Allergies and Your Children: What You Need to Know

• Teach your child to avoid places where molds grow. Outdoors this includes damp shady areas and garden compost piles. Indoor hot spots include damp basements and closets, bathrooms, air conditioners, humidifiers, garbage pails, upholstered furniture and old foam rubber pillows.
• Keep the lawn mowed and leaves raked, and don't ask your child with allergies to do these chores.
• Avoid walks through tall vegetation, and avoid travel in the country while crops are being harvested.
• Ensure moldy indoor places, such as summer cabins, are aired out and cleaned before your child spends time there.
• Use a dehumidifier to dry the basement, and be sure to frequently remove the water collected in the machine to prevent mold growth.
• Open a window or use a fan after a warm or steamy shower to allow the humidity to escape.

Dust mites

Dust mites are most effectively reduced by decreasing the amount of dust in your home. You can:

• Dust-proof your child's bedroom and other rooms where the child spends time by removing wall-to-wall carpet and blinds. Instead, use window shades or curtains that can be washed periodically in hot water. Hardwood floors with washable throw rugs are easier to remove dust from than carpets. Use vinyl- or leather-covered furniture or washable slipcovers.
• Avoid down-filled blankets and feather pillows.
• Encase bedding in commercially available allergy-proof covers. Woven microfiber materials are more comfortable.
• Wash linens using water hotter than 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which kills dust mite eggs. If you do not want to set your water heater that high, dry your linens at the hottest dryer setting.
• Frequently dust with a damp cloth.

Animals

If you simply can't bear to find another home for your pet, try these suggestions:

• Bathe your pet weekly and brush it outdoors even more frequently (again, don't ask the allergic child to do this task).
• Remove carpets and soft furnishings that trap animal dander and dried proteins in dust.
• Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Use a room air cleaner with a HEPA filter.
• Keep the pets out of your child's bedroom.

Foods and other ingested substances