Allergies are one of children’s worst enemies while growing up, preventing them from living a normal life as their peers do. However, living with allergies doesn’t have to be tedious because there is lots you as a parent can do to help your kids live a happy life and cope with allergies without missing out.
All you’ll have to do is regulate the time they spend in the vicinity of allergens and they will not be too affected by them. Keep on reading to learn more about helping your little one live better despite allergies.
5 Tips to Help Your Child Live Better Despite Allergies
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Limit the time outdoors
Children love to spend time outdoors, but unfortunately, once the winter is gone and they can finally enjoy the warm sunny spring, the allergies are nearby. Spring is one of the worst seasons for kids with allergies because pollen concentration tends to be very high at that time of the year.
That’s why you should make sure your little one doesn’t spend too much time outside when allergies are at their peak. They should stay indoors between 5 and 10 a.m. when pollen counts are the highest.
They can have playdates at home instead. Martial arts, dance, or swim teams can be a great replacement for outdoor sports activities your child engaged in earlier.
In the time of allergies, kids should stay indoors more. Alternatively, if you want to spend more time in the fresh air, the ocean or a lake can be perfect spots to spend some quality family time.
Shower after spending time outside
If you’ve gone for a walk or maybe had a picnic outside, make sure you shower the little one immediately upon arriving home. Wash them thoroughly including their hair because the allergens will stick everywhere and you should be sure that you’ve washed everything off.
Give them a clean set of clothes, and you do the same so that you don’t end up being the one spreading pollen particles all over the house.
Control pet dander
Pets are one of the biggest causes of allergies so if you have a dog, a cat or maybe a parrot, you’ll likely have to keep the little one away from them. Pet dander can seriously worsen the symptoms of allergies so make sure you comb and bathe the pet regularly if you own a cat or dog.
Think about investing in a good air purifier for pet hair that will make sure all the allergens are successfully filtrated out of the room so that your little one can breathe easily.
However, you should be prepared to give up the animal if you notice that the little one is too affected by the dander. In that case, try moving the pet to one of your family members, such as aunts, grandparents or cousins so that the little one can still occasionally visit and not stress out too much about not being able to live with it anymore.
Wash the clothes after outdoor activities
Aside from showering after spending time outdoors, it’s also essential that you wash all of your child’s clothes. If you’ve been spending time with them, throw your clothes into the washer as well to be sure no allergens are laying around the house.
Don’t air-dry the clothes outside because that can only make pollen stick to them and all the washing will be for naught. Instead, keep them indoors or even better, put them in the dryer.
Reduce the number of stuffed toys
Even though it can be heartbreaking, you should limit the number of stuffed toys your little one plays with. Because of the fabrics they’re made of, stuffed animals create a breeding ground for dust mites which can make your child’s allergy symptoms much worse.
You can keep one or two, but the rest has to go. And don’t let them sleep with the toy, but only play with them occasionally. Wash the stuffies at least once a month in hot water and dry them instantly to remove the dust mites.
Allergies can have a serious impact on your little one’s life unless you know how to make things easier for them. You don’t have to deprive them of every little joy, but you can modify their playdates, practices and make their childhood just as fun despite the nasty allergies. All you need to do is stick to the aforementioned tips and your child won’t have such a hard time during allergy seasons.
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About the Guest Author
Derek Lotts is a Sydney based writer and researcher, a regular contributor at Smooth Decorator blog. He writes about décor, gardening, recycling, ecology and business. He thinks all of these topics fall under the self-improvement category. He believes in the power of sharing ideas and communicating via the internet to achieve betterment.