Does your child get the sniffles or runny nose the moment they step outside? Do they regularly come home from school with watery, itchy eyes? They may be suffering from hay fever, also known as seasonal allergies or allergic rhinitis. While many people think of hay fever as a “summer thing,” allergy season can begin as early as January in parts of the U.S. and stretch into Fall depending on where you live.
With a few simple routines, intentional prevention strategies, and a plan for school days and outdoor activities, kids who are sensitive to seasonal outdoor allergens can stay comfortable during allergy season.
What Causes Hay Fever Symptoms?
What Are Common Hay Fever Symptoms?
Common hay fever symptoms in children can include:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose/nasal congestion
- Itchy nose, throat, or roof of the mouth
- Red, watery, itchy eyes
- Puffy eyelids and frequent eye rubbing
- Post-nasal drip which can cause coughing
- Tiredness and fatigue most often caused by poor sleep
What are the Differences Between Hay Fever and a Cold?
Sometimes it’s tough to tell the difference between seasonal allergies and the common cold since they share some of the same symptoms.
Seasonal allergies often come with runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing and tend to show up during the same time each year, like spring, summer, and early fall. Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergies, does not cause a fever.
Cold symptoms commonly may include runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat, aches and pains, fatigue, and typically clear up within 3–10 days.
What Are Home Remedies for Hay Fever?
Simple home remedies to comfort hay fever can be surprisingly effective, especially when you do it consistently when pollen counts are high.
What Are Some Simple Hay Fever Relief Techniques?
Try these easy hay fever relief suggestions:
- Keep windows closed: This helps reduce the amount of pollen entering your child’s bedroom, your house, or into the car while driving.
- Use a cool compress for itchy eyes: A clean, cold washcloth can quickly calm redness and soothe irritation.
- Change clothes after being outdoors: Change clothes after a day at school, the park, or after outdoor sports activities to remove pollen that clings to fabric.
- Make handwashing a daily routine: Teach children to wash their hands to help stop allergens from getting into their noses and eyes.
- Wash bedding regularly: Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly to clear out outdoor allergens that are tracked in house from clothes and shoes.
- Pack Kleenex® Snap & Go™ Tissues in their backpacks and sports bags: Make it easy for them to help with stuffy noses and postnasal drip while on-the-go.
- Keep Kleenex® Ultra Soft™ Tissues in multiple rooms of your house: Keep boxes of tissues in high traffic areas around the house so runny noses can be tended to quickly and comfortably.
How Should You Track Allergies, and How Can You Prepare for them?
Hay fever often feels unpredictable. Your child could be fine one day, and miserable the next. Tracking what’s in the air can help you plan instead of reacting after symptoms start.
Track Allergens with Pollen Pal
Track Allergens with Kleenex® Brand’s Pollen Pal tool:
- The Pollen Pal tool can help you check daily pollen levels in your area.
- Use the Pollen Pal tool to spot patterns to identify which types of pollen make symptoms worse.
- Sign up for pollen alerts so you can adjust your schedule based on high pollen counts.
- Keep a symptom tracker journal to share with your medical provider as needed.
- Even small changes, like choosing to go to the park when the pollen count is lower, can make a big difference.
How Should I Prepare for Managing Seasonal Allergy Flare-ups?
- A simple “hay fever game plan” will help your kids and family members feel supported.
- Avoid pollen hotspots: Skip picnics in parks during peak allergy season and stay inside when the lawn is being mowed.
- Support school success: If your child struggles in class due to sneezing, watery eyes, or poor sleep, talk to the teacher or school nurse. Ask about keeping windows closed on high pollen days, allowing tissues at their desk.
- Plan for sports and PE: Pack a separate bag for sports clothes that were worn outside, so pollen doesn’t spread through backpacks and bedrooms.
Find the Right Kleenex® Tissue Products for Kids’ Allergy Relief
When noses are running nonstop, the right tissue isn’t just convenient, it can help your child feel more comfortable throughout the day. Soft tissues can be especially helpful when your child is wiping frequently during allergy season.
Here are a few options to keep on hand:
- Kleenex® Snap & Go™ Ultra Soft™ Facial Tissues: These durable, on-the-go tissue packs are perfect for tossing in backpacks, sports bags, and the car. It is never fun to be unprepared for a sneeze attack. Kleenex® Snap & GoTM Tissues are compact with a lid that snaps shut to keep tissues protected between uses.
- Kleenex® Ultra Soft™ Facial Tissues: These tissues are a great gentle option for seasonal allergies. Ultra SoftTM Tissues have three silky-soft layers that help prevent skin irritation from repeated wiping.
- Kleenex® Ultra Soft™ Pocket Pack: Ideal for school runs and outdoor activities; these small tissue packs are perfectly sized to fit in lunchboxes, jacket pockets, and school bags. With three silky-soft layers for up to 0% skin irritation, they can help with runny noses without causing redness.
Find relief and comfort for your child’s hay fever symptoms with Kleenex® Tissues. Discover more seasonal allergy tips with Kleenex® Brand.
