Spring has officially sprung! And for many families, this means an unwelcome guest: kids’ seasonal allergies. What should be a beautiful time of enjoying the warming weather and blossoming flowers becomes a real challenge for kiddos susceptible to the higher pollen count in Orange County, California this time of year. So, to help your family avoid hiding inside this spring, or suffering through some not-so-nice allergy symptoms, here’s our top pick allergy medicine for kids, our favorite natural remedies, plus, what we don’t recommend.

Is Benadryl safe for kids?

To tackle annoying allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and itchy, watery eyes, many parents turn to first-generation antihistamines such as Benadryl. While it can be quite effective at improving symptoms, it is generally not recommended for kids — especially kids under the age of six. 

First-generation antihistamines

As a first-generation antihistamine, Benadryl crosses the blood-brain barrier. As a result, it causes more side-effects — especially drowsiness. At Ocean Pediatrics, we encourage all of our families to say bye-bye to Benadryl in favor of other methods such as second-generation antihistamines or natural remedies. 

Second-generation antihistamines

Second-generation antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec don’t easily cross the blood-brain barrier as easily as their first-gen counterparts, and as a result, have less side effects. That’s why we’d often recommend non-drowsy allergy medicine for kids. But before you pick up an antihistamine at your local pharmacy, we urge you to talk to your pediatrician about whether it’s truly the best option for your child. In the meantime, we invite you to explore our favorite natural remedies for allergies!

Natural remedies for allergies

Diet

For some kids, enriching the diet with healthy, whole foods can work wonders for remedying stubborn symptoms. Here’s what we recommend…

• Local honey: Honey contains digested pollen. Eating small amounts of local honey (only for kids ages one and up) might help kids’ build up immunity to the local allergens.

• Vitamin C: Fruits like guavas and oranges contain vitamin-c, an antioxidant and natural anti-histamine known for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.

• Omega-3s: Salmon, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are high in Omega-3s fatty acids – which may have anti-inflammatory properties and help boost immune function.

• Quercetin: Found in many fruits and vegetables like apples and broccoli, quercetin is another natural anti-histamine. 

Home

Allergens are easily brought inside the home – tracked inside by pets, shoes, and even open windows. Keeping a clean, and ideally pollen-free, home often improves kids’ seasonal allergies. We recommend…

• HEPA air filtration: Using a HEPA air filter in your child’s bedroom can trap allergens in the air.

• Cleaning: Frequent vacuuming and wet dusting can reduce the allergens in your home which may improve symptoms. 

• Mattress covers: Encase your child’s mattress, pillows, and box spring in allergen-proof covers to help prevent dust mite allergies.

• Humidity: Maintain a low humidity level in your home to discourage the growth of mold, dust mites, and other allergens.

• Laundry: Wash your child’s clothes often and bedding weekly in hot water to remove allergens.

Habits

Adding a few simple healthy habits into your child’s springtime daily routine might have a healthy and helpful effect on their body and their symptoms! We encourage…

• Bathing before bed: Rinse away allergens that may have accumulated on the hair and body throughout the day.

• Nasal irrigation: Clean the nose with a saline spray or solution to remove allergens from your little one’s nasal passages. 

• Flush the body naturally: Regular exercise and proper hydration supports healthy immune function and can help flush the body of allergens.

At Ocean Pediatrics, we are here for your family through every season and every symptom. If your family is dealing with stubborn kids’ seasonal allergies, or you’re not sure what remedy to offer them, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us. Our passionate pediatricians are here to diagnose and treat allergy symptoms, or refer your family to a skilled allergist if necessary. To make an appointment, click here. Until then, we wish you a warm, sunny, and allergy-free spring!