When you’re putting kids in snow boots and your garden lies dormant, spring can seem like a distant dream. But for families with allergies, winter is actually the perfect time to prepare for everything that comes with the warmer months, including outdoor adventures, gardening projects, and long afternoons of fun in the yard.
Planning ahead for spring can make the difference between your child enjoying the warm weather and watching from inside with tissues, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. By thinking proactively, you can help your child with allergies be ready for trips to the playground before spring arrives.
Why Moms Should Think About Spring Allergies in the Middle of Winter
Like spring, springtime allergies often seem to arrive suddenly. One day, it’s cold. The next, the sun is out and you’re leaving your jacket at home. At the same time, trees and grasses are releasing pollen, and your child comes home with a runny nose and itchy eyes.
After being trapped inside all winter, the whole family is ready to get outside. However, allergy symptoms can make this difficult. Congestion, sneezing, coughing, and exhaustion can make even simple outdoor activities feel overwhelming.
While indoor allergens can lead to winter allergy symptoms in some children, this is usually the time of year when seasonal allergies all but disappear. This makes it easier to take your time identifying allergens, evaluating treatment options, and making informed decisions for your child’s health. Working with your doctor, you can create a plan that allows your child to have an active spring despite their allergies.
Winter Is the Time to Start Allergy Treatment for Spring Fun
Starting allergy treatment in winter gives the body time to respond before pollen levels peak. Many medications may be more effective when taken before allergy season begins. This allows them to prevent a full immune response rather than trying to reduce symptoms once they appear.
It may also be easier to get an appointment with an allergy doctor or for allergy testing during the winter months. Once spring begins, appointments fill quickly and it may be more difficult to get in to see a specialist for allergy testing or treatment.
You do not want to be the parent scrambling for solutions midseason. If you believe your child has allergies or know you have struggled to control their symptoms in previous years, make an appointment to discuss your options with your pediatrician now.
Allergy Immunotherapy Takes Time
When children have severe allergy symptoms that affect their school performance, sleep, or overall health, allergy immunotherapy may be the recommended course. Immunotherapy is the only way to potentially reduce the body’s reaction to allergens without ongoing antihistamine use.
Immunotherapy, usually in the form of allergy shots or sublingual drops, works by gradually training the immune system to tolerate larger and larger exposures to allergens. However, this process does not work overnight.
Treatment starts with small doses and gradually increases over time. This could take weeks or months of exposures to reduce your child’s immune system reaction, so getting started in winter is critical. Beginning before the spring allergy season begins could lead to fewer symptoms and better protection when peak allergy season arrives.
Supporting Allergy Relief at Home
Reducing the allergens in your home will also help you manage your child’s symptoms. Consider what you can do now to prepare for spring. This could include:
- Replacing HVAC and other air filters monthly
- Deep-cleaning carpets and upholstery
- Washing bedding in hot water regularly
- Replacing old pillows
- Checking for indoor mold
- Vacuuming regularly with a HEPA filter
Reducing indoor allergens can help your whole family breathe easier and feel better. Getting in the habit of doing these things now can also make it easier to continue through the spring allergy season when you are busy with baseball, end-of-school parties, and other activities.
Getting Ready for an Active, Enjoyable Spring
Once the holidays are over and the new year begins, it is time to begin planning for spring. If you have family members with allergies, you can take action now to protect your loved one’s health and ensure they can fully participate in the spring activities they look forward to most.
Identifying allergy triggers and working with your care team to develop a management or treatment plan today could mean dealing with fewer symptoms when the temperature rises. If you believe someone in your family has seasonal allergies, contact their doctor as soon as possible to get started with allergy testing.