The start of Spring is a miserable time for people who have allergies. Parents who have children with severe allergies are going to have to be especially careful now that allergy season has gotten into full swing. Fortunately, there are some things a parent can do to help their allergic child be a little bit more comfortable this Spring.
This is a difficult time of year for people who have allergies. Spring allergies make people physically uncomfortable. No one enjoys having itchy eyes, constantly draining sinuses, and an inability to stop sneezing. This can make even the hardiest of allergic adults cranky, so it’s no wonder that your child who suffers from allergies is especially irritable right now.
If your child has a severe food allergy, and also suffers from seasonal allergies, it is very important that you do what you can to minimize your child allergy symptoms right now. One way parents can do this is to minimize your child’s exposure to Spring allergens.
Keep your windows closed. This means the windows of your house as well as in your vehicle. The Spring breezes are full of pollen, which will spread through your home or car every time the wind blows. If you get too warm, then turn on the air conditioning. Before you do that, however, you should make sure that the filters are clean. Otherwise, you could be spreading dust into the air, which can be as bad as pollen for your allergic child.
Get an air cleaner that has a HEPA filter and place it in your child’s bedroom. HEPA filters are better than normal filters at cleaning dust, dirt, pollen, animal dander, and other allergens out of the air. This can help your child to sleep better at night, and wake up well rested in the morning. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor.
It is time to check to make sure your child’s epi-pen and inhaler are not expired. You may also want to stock up on your child’s allergy medications. You may need them this Spring, and you will want them to be on hand.
Have your child change into fresh, clean, clothing after being outside for an extended period of time. This will limit exposure to whatever allergens have attached to his or her clothing. Make sure your child throughly washes his or her hands and face after coming in from outside. Pollen, and other allergens, can collect in your child’s hair, too. Your child can benefit from taking a shower, and washing away all those allergens, before he or she goes to bed at night.
There are pillowcases and mattress cases that are designed to be used by people who suffer from allergies. These items have a zipper, and fully encase a pillow or mattress. The purpose is to prevent your child from inhaling the dust, or being exposed to the dust mites, that typically adhere to pillows, mattresses, and bedding. It is a good idea to wash your child’s sheets, blankets, and other bedding more frequently this Spring than you typically would.
Image by Richard Giddins on Flickr