Sure, it's nice when the snow finally melts and the weather warms up, but spring isn't a welcome part of the year for everyone. Thanks to high pollen counts and airborne irritants, spring allergy season can be less than fun. But there are ways to make allergy season less impactful on the whole family — especially for the little ones. We can minimize our babies' exposure to allergens and make sure they have a happy and healthy spring allergy season simply by instituting a few easy changes in our daily lives.
From adding bedtime baths to clear baby's skin of outdoor pollutants to starting a skin care routine to soothe their sensitive skin, these are the 16 best ways to make spring allergy season a breeze.
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Baths Before Bedtime
Taking a bath before bed helps wash away any pollutants or allergens the baby may have picked up from their activities during the day. That way, the irritants don't get carried into the baby's bedding for them to sleep in. This is especially important if they visited a park or other outdoor area where allergens can be found in higher quantities.
Don't Bathe too Often
The trick with baths is not to give them too often or we risk stripping the child's sensitive skin barrier. According to the Mayo Clinic, three baths a week is sufficient for most babies. But between bath days, parents can use a wet washcloth to wipe down their skin.
Clean With Cleanser
When it comes to cleaning a baby's skin, the Dermatology Research and Practice journal reported that water alone won't be enough.
Cleanser is recommended during bath time, and parents will want to make sure to get a baby-safe cleanser like the CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo. Babies' skin barriers are thinner, and thus they need gentler products.
Moisturize
Skin care isn't just for adults. We can lock in our babies' skin moisture post bath and before they go to sleep with a specially formulated baby lotion. Hydrated skin is less likely to display common issues like rough, dry patches or itchiness.
Get Ceramides In
A study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology lauded the use of ceramide-infused products for babies.
Ceramides help support the skin barrier, and using them in infancy can have skin benefits even into adulthood, according to that 2020 study.
Check the Pollen Forecast
The Weather Channel website has a handy local allergy forecast to help with planning outdoor excursions during spring allergy season. It tracks grass, tree, and ragweed pollen counts to help people see which days pose a higher allergy risk. Take trips to the park or play outside when the pollen count is lower.
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Limit Outdoor Exposure
On those spring days when pollen and other irritants are on the higher side, keep kiddos inside more to limit exposure (and therefore the need for any extra baths). There are tons of fun indoor activities to do with little ones to keep them entertained while keeping them inside.
Keep the Windows Closed
One of the easiest ways to keep pollutants and irritants away from us and our kids is by just keeping the windows closed. And that goes for when driving in the car as well as when hanging in the house. Fresh air is good only so long as it is actually fresh. In the spring when it's full of pollen, the air doesn't need to come into our living spaces.
Run the Air Conditioner
ENT and Allergy Associates recommends running the air conditioner during allergy season. Air conditioners help filter the air to keep pollutants out and minimize the need for opening windows on high pollen count days.
Because the AC also decreases indoor humidity, it discourages the growth of other allergens like dust mites and mold.
Use a Humidifier
However, if parents are running the AC more, the lower humidity levels could begin to bother little ones. According to NYU Langone Health, young children are susceptible to "nasal dryness from lack of humidity indoors." To combat this, try running a humidifier in the baby's room at night.
Go Unscented
When it comes to all products that a baby comes into contact with, unscented is the safest way to go. We don't want to exacerbate any springtime irritants by adding in allergies to perfumey scents in lotion or laundry detergent. Need some guidance picking which products to use? CeraVe's baby line of cleansers, moisturizers, and ointments are dye-free and paraban-free in addition to fragrance-free.
Regular Washing
It's important to make sure we're washing not just the child, but also the things they come into contact with on a regular basis. A few extra laundry loads during spring allergy season may be necessary to keep allergens off bedding and stuffed toys. Just be sure to use a baby-safe detergent on their items.
Stick to the Dryer
When washing babies' items this spring, make sure to put the load into the dryer instead of outside on a clothesline. Allergens can easily stick to wet garments if they're left to dry outdoors this time of the year. That would totally defeat the point of doing the laundry in the first place!
Oatmeal Baths
Oatmeal is a naturally soothing item that can be added to a bath for extra hydration and to help treat itchy skin. According to WebMD, the type to use is colloidal oatmeal, not regular breakfast oatmeal.
But before using it for a baby, it's important to check with the child's doctor to make sure it's the best course of action. The doctor may just recommend using a dermatologist-developed moisturizer off the shelf instead.
Spot Test Products
Whenever introducing a new product to a child, it's important to spot test it first just to make sure it doesn't cause a reaction. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recommends using just a drop on the baby's leg or arm and watching the spot for 24 hours to ensure no irritation occurs.
Don't Only Focus on Baby
Although it's important to make sure the baby is washed and moisturized and their bedding is clean, it's also important to make sure other members of the family are similarly taken care of. Parents should also do things like change their own clothing after being outside for long periods of time, make sure to wipe down pets that have been outside before they spend time with the baby, and generally keep the house as allergen-free as possible — for everyone's benefit.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
