5 Tips For Managing Your Child's Seasonal Allergies

THE POLLEN IS COMING! THE POLLEN IS COMING!

Dun-dun-dunnnnnnnn...allergy season is once again upon us, folks, and you know what that means? Sneezing, and lots of it. If your kid suffers from environmental allergies, you might have noticed their symptoms flaring up again recently. Blame the ragweed. It's everywhere, and it's a really bad time of year for allergies!

My son is allergic to a bunch of different grass and tree pollens, so from now through October, his poor little nose will be sneezed out and rubbed raw. We do take extra care to lessen his allergic symptoms, and I have compiled some of the most effective tricks we've learned.

1. Build Up Defenses Before Allergy Season

There are allergy shots doctors can give to ward off seasonal allergies, and there are allergy pills, too. Start before the pollen hits to build up the antihistamines in the body and help defend against those awful allergy symptoms. Speak to your doctor before giving them a try — and keep in mind that different medications are good for different allergies so it may take a few tries to find the one that works best for your kiddo.

2. Clean Your Home Regularly

Keeping your home allergen-free goes a long way to helping kids manage their seasonal allergy symptoms, too. If they're being hit with allergens on all fronts, it's pretty difficult to feel good anywhere this time of year, so make sure you're dusting and vacuuming (with a HEPA filter) regularly. Dust with a damp cloth to avoid sending all those allergens back into the air, and keep windows closed whenever possible.

3. Go Gentle on the Nose

When noses are runny, they can see a lot of rubbing and wiping action, leading to chafed, sensitive skin. Avoid this by using gentle saline wipes like Boogie Wipes. Saline wipes are easier on wee noses, and they wipe away hard-to-remove boogies off those little faces, keeping them clean and germ-free. They are perfect for wiping away boogies caused by the common cold, allergies, or otherwise booger-filled kid moments. We've been using them since my son was born, and we absolutely love them.

They are also great to pack in the kids' backpacks because they're easy for them to use at school. Boogie Wipes are recommended by pediatricians as a gentle, effective alternative to a dry tissue. Take it from me, your kids' noses will thank you!

4. Bathe Your Child Every Night

I wouldn't normally suggest bathing a kid every night (does anyone remember the last time my kids had a bath, by the way? Oops...) but for those who suffer from seasonal allergies, this is so important! When outside, all those pollens and spores floating through the air that cause allergy symptoms get lodged in hair, on skin and in clothing. By rinsing them away every night, it ensures kids aren't sleeping in allergens, making every night's sleep that much better.

5. Flush Out the Allergens

Studies have demonstrated that not only is a saline rinse like Boogie Mist effective, it's also a really great way to combat many sinus issues (and also helps to minimize antibiotic resistance!). The nose is designed to filter things out, so you can imagine the pollen and spores that get caught in there, right?

Then when the body reacts, the mucous thickens, making it a miserable combination of itchy and plugged — no fun. Boogie Mist is new to Canada, so if you don't see it on your pharmacy shelves now, it'll be there soon! It's a simple, pain-free way to increase moisture in the nasal cavity, loosening any crusties, and thinning out that mucous, helping kids rid their sinuses of the dreaded boogies. For the ultimate boogie-busting routine, flush out the nose with Boogie Mist and follow up with gentle Boogie Wipes.

Do you have any tried and true tips for managing seasonal allergies? I'd love to hear them!