Seasonal allergies can cause your child to feel miserable. If your child is sneezy, wheezy, and achy, read everything written below to ensure you child receives the most effective treatments at home.

OTC Medication

Many parents believe OTC medicines do not work as well as prescription medications. Though this may be the case with some medicines, allergy meds work great for your children whether they are prescribed or bought over the counter. Giving children Antihistamines to ease their allergy symptoms is a great way to help them feel better and get rid of their allergies quicker. Here is a list of common OTC allergy meds that can be given to children:

• Flonase
• Claritin
• Xyzal
• Benadryl
• Zyrtec
• Allegra
• Pediacare
• Nasacort

You can also give your child eye drops to relieve dry or red eyes and give them OTC ear drops to relieve any ear pain. You should continue giving your child medication for the rest of the season, even if they do feel better. Discontinuing the medicine will likely bring their allergy symptoms back.

It is important to note that most allergy medicines cannot be given to children under 2 years of age. If your child is under 2, visit their health care provider to receive the appropriate medication for their age.

Humidifiers

Allergies can sometimes be caused by dry air in the home. Dry air, especially during the winter months, can irritate nasal passages and cause the body to produce extra mucus. If dry air continues to harm the naval cavity, it could eventually lead to a sinus infection.
This is why households with young children should contain at least one humidifier. A humidifier prevents the nasal passages from becoming dry and irritated. With enough moisture in the air, the body will not need to produce extra mucus. A humidifier can immensely help sore throats, runny noses, and children with coughs or earaches.

Gargle Salt water

If your child is suffering from an irritated throat, gargling salt water can help ease the pain. Warm salt water can reduce swelling and loosen mucus. Gargling salt water 3 times daily can flush harmful bacteria off of the throat, resulting in a healthy throat after a few days.

Plenty of Food and Water

Making sure your child eats plenty of food is a crucial part in getting rid of their allergies. Any foods high in nutrients can speed up the recovery process. Here is a list of healthy foods that will have your child feeling better in no time:

• Fish
• Soup
• Yogurt
• Chicken
• Almonds
• Red Grapes
• Apples
• Oranges
• Broccoli

Here is a list of foods your child should avoid:

• Celery
• Spicy Foods
• Tomatoes
• Aged Food
• Pickled Food
• Fermented Food
• Dairy
• Bread

Encouraging your child to drink lots of fluids is also important for getting rid of allergies. Water helps flush toxins and foreign substances from the body, thus keeping us healthy. Water also helps promote mucus drainage which can ease your child’s irritated throat, stuffy nose, or their earache. Drinking warm fluids, such as warm tea, can also reduce allergy symptoms. Your child should avoid soda as it can dehydrate the body and worsen symptoms.

Avoid Pollen

Try to keep your child inside the house until their symptoms start clearing up. If you do take your child outside, do so during the evening hours as pollen peaks during the morning hours. To avoid pollen from entering your child’s eyes, make sure they wear protective eye wear, such as sunglasses when going outdoors. Keep pollen from entering your child’s room by closing windows and changing your air conditioner filters. Be sure your child washes their hair and body before going to bed to prevent pollen from attaching to their blankets and pillows.

Let’s face it: bee stings are a true pain. And, the sharp, burning sensation and swelling might be hard to ignore, especially if it lasts longer than a few minutes. Those who are allergic to bees should be cautious about the pain, as these stings can become life-threatening.

Just in case you get stung, here are some quick remedies to soothe the pain away and relieve the itching with things you probably already have in your house. This first one is a kitchen staple.

Baking Soda

Mix 1/4 of a cup of aluminum-free baking soda with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water together, and then apply the paste to the area that was stung. Reapply every 15 minutes or so.

Using baking soda to remedy bee stings has been found to be fairly effective. To use it, create a paste by mixing baking soda with a few teaspoons of water and apply it to the sting area. Like baking soda, this next all-around cooking item has a host of healing properties…

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera is known for soothing the skin and relieving pain. If you have an aloe vera plant, break off a leaf and squeeze the gel directly onto the affected area. Aloe Vera can have anti-inflammatory effects on wounds, including bee stings. By reducing the swelling associated with the sting, you will reduce the pain and itchiness.

Speaking of itching, this next remedy really shines when the itch just wont go away…

Calamine Lotion

Calamine lotion is most often thought of for mosquito bites and skin rashes, but it also works great on bee stings. You will likely have a bottle in the medicine cabinet you can reach into and use. Just apply liberally as you are experiencing itchiness, up to every 30 minutes.

Pooh’s favorite little treat can do wonders for bee stings, too…

Honey

More than just a sweetener, honey contains medicinal properties that can help in relieving burns, wounds, coughs, and in this case, bee stings. To treat bee stings with honey, apply a small amount to the affected area. Cover with a loose bandage and leave on for up to an hour.

This next multipurpose household item has a few tricks up its sleeve…

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar’s acidity neutralizes bee venom and eases pain inflammation. To use it on a bee sting, put a small amount on the affected area. 

As weird as it sounds, there’s no harm in trying this next item out…

Toothpaste

Some people apply toothpaste on bee stings as a quick-fix remedy, as its mintiness can relieve itchiness.

Never underestimate the most unassuming of kitchen ingredients, which our next item will show… 

Ice

Ice or cold packs have always been used to relieve pain and swelling. That’s because the cold numbs the pain and decreases circulation to the area. Apply the ice/cold pack on the affected area for about 20 minutes every hour to relieve the stinging pain. 

The following remedy doesn’t just make your room smell divine…

Essential Oils 

Essential oils such as lavender and tea tree oil contain antiseptic or antibacterial properties that help in lessening inflammation. When using either kind of oil, be sure to dilute them with olive or coconut oil before applying them to the affected area. 

Our next one is good for the skin, too! 

Meat Tenderizer Powder

Meat tenderizer powder has a proteolytic enzyme called papain which helps break down the proteins in meat fibers. For bee stings, it can relieve pain and itching. As with baking soda, create a small paste using one part meat tenderizer powder and four parts water and apply to the affected area.

This next treatment option might require a trip to the nearest drug store… 

10. Medication

Over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl, Tylenol, or Claritin can help reduce the pain and swelling of bee stings. Applying hydrocortisone cream also works to stop further itching.