I have had life-long allergies. From food allergies to environmental alleges that landed me in the hospital as a kid, allergies can be serious business. But no time of the year is worse for me than fall. What many people don’t realize is the leaves that fall from the trees in autumn are actually molding. It’s like having a backyard petri dish of contaminants for those of us allergic to mold.
Even if you don’t have bad allergies, this year is proving to be a miserable time for people suffering from allergies and asthma. High levels of ragweed pollen, combined with outdoor mold and other triggers, has created a problem nationwide. With allergies, your body not only feels run-down, it’s actually fighting itself, thinking you’re sick when you’re not. And while as adults we may recognize that we have allergies, kids don’t always understand why they feel so tired, grumpy or downright mean. This post contains affiliate links.
Common signs of allergies include:
- Runny Nose
- Watery eyes
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes and nose
- Dark circles under the eyes
Depending on the severity of your child’s allergies, you may be able to provide him enough relief naturally. While it can be difficult to completely remove all household allergens, with the proper measures, allergens can be reduced to manageable level for most people. For parents of kids dealing with allergy issues this year, here are some tips to help out your kiddos this season:
- Stay indoors with the doors and windows closed, especially when pollen is at its peak (in the morning).
- Remove allergens from you and your child’s skin and hair by showering/bathing more frequently.
- Change clothing after playing/working outside.
- Wash your bedding at least once a week in 130+ degree hot water.
- Frequently dust hard surfaces with moist cloths or dry dusters that trap allergens.
- Use high-filtration bags (HEPA) in the vacuum and clean the carpet frequently (more than once a week). And don’t forget to vacuum the couch’s surfaces.
- Place certified allergen-barrier bedding on your mattresses and pillows.
- Clean your heating vents and change the filter before turning it on for the first time.
- Use filters on your HVAC system, and even consider installing UV light to kill additional allergens.
If your child’s allergies are affecting his daily life, however, please consult a board certified allergy specialist in your area. (The AAFA website includes a list of local and regional clinics that specialize in allergy and asthma treatment and education.) Even if you try over-the-counter medication, it may just not be enough, and your child may not know how to communicate exactly how awful they feel. By getting properly diagnosed, you may discover an allergy trigger you didn’t know about and be able to give your child better relief.
Learn more tips on how to help your child with their seasonal allergies!
Natalie - The Cat Lady Sings says
November 14, 2013 at 11:28 amAs someone who suffers from allergies to dust, I can say that some of these work for me. Of course my allergies are different from seasonal allergies, but still, some of the principles are the same. 🙂
Alejandra Carrillo says
November 14, 2013 at 11:53 amWow I had no idea leaves worsen them! That explains why mine have been severe and usually I only get mild ones in the spring or due to dog hair and dust. Thank you for that!
Julie @Momspective says
November 14, 2013 at 12:30 pmWe’re getting hit hard here, I think there’s also a cold in the house. I do know my oldest had bad allergies and we have him on nose spray and allergy pills, I’ll make sure I check off everything on this list as well! Thanks!
Tammy Doiel @creativekkids.com says
November 14, 2013 at 1:52 pmNeither my husband nor I have any allergies–but two of our daughters are getting shots for mold and dust. I try to do these things, but I don’t keep up like I should. After having shots for almost 2 years, they are totally off their meds/inhalers; but when they get a cold, they still will wheeze at times and have to use the emergency inhaler. It’s still a lot better than it was!
Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families says
November 14, 2013 at 4:51 pmI hate having allergies and I would love to invest in several air purifiers for my home. They are great at reducing indoor allergens.
otilia says
November 18, 2013 at 11:41 amyes both girls are very sensitive and they suffer from allergies. i hate them and i hope they will stop having them later in life.
thank you for sharing #pinitparty
Mrs.AOK says
November 22, 2013 at 7:04 amGreat tips! I also use local honey.
My children all have allergies, and after our issue with Singulair I will only try natural remedies. Thanks for sharing via Mommy Monday! I’m pinning to share
XOXO
My post on Singulair: http://mrs-aok-a-work-in-progress.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-tale-of-singulair.html
Alma @ A Conquered Mess says
November 22, 2013 at 1:14 pmHi Jenny! These are excellent tips, I know I need them with my allergies acting up. We featured you today, I hope you’ll stop by and show us some more of your awesome posts 🙂
http://www.aconqueredmess.com/2013/11/friday-pin-fest-8.html
MeryeBeth Albert says
December 3, 2013 at 9:28 pmThese are all great ideas to help with algergies.
Kelly Hupp says
September 12, 2014 at 4:37 pmMy kids suffer from environmental allergies. Our doctor recommended ripping out all the carpet in our rented home and throwing out all my special needs son’s favorite toys. You gave me some great alternatives! Thank you.
Jennifer says
September 12, 2014 at 7:16 pmCarpeting is a big one but just isn’t realistic sometimes. I highly recommend you get a HEPA vacuum cleaner to help with the carpets. Also, be sure to vacuum twice a week and move furniture once in a while to get to the areas you don’t normally. I’m absolutely in love with our Dyson. It has been worth every penny. We’ve had it for 7 years and it’s still kicking just like it’s new.
As for the toys… if it’s stuffed animals, you can wash those on a high temp in the washing machine to help, depending on what your child is allergic to.
Renee Dittmer says
September 14, 2015 at 2:39 pmMy daughter has very bad allergies as do I, except she breaks out in rashes constantly from contact or has persistent coughing and sneezing. I have done all of the above but I never thought to think of allergies being a trigger for her. That will be something for me to watch. Thanks for the info.
Jennifer Hughes says
September 14, 2015 at 4:56 pmYou’re absolutely welcome! Both of my boys have allergies and we watch to see when their allergies could be affecting them more than usual.
Tina says
November 2, 2015 at 8:52 pmGreat post! I used to have terrible allergies in my 20’s & 30’s and while they never bothered me this much (mostly I just got upper respirtory infections a few times a year) it wasn’t until my chiropractor started using his activator to tap on my brow bones gently and then he used accupressure with his thumbs to gently loosen up all the gunk in my sinus cavities. Once all that crud came out I was so much better – I think in 4 1/2 years I’ve had one upper respirtory illness and it didn’t last near as long. you might talk to your chiropractor if you go to one.
Also, I use a essential oil combination:
1 Tb honey
1 drop each: lemon, shield (or thieves) in your honey
1/4 cup hot water (no need to boil it)
Stir your honey/EO mixture in the water and drink it down.
This helped me get over my last sore throat/cold MUCH faster than normal.
Hope this helps!
Quinn Caudill says
November 9, 2015 at 8:26 amGreat tips for those who suffer from allergies. Thanks for sharing with us at #Throwback Thursday. Hope to see you again this week.