Helping Your Children Deal with Allergies by Roni Davis

If your child was recently diagnosed with seasonal allergies, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. Your mom alarm is probably going off, imagining all runny noses, tears, and sleepless nights. What’s the best way to manage your child’s allergy symptoms, prevent reactions and avoid triggers, when it’s the season itself your child is allergic to?

Don’t worry! This post will explore some easy, convenient ways to help manage your child’s allergy symptoms. Of course, if you haven’t received a diagnosis from a trusted healthcare professional, you’ll want to confirm that what your child is experiencing is indeed seasonal allergies and not something more severe. 

Track Pollen Levels
If you want to avoid the symptoms of seasonal allergies, you should be aware of when the primary irritant—pollen—is at its height. Though different regions of the US vary considerably, in general, pollen levels are highest in the spring. More specifically, they tend to peak mid-day and early evening and are elevated when it is windy. Use a pollen tracker to learn more about the pollen levels in your area.

If levels are too high, consider keeping your children indoors give them a facemask to wear when traveling outside—it shouldn’t be too unfamiliar!

Irrigate Their Noses With Saltwater
Any mom will know that if their kid has a stuffy nose, they may as well have a stuffy nose too. Having trouble breathing comfortably can be scary and traumatic for children, leading to sleepless nights and crankiness. Saline solution can help clear blocked noses alleviating any discomfort.

Luckily, saline solution is available for purchase at most drug stores, and if you can’t find it, it’s also very easy to make at home. Take 8 oz of boiled water and dissolve one teaspoon of non-iodized salt, and you have a safe and effective saline solution. Don’t forget to keep it warm when you use it because cold water up the nose is no fun!

Speaking of water…

Keep Your Child Hydrated!
The only thing worse than an itchy, scratchy throat is a dry, itchy, and scratchy throat. When your child has a runny nose and an irritated throat, dryness will only make the uncomfortable sensations worse. Always keep a water bottle handy and encourage your child to drink frequently to stay hydrated.

Cold drinks may provide less relief than warm drinks. You can prepare a soothing herbal tea sweetened with honey to help keep your child hydrated. 

Dryness is Bad All Across the Board
Not only is a dry throat more likely to be irritated, but dry air is more likely to dry out the sensitive mucus membranes in the nose and throat. You’ll want to make sure the humidity levels are just right, so that dry air doesn’t sabotage your child’s night (and yours by default). 

Although, with humidity, it’s definitely a balancing act. If the air is too humid inside, it can encourage more allergens! Mold and tiny dust mites prefer humidity over 40% so if you are using a humidifier, be sure it is set correctly. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.

Get Spicy With Food!
Nothing clears up a blocked nose like something spicy. If your child has congestion and a stuffy nose, consider adding some pepper to a soup, or maybe—if they enjoy spicy foods—treat them to a spicy treat like celery sticks and buffalo sauce! 

Many foods have properties that help clear the mucus from the sinuses. Try adding ginger, garlic, or turmeric to a dish to get the nose running! It doesn’t need to be spicy, per se. 

Treat Their Noses Like Royalty
If your child is going through many tissues, you might want to make sure they are of high quality. Poor quality tissues will irritate any nose fast. Despite the heftier price tag, you save your child from experiencing discomfort.

If the damage is already done and your child has a sore, red, and irritated nose, you can provide some relief by applying petroleum jelly to the irritated area. This will help insulate the irritated skin from changes in temperature and the accidental bump a kid in play will likely experience. 

A Word On Itchy Eyes
If your child has watery, itchy eyes, they will most likely be rubbing them frequently. Try to discourage them from touching their face—not only because it is unhygienic, but because scratching red, irritated eyes will worsen the itchiness. If the itchiness is too distracting for them, try using a cold compress on their face to help soothe discomfort and reduce the inflammation.

With A Little Knowledge, You Can Help Your Child Manage Seasonal Allergies Effectively!   

With a bit of effort, patience, and knowledge, you and your whole family will endure allergy season. Before long, allergy season will be over (next up is cold and flu season—fun!).

Roni Davis is a writer, blogger, legal assistant, and mother of two. She works for a successful birth injury lawyer in Philadelphia.