Ask a Childbirth Educator (Oct 2022)

‘It’s spring! And with spring can bring pollen irritants’
It isn’t common for babies under the age of one to develop a seasonal allergy such as this. So if you’re wondering if it is a cold or other sickness, or if it is ‘hay fever’, hay fever is seldom accompanied with a raised or high temperature and also doesn’t cause diarrhoea, so that’s a clear difference to look for.
For those of you (parents and kids) who do suffer sneezing, itching, runny nose and coughing here are a few tips
- Try to keep windows closed and turn on the air conditioner to help keep pollen out. Regularly change the filers of your air conditioner
- Vacuum (regularly change filters), dust and wash bedding regularly
- Limit outdoor activity on windy, sunny, spring days
- Pollen can come inside with your shoes; so, leave them at the door
- Shower or bathe regularly to remove pollen particles from hair and clothes.
- Pollen can be carried by pets, so bath them regularly too
- Cut grass short to reduce pollen output
https://www.babycenter.com/0_allergies-in-babies_73.bc
https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/health-and-safety/seasonal-allergies-babies-toddlers/