Hi moms! My 5 year old is having the worst allergies this spring. Her only symptom is horrible bark like coughing in the morning that gradually gets better thru the day. I don't like having to give her allergy medicine all the time. I am looking into getting a air purifier and wondering what you mamas suggest before I make such a purchase(:
Thank you !
Everything Tally wrote! My allergiest does not recommend air purifiers as being effective.
You might check if she has croup, it causes that barking cough.
Have her sleep with a humidifier if you're in a dry climate. Wash her hair frequently as hair can carry many microscopic allergens. Also, wash the actual pillow she sleeps on and run through dryer (as well as pillow cases). Vacuum the mattress (just run a vacuum on it, then put a plastic cover over mattress.
If she can sleep in a room without carpet or cloth drapes, that's the best. When you clean, use a damp sponges so you capture the dust.
We have an Austin Air purifier it was expensive, but I think it has been worth it. We got it an an allergy store it was about $450.00. You can check and see if your insurance will cover it? You will need a note from the allergist.For this one we only need to change the filter once every 5 years.
We like ours, my kids are in the same room it has really kept them from both getting sick at the same time, especially sharing a room.
Allergy tips..
Rinse off after being outside, quick bath before bed.
Keep bedroom window closed, only use AC or heat- this sucks but we do it for the kids in their room only.
Side note. My son used to have really bad boogery nose during this season. Nov. we started a gluten free diet, when we went on our vacation to FL he was not boogery at all.. we will see how the rest of this allergy season goes here at home.
Other side note.. get local honey (honey that is made by bees nearest to where you live, we will get some at the local farmers markets this summer) 1 teaspoon a day should help her body build up immunity's. To help relieve them.
If you have not had her allergy tested, you might want to. This will help you find out all that she is allergic to and you can possible avoid certain things that could make them worse.
Good luck
This is the exact answer I gave the other mom asking about coughing..
Our daughter also had a "non-progressive cough". I could hear every cough every night for years.
It was finally diagnosed as a coughing asthma.. But this took a long while until they would call it this.. So we were like you.. trying everything.
We live in an area with lots of dust and pollens and so we decided to make our home, especially her room a breathing paradise for her.
We pulled out all of the carpets. We got rid of all of the drapes and made sure we washed her bedding more often.. I would purchase 2 sets of bedding so that one comforter could be washed over and over.. and the other was saved for special occasions. .
We also purchased a good filter for our air and heating system .. The best thing we did was purchase a Hunter electric filter for her room. The literature says to change the filters every 6 to 8 weeks, we discovered hers needed to be changed every 4 to 6 weeks.. a few times on the 3rd week.. It was covered in dust.. All of this changed her life and ours.
She did have a nebulizer so we could give her treatments and she then went on an inhaler.. Thank goodness she outgrw all of this by 6th grade..
I second the Austin Air Purifier.....it is worth EVERY penny.
I would also get tested for allergies and food sensitivities. I know it sounds backwards, bit if the body is overwhelmed with food sensitivities, then it cannot handle the normal outside allergens.
I agree with the allergy meds....and keep researching for the more things you can cut out of her home, synthetic fragrances, cleaning chemicals, and allergens then the easier it is for her body to fight off the other things you cant control.
