Remember, if you are unsure about your diagnosis, or which treatment to use, consult a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Advice and Treatment
Treating a child's hay fever
Naturally, you don't want your child cooped up indoors on lovely summer days just because they've been diagnosed with hay fever.
Fast-acting, long-lasting allergy relief treatments for children can get them back outside fast once the symptoms appear. However, there are also several simple steps you can take to minimise their exposure to pollen and stop the sniffles before they even get started.
Of course, if your child is at school you won't always be there to remind them of the golden rules. Teaching them the basics as early as possible will get them into good habits for the years to come. It's also useful to let their teachers or nursery staff know about their allergy so they can keep an extra eye on them throughout the day.
Gentle on the nose - blowing their nose is the best way to clear it, whether they can do it for themselves or they need a little help from you.
Be kind to sensitive eyes - itchy eyes are no fun for anyone but rubbing them will only make things worse. A splash of cold water is much more effective.
The right time for playtime - pollen levels tend to be highest before 11am and in the late afternoon and evening, when the best place for your child to be is indoors.
Cool kids wear sunglasses - not just a fashion statement, they also do a great job of keeping pollen out of your child's eyes. A hat will stop pollen attaching itself to their hair too.
Wash it off - after being outside, a quick shower and a change of clothes will make your child a pollen free zone.
Protect their airways - put a little petroleum jelly inside each nostril to catch pollen before it gets up their nose. It will also help to soothe any soreness from all that blowing.
Fight it - a specially formulated antihistamine such as BENADRYL® for Children Allergy Solution for 6 years and upwards or BENADRYL® Allergy Oral Syrup for 2 years and upwards will help to ease the symptoms quickly and let your child carry on with their day.
Keep teddy clean- dust can easily aggravate hay fever symptoms and that means cuddly toys are prime suspects. Kill the dust mites by putting the toy in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours, then wash it at 60°C.
Wash nights not wash days - hanging sheets, duvets and pillowcases on the line is like erecting a giant pollen net. Wash your child's bedding regularly and hang to dry outside at night.
Beware of cats and dogs - pollen sticks to animal fur like nobody's business. Make it a house rule to keep pets off the beds, especially your child's.