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Hay Fever Remedies for Children

Children often develop seasonal or year-round allergies or hay fever that include symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, coughing, sore throat and watery eyes. Remedies are available to help your child cope with hay fever, and these include natural methods and over-the-counter products to reduce the symptoms and stop reactions.

  1. Eliminate Dust

    • Dust is a common childhood hay fever trigger, and remedying symptoms can be a matter of removing or reducing dust in your child's environment. Dust can accumulate on toys, stuffed animals, household surfaces, window blinds and bedding. Installing a new air filter in the home reduces dust, as does regularly inspecting the home for dust and taking steps to reduce irritants, such as vacuuming, washing stuffed animals and bedding and wiping down dusty surfaces.

    Reduce Outdoor Allergens

    • Children enjoy spending time outdoors, but sometimes outdoor allergens from flowers and trees can trigger an allergic reaction. You can't control allergens present outside your home, but you can create a comfortable environment for your child inside the home by reducing the amount of allergens that enter the house. Keeping doors and windows closed during allergy season helps reduce hay fever in children.

    Smoking and Chemicals

    • Different factors trigger hay fever in children. Smoking around children prone to allergies can produce symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and runny nose. This also applies when using strong household chemicals to clean, or when exposing children to strong scented perfumes or colognes. Reduce smoke in the home, and select hypoallergenic or green products to avoid triggering a reaction in your child.

    Medications

    • When unable to control hay fever by making changes within the home, consult a doctor for advice on how to remedy allergies. Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants are available to remedy symptoms of hay fever. Follow instructions carefully when administering medications to your child. In severe cases, doctors might prescribe steroids or a stronger antihistamine to combat your child's hay fever symptoms.

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