Preschool Pointers - 4: Allergies

This post will verge on Dr. Google. Do not take my word for it. Ask your doctor.


Problem: Is your kid always sick? Post-nasal drip, sore throat, stuffy, or sneezing? Does she have dry skin on her legs or arms? Do her ears feel funny but there are no ear infections?


Solution: We live in Florida now, and my "almost-could-be-getting sick" symptoms are at full-throttle, but being an adult, and who I am in general, I don't care and just carry on. It's fine. The kids are a different story. They'll tell me about every teeny malady that's accosting them. Multiple times. This spring we went to the doctor a lot. Virus, they would say. Must just be a virus. For months? I asked. Could be, they said.

Then, we went for their yearly check up. Neither was actually ill, this time, but they were complaining of some of the same symptoms I listed above. The doctor checking them actually asked about these symptoms without them saying anything about them. (They were too preoccupied with the shots.)

He said they appeared to have mild allergies. He said I should give them a small, appropriate dose of allergy medicine in the morning.

I ignored him for a while because that's what I do. I either forgot, or thought it wasn't a big deal, each day. Then I started paying attention. I gave them the child dose of the medicine once in the morning.

I've only been doing it a few days, when they remind me by telling me they feel a little sick and listing out their symptoms. But it works. It really works.

Obviously don't just go about giving your kids allergy medicine. Go to your doctor first. But when you do, ask about mild allergies. It could be a part of the problem.