If your allergic child is sniffing, sneezing and coughing a lot--whether he's affected seasonally by outdoor allergens like pollen and grasses, or has perennial allergies to indoor triggers like dust, mold, pets or smoke--you probably want to stop it. While you can't completely cure his allergies, you can take some important measures to reduce his exposure to allergens, which is the best way to both treat his symptoms and prevent further attacks.
Step 1
Remove items from your house that notoriously collect dust, such as upholstered furniture and heavy drapes, and take rugs and carpets out of your child's bedroom. Hard floors collect less dust than carpets, so are less likely to trigger his allergies.
Step 2
Vacuum the floor often if it's not possible to remove all carpeting; also vacuum mattresses, pillows and furniture. Do this when your child isn't around, since vacuuming stirs up dust, and many allergens are small enough to escape through the vacuum bag during the process. Where you have hard flooring, don't rely on just sweeping; mop frequently to remove more loose dust, and clean hard-to-reach corners with a wet cloth. Use fragrance-free cleaning products, as children with allergies can be especially sensitive to scents and perfumes.
Step 3
Wash your child's bedding and stuffed animals in hot water at least once every two weeks, and more often if possible.
Step 4
Cover your child's mattress, pillow and boxspring with an allergy-proof plastic cover. This seals the item in an airtight casing that reduces your child's exposure to dust mites.
Step 5
Keep any family pets out of your child's room. Bathe dogs once a week to remove dander, loose hair and other allergens.
Step 6
Cover all air vents with filters to capture dust and airborne allergens. Also change your furnace and air conditioner filters regularly, and have your entire heating and cooling systems cleaned annually. You may want to get a HEPA filter, which controls airborne allergens, but it doesn't work for mold or dust mites. Avoid using ceiling fans, which just move the dust around.
Step 7
Keep the humidity in your house low. While it may be tempting to run a humidifier for your child, mold and dust mites actually thrive in moisture, so you'll have fewer allergens around by keeping the air a little drier.
Step 8
Keep your child away from damp areas in your house, like the basement or places anywhere that's been damaged by water, as this is where mold tends to grow. Also keep the bathroom dry, clean and free of mold by washing the tub, showers and sinks regularly.
Step 9
Keep the windows closed during pollen season if your child has seasonal allergies. Make sure that he stays indoors as much as possible during allergy season, especially when pollen counts are at their highest. For tree pollens in the spring, that's early morning; for summer grasses, avoid the afternoon and early evening; and ragweed in the fall is at its worst in the middle of the day.
Step 10
Create a smoke-free environment by banning smoking in your house and on your property. You may think it's fine to smoke outside, but your child can still be exposed to the allergen if you do so.
Things You'll Need
- Vacuum cleaner
- Mop
- Washing machine
- Allergy-proof plastic covers
- Air filters
