clothes when coming inside the house to avoid the pollen sticking to his or her clothes that can trigger allergy symptoms. Also, if you are a fan of hang drying your child’s clothes, try to avoid it in the springtime and early fall and opt to use an electric dyer.
- Keep the windows closed. It is best to try and keep the windows in both your home and car closed, especially on the days that the news forecasts medium to high pollen levels.
- Use the air conditioner. Fans in my opinion blow and circulate pollen. Using an air conditioner not only filters the air, but also cools down any temperature relieving hot/burning and itchy eyes.
- Bath time! Try to set your child’s bath time just before he or she goes to bed. This helps to wash pollen off that could make for a sneezy night! (A bath before bed especially helps with kiddies with long hair that might pick up pollen during the day).
The information on this blog site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding you or your child’s condition.
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