What Do You Give Your Toddler for Allergies?

started with Claritin, moved on to Zyrtec (supplemented by Benadryl at times).....& then he outgrew all symptoms by age 7! Yogi-yahooey!

We've been given the ok to give Claritin and Zyrtec as young as two (when our kids both got the seasonal allergies that plague our area). We've found Zyrtec works a whole lot better than Claritin, but it costs more.

My kids eat local honey which helps with allergies, and we also dose them up during allergy season with several homeopatic and herbal remedies. We've had better luck with those than Claritin... plus, no side effects! If you're concerned about the chemically driven medicines that your doctors are suggesting, it might be worth going in to a natural pharmacy or a natural food store and asking for assistance. We have a great store called Pharmaca by me, with herbalists, naturopaths, homeophathic specialists, and a conventional pharmacist on staff. They give great advice and have helped me move away from some of the western medicines that I wasn't happy with.

My daughter is in Clariton. Her pedetrician says it's allergies but she has been tested yet (she is four and goes next month).

If your son has allergic asthma, you have to work with your doctor to get it controlled. You are NOT doing him any favors by withholding prescribed medicine, because of your fear of side effects.
Asthma (allergic and non-allergy related) can be a life threatening condition and the best way to treat it is by putting your child on a medication that will prevent episodes.
All medications have side effects, because asthma is such a serious condition, sometimes even serious side effects are outweighted by the benefits.

If you don't trust you doctor, please keep looking for a doctor that will listen to your concerns and work with you. The behavior of your allergist was awful, so find a new one. But please don't try to medicate your son yourself with over the counter meds...
Good luck!

My son takes singular as a control med for asthma it dies nothing for his allergies. I have to say his inhaled asthma meds say that it can effect height but he has always been in the 90% for it he is 9 and almost as tall as me so I'm not concerned about it that's why they monitor kids when they go on these types of medications. For allergies he takes flonase and claritin and my youngest takes zyrtec and flonase neither have had problems. My oldest has taken singular for a longtime without any behavior side effects.

I am confused though whether your doctor is treating for asthma or allergies? You say he wheezes and both singular and budesonide are asthma control meds

Clariton liquid drops.

They have Clariton for kids..I buy that for mine...not sure about the side affects...never read them cuz I take the adult version and am fine.

EDIT:
** Flonase: is a "corticosteroid.' A Steroid.
Some allergy/Asthma meds, are steroid based. Some are not. So you NEED, to know the difference.
Some meds are used only as needed. Some everyday.
So you need to know that too.

I have Asthma, and allergies. I only take my meds, per needed.
But that is me.
But be aware that some meds, are steroid based. And is used only PER needed per certain acute stages of need.

Allergy meds, are antihistamines.
Asthma meds are: either, steroid based, OR are "Bronchodilators." Bronchodilators help open up the air passages/airways. Steroids, work to reduce Inflammation.
At times, both are needed, per level of acuteness of the condition.
But each has specific purposes.

So the point is ALSO, you can't just give things willy-nilly. And what works for one person, may not for the other.
And you don't know about dosage, per his age/weight.
And you do not know... concretely, about his allergies or whether he has extenuating conditions, like Asthma.
Your Ped, should determine this.
----------------------------

If you are not comfortable with what the Doc prescribed, then tell her.
Or go to another Pediatrician and get a 2nd opinion.

Next, if he is 'wheezing' when sick... did the Doc consider other things? Like Asthma?

If he sick now?

Was it determined if he has allergies OR is sick with a chest cold?

How long has he been with a 'constant' runny and stuffy nose and wheezing when he is sick?

Wheezing "when sick"... can be because of being sick with a chest cold or other things.
So was it determined what he had?

Mostly, per ALLERGIES, these things are suggested:
Claritin for kids
Zyrtec for kids
Allegra
Singulair
Benadryl (but it causes drowsiness)

PLUS, your son is only 2 years old... so typically, these over the counter meds are not for 2 year olds.
And per 'dosage' you would NOT know, how much to give him.

MOST allergy meds... do have side effects. It can make some kids hyper or moody. Or not. Each person being different.

This is what I wrote to another allergy question today....

I just want to add that watch out for allergy meds....they may cause behavioral changes that you might not associate with the meds.

I gave my son Zyrtec once, and at school that day he couldn't keep still, got up in the middle of class and announced to all the kids that it is time for recess, and it was nowhere time to go. This was the ONLY time his teacher called me about his behavior (or that he has ever gotten in trouble for his behavior). I will never, ever give him Zyrtec again. I have heard similar stories about this meds and others.

I wish I knew of more natural meds. I kind of just make my kids suffer a little if the allergies are not bad. And then give them benadryl when needed.

My doctor prescribed Rynatan for allergies for my daughter.

Shes had no problems with it, but then again, I don't give it to her everyday. Only when her allergies are acting up. Thankfully, she only gets seasonal allergies and it's not an everyday thing.

I've been trying to figure out what's going on with my 18 month old-- allergies or colds or both etc. but he also wheezes when sick so we've done breathing treatments to clear the wheezing and then my Pediatrician went ahead and told me to try 1/2 tsp of Clariton and or Zyrtec. Liquid Zyrtec has been pulled with the rest of the recalls and I have had a horrible time finding the name brand liquid dosage. But Walmart and Walgreens/CVS have a generic that I am just trying. Seems to be working way better than the Clariton.

With that said a girlfriend of mine just gave me a pamphlet of a holistic pediatrician in our area. She knows of two kids who were allergic to dairy, wheat, and nuts and since being treated by this practice are fine with all of them! She said its all touchy, feely, spiritual stuff but she needs to find another avenue because what the conventional pediatrician is prescribing isn't working.

I plan to make a consult just to see if its worth the time or effort with my son. Here's the practice's link...maybe you can find something like this in your area?

http://clh.sohigian.com/

After feeling like my son had a cold that would not go away I finally took him to Urgent Care, they said it was allergies and suggested over the counter Zyrtec
( not sure about spelling as I talked to the pharmacist at Walgreen's and there is a generic of it. ) I also did a follow up with his pediatrician. I have to say honestly that the medication does not do anything to help with the runny nose. Also it may just be my imagination but it seems like when he has it he is more irritable and more rambunctious. Unfortunately I think at this young an age sometimes you just have to suffer through the allergies with them.

Look into OPC3. It's amazing. It's all natural and will help a ton.
I can only speak for the one I use. Message me if you want more info.
:)

Toddlers immune systems are still developing so that can't fight a lot of stuff out there. I recommend checking your cleaning supplies - especially laundry detergent as we're basically married to it. He could have allergies to the chemicals. A good place to check and see what's in the things you use and the potential health risks - www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/ingredients.htm
Chemical ingredients to look out for:
• Sodium hydroxide
• Hydrochloric acid
• Butyl cellosolve
(2-Butoxyethanol)
• Formaldehyde
• Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
• Ammonia
• Sulfamic acid
• Petroleum distillates
• Sulfuric acid
• Lye (potassium hydroxide)
• Morpholine

Here's a document with some good info - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BbvCCHhIQxvCd2F1UkSPg...

If you'd like to watch a video as well - http://www.video.me/ViewVideo.aspx?vid=402014