Posted on November 1, 2007 in Allergies in Children
It is very difficult to deal with allergies of kids under the age of two years. Children cannot communicate their symptoms and their discomfort. As a parent it is agonizing to see your child suffer. Here are a few tips to cope with your kids allergies.
- First educate yourself about all types of allergies, their symptoms and the possible allergens.
- Common allergens are dust, dander, pollen, food items, mold and mildew.
- Some allergies are seasonal occurring around pollen season while other allergies can occur around the year.
- If you have a family history of allergies your child may have a tendency to develop allergies. Find out among your family members and take steps to shield the child from the potential allergen.
- Keep an allergy diary where you note the symptoms, and the frequency of the allergy.
- Usual symptoms include congestion, sneezing, itching and a runny nose.
- The child becomes irritable and moody as he cannot breathe properly nor sleep comfortably.
Steps to overcome childhood allergies
- Most children outgrow their allergies as they grow up. Feeding babies’ breast milk improves their immune system and makes them resistant against allergies.
- Show your child to a doctor who will prescribe the right dose and type of medication. Do not use self-medication as anti-allergy medicines have dangerous side-effects.
- The best medication is avoidance of potential allergens. Keep your house free of dust and vacuum regularly using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Replace the dust bag when full and clean the vacuum cleaner periodically.
- Wash stuffed toys regularly and clean all other toys periodically.
- Clean carpets and rugs from time to time. Wash curtains and drapes regularly and clean windows and blinds once or twice every month.
- Keep books out of the room as they gather dust.
- Encase pillows, mattresses and bedding in dust proof covers that you wash regularly.
- Keep pets outside the child’s bedroom to avoid animal dander and bathe them regularly.
- During days of heavy pollen count keep your child indoors.
Steps to manage food allergy
- Some children develop food allergy to peanuts, milk, eggs, soy wheat, shellfish and nuts. But most children outgrow food allergies by the age of three.
- Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and swelling around the mouth.
- In this case find proper substitutes so that the child gets the proper nutrition.
- Read food labels properly for hidden ingredients that can trigger a food allergy.
- Delay giving your child solids till he is six months so that he will not develop a food allergy.
Therefore coping with allergies for kids under two presents a challenge for parents, but you can easily manage it with a lot of patience and sympathy for your kid.
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