Helping Limit Spring Allergy Risks in Children

The springtime brings many things with it, and one of these for many people is an increase in allergy triggers and symptoms. Increased allergens in the air lead to these higher risks for many people, and children are definitely among them - how can parents help their kids avoid major allergy concerns this spring? 

At First Steps Childcare & Preschool, we're happy to offer caring child care services to children and parents around Rose Park and Salt Lake City, from our infant and toddler classrooms to preschool, kindergarten and more. We're always happy to help with any basic themes you're looking to maintain for your child, including basic health themes like allergy prevention. In fact, we recently received a grant from Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, supplying us with commercial-grade air purifiers for every room in our facility.

Let's have a look at why spring is generally considered the riskiest time of year for allergens and allergy symptoms among all people, including children, plus dig into how parents and educators can help kids limit allergy risks.

Why is Spring a Risky Period for Allergies?

What makes spring a riskier period for allergies is the fact that we have more allergens in the air during this time of year. We're dealing with much more pollen and other airborne irritants, which can cause hay fever, asthma attacks and even allergic reactions like eczema or hives.

Furthermore, when you combine these increased allergens with the simple fact that the weather is warming up and causing people to spend more time outdoors, it makes for a potentially very risky period. Not only is the risk of coming into contact with allergens and irritants higher, but we're also spending more time in these environments which can lead to heightened risks of allergy issues.

Child Allergy Symptoms - and When They Become a Problem

Luckily, most cases of child allergies come with relatively manageable symptoms that most of us are familiar with. These include:

• Basic coughing, sneezing, and watery eyes
• Itchy skin, especially in areas that have come into contact with irritants
• Rashes or hives on the body
• Runny nose and congestion

In most cases, these symptoms don't become a major problem until they start to interfere with a child's daily life. If your child is having difficulty eating due to a sore throat or congestion, for example, then it's time to seek medical advice.

And on the flip side, some children will never experience allergy symptoms at all, even when heavily exposed to allergens.

Our next several sections will go over some other basic themes you should look at when it comes to child allergies, depending on how serious (or relatively limited) your child's risk levels are.

Learning Triggers

If it does turn out that your child has some level of allergy risk, the first step is to identify what kind of allergens they're specifically sensitive to. This can help you keep them away from these specific triggers, as well as look into any potential medication options available.

Additionally, knowing your child's specific allergies can also be a great way to understand how they might react in any given environment - and while spring is especially risky, you'll still want to be aware of any potential triggers in other seasons too.

Keeping Allergens Outside

Another important element to controlling child allergies is making sure that any allergens are kept outside of the home. That means you'll want to keep up with regular cleaning, ventilate outdoor air properly and use a good air purifier in key areas like bedrooms and living rooms.

This same theme applies in classrooms, too: Educators should be aware of potential allergy triggers, and make sure that the room is kept clean with good ventilation.

Keeping Kids Hydrated

Hydration is important for kids for numerous reasons, and limiting allergy risks is just another to add to the list. With proper hydration, kids can reduce the risk of hay fever and other common allergy issues.

In addition to water, you can also look into natural remedies like herbal teas or honey; both have been known to help with allergies in some cases.

Consider Allergy Meds

If your child has significant allergy symptoms, you might want to look into a medical solution like allergy shots or other forms of medication. Allergy shots can be very effective in controlling allergies over the long-term, and have proven to be effective for many children.

Meanwhile, over-the-counter medications are also available; just make sure you check with your doctor first to see what would be best for your child.

Ultimately, spring can be a tricky time of year for kids and allergies. But by being aware of the risks, looking into treatments and taking steps to keep allergens out of your home, you can help your child stay healthy and safe this spring season.

For more on this, or to learn about any of our child care or educational programs for children and parents in SLC and Rose Park, speak to our team at First Steps Childcare & Preschool today.