As spring approaches, it’s easy to get excited about warm weather, crisp air, and increased outdoor time. But we all know, along with flowers and fun comes infant seasonal allergies. Many people suffer from dreaded seasonal allergies, but many new parents aren’t aware that their infants could also be experiencing allergens in the spring air.
Can babies have season allergies?
While rare in their first year, infants can indeed develop seasonal allergies. Babies a year and older and toddlers are more commonly affected by baby seasonal allergies. It can be difficult to tell when a baby is suffering from seasonal allergies because, unlike an adult or even an older child, your baby can’t tell you how they’re feeling. It’s up to you to watch out for baby allergies and signs your infant has seasonal allergies.
Internal changes
Internal changes due to baby allergies refer to your child’s emotional and mood changes. A child suffering from infant seasonal allergies is more likely to be irritable. They also may be less alert than normal. You know your baby better than anyone and are the best source for knowing when your baby is acting strange. Your baby might be extra tired and lethargic while having trouble staying asleep when put down. It’s also essential to pay attention to when your baby experiences symptoms. If your baby sneezes and gets red, itchy eyes when you take them for a walk or wakes up with these symptoms, you can better pinpoint the allergen of issue. For example, pollen is typically the culprit for babies who experience symptoms after time outdoors, and dust is a common allergen causing babies to wake up with allergy symptoms. If you notice that seasonal allergies have begun to affect your baby’s skin by making it red, dry and flaky, we recommend our oogiebear nosebalm, which can help nourish their sensitive skin.
External changes
There are external changes you will see happen to your baby if they are suffering from baby seasonal allergies. Some of those changes are excessive sneezing, increased coughing, itchy, red, and watering eyes, runny nose, and dark circles under baby’s eyes. These symptoms are easy to mistake for a cold or another sickness. What can help you identify if your baby is suffering from a sickness or from hay fever is noticing how long the symptoms persist and what worsens them. For example, if your baby experiences symptoms at a certain time of day for more than a week but seems fine at another point in the day, it is most likely allergies. Always confirm with a pediatrician before dismissing a possible sickness as seasonal allergies.
To help your baby who is suffering from seasonal allergies, you can take them to their doctor and use a baby nose picker. You can utilize our organic chestrubs and nosebalms to help clear their noses and relieve sinus pressure. Use these in combination with the oogiebear tool or the oogiebear-brite to help keep baby breathing clear and comfortable during the difficult allergy season.