6 tips to keep your allergy-prone kids happy in spring

I’m counting the days until spring, until the tulips pop through and I can officially pack our family’s boots and heavy coats away, keeping the flip flops at the front of the closet. Not an easy task around the Midwest, mind you. Monday can be 75, Tuesday can drop to 42 and Wednesday can see us back at 73.

6Mother Nature can be a fickle old lady, I tell you. (Just don’t tell her I called her old, I beg you… she may just hold it against me and keep those 40s and 50s hanging on even longer.)

In our house, spring and summer mean many things. It is the time when we are the happiest. There is something about the longer days, the sunnier skies, the greener grass and trees, the blooming flowers, the chance to be outside and, most specifically, the opportunity for the small people to play their favorite sports — baseball and softball — that simply brings out the best in everyone.

Did I mention that my husband coaches them both? So, guess who else is happy as a clam? Dad.

But there is a little something else that comes with spring and summer for this happy clan: allergies.

Think runny noses, watery eyes that comes with it all if we don’t take the right steps at the right time.

The good news is, there are ways to help.

Here are 6 tips to keep your allergy kids happy during spring.

1. Stay inside and busy: I know this doesn’t always sound like the most fun when they have been dying to get outside after a long winter, but when pollen counts are at their highest, try to keep your kiddos inside as much as possible — especially if the wind is blowing. Monitor local pollen levels so that you know which days to expect the best and the worst. Opt for reading, playing games or let them call the shots instead of playing outside.
2. Close it up: This is a difficult one in our home, as there is nothing we would love more after a long, stuffy winter than to open the house for some beautiful fresh air. But, doctor’s orders are clear: keep those windows closed. Letting the ‘outside’ in has dire consequences for the small people in our home — the allergic reactions are rough.
3. Cool it down: In your home and in your car, especially as the weather truly starts to heat up, turn the air conditioning on to keep the pollen out.
4. Hydration is key: Keeping your child’s favorite water bottle handy will help them to replace the water they lose with the constant sneezing and blowing caused by their allergies. Make it snazzy and fun by adding some of their favorite fruits.
5. Go hands-free: The less your little ones can touch their irritated eyes and noses, the better. I know this is easier said than done, but rubbing already irritated eyes only makes them worse.
6. Think tea: Tea is a favorite in our home — served with a little honey and lemon can feel like a special treat when my small people are under the weather with these crazy allergies.

What tricks and tips do you use to keep your kids happy during spring allergy season so they can spend they time outside doing the things they love? We know it is coming and we’re ready and waiting — we’ll take the runny noses over the long, cold winter!

This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Children’s FLONASE® Allergy Relief and SheKnows