Tips for kids with allergies

If your child has hay fever, here are some steps you can take to help him or her avoid allergens:

Know your child's triggers

Keep a diary to help track when and where your child's allergy symptoms occur. Then take steps to limit your child's exposure.

Avoid the allergens

When the pollen count is high, keep your child indoors, with the windows shut and air-conditioner on. Plan outdoor activities for low pollen days. Afterward, wash your child's clothes to remove any lingering allergens, and make sure he washes up as well.

Talk with your pediatrician

Your doctor may recommend other avoidance strategies or allergy medicine to help relieve the runny nose, sneezing, and other symptoms.

Get a dog or cat

Research has suggested that kids who are exposed to animals early in life are more likely to develop allergies and asthma, but more recent evidence seems to show that early exposure to cats and dogs, in particular, may actually cut the risk of developing allergies and asthma, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.