How to Easily Raise a Child with Allergies
Being a parent is difficult enough if your child is completely healthy, but when a child is dealing with allergies, it makes it all the more difficult. However, it’s not life-ruining and your child can most certainly grow up feeling happy and healthy. But it won’t happen on its own: you need to have the knowledge and patience to keep up with treatments and give them everything they need to have a peaceful childhood. So, let’s see what you need to know about your kid’s allergies.
Find the right treatment
Medicine has come a long way, and we now have access to all sorts of medicine that make our life easier and more comfortable. And for you to know exactly what your child needs, the first step is to find out what they’re allergic to.
Take them to get tested for various allergens, because most often, people are allergic to many different things. You should also be open to all sorts of medication, especially if you haven’t tried any medication for a long while.
Be open to immunotherapy and allergy shots, which can actually help not only to prevent allergies, but also asthma. Allergy shots are proven to be very effective on kids, so it might be a great way to get a long term solution to their health problems. If you see a treatment is providing more side effects than it’s helping, you should consult your doctor and think about changing treatments.
Avoid known allergens
Allergens are all around us, and it’s impossible to avoid them all. However, there are many known allergens that we can actually avoid. Unfortunately, this means that your kids might not be able to have furry pets, or enjoy some foods, like strawberries or peanuts, which are common allergens.
There can also be certain experiences that you will have to modify: if they like going on summer camps, but spending time outdoors when allergies are in high season can be very uncomfortable, maybe try finding some alternatives like computer camp or surf camp. It’s all the fun, but without the exposure to allergens.
Make sure that you explain to your child exactly why you’re doing all of that, because otherwise, they might think that you are denying them things they like without any good reason.
Create a safe atmosphere
The most important thing is that your child is safe in the home. And this means developing several different habits that will make the home clean and safe for them.
Firstly, you want to minimize the amount of dust in the home. This means dusting every day, and wiping down thoroughly weekly. If you don’t have the time to dust, you can get a robotic vacuum to help you out. You should also o research and find the best air purifier for allergies to make sure the air in your home is optimal.
You should also make your home smoke-free and stay away from any open fires, like fireplaces and grills. If your child has an allergy to some sorts of plants, make sure you don’t have them anywhere in the home or in the garden, and don’t use any aerosol sprays and other artificial scents.
If you follow these simple tips, you will find that raising a child with allergies is not nearly as daunting as it may seem. Make sure you take them for regular doctor’s appointments, and follow the doctor’s orders.
If your child has severe allergic reactions, make sure adults in their school and at after-school activities know about their allergy and the proper treatment in case of emergency. Remember – the more information they have on their allergies, the better they will know how to take care of themselves and take a load off your shoulders.