Its That Time Again! 4 Easy Ways to be Proactive with Seasonal Allergies

Spring is wonderful.  After a long cold winter, the sun comes out, the snow melts away and the flowers begin to bloom -- the flowers, the ragweed and the trees too! 

Not that long ago, seasonal allergies were not a concern for my family.  But the spring when my son turned 4, allergies became a major concern.  It started innocently enough with a cough and itchy eyes.  But within days he was having trouble sleeping, his eyes were puffing up and it was definitely making him uncomfortable.  My heart broke seeing him so uncomfortable!

We quickly consulted with our pediatrician only to find out some of the things we were doing with the intention of helping him, were actually worsening the situation! 

Here are some tips we learned:

***as always, consult with your pediatrician for the specific needs of your child!***

-  Avoid going outside in the morning.  Did you know pollen counts are much higher in the mornings then the rest of the day?  Well I didnt!  If your child has seasonal allergies it may be helpful to minimize their outdoor time in the morning hours.

-  Keep windows closed.  In my mind, fresh air was always a good thing.  But when I actually thought about it, this tip became a pretty obvious.  But its worthwhile to point out this includes keeping the windows closed during the overnight hours.

-  Keep Hydrated.  The coughing, the runny nose, the itchy eyes, and the medicines can all lead to dehydration.  Plus, drinking plenty of water can prevent higher histamine production. 

-  Ask Your Pediatrician if You Can Initiate Allergy Medicine Before the Pollen Season Begins.  There can be benefits to your child if you get them started on anti-histamines before the pollen season begins.  There is no harm in asking!

And remember, the best part about seasonal allergies is that they have an end!  So do your best for the duration of the pollen season, and look forward to summer.

Love This: Kickstarter Projects for Kids

 

Kickstarter is a website that helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. 

There are some really cool projects focused on children / mothers / families on Kickstarter.  Here are some current highlights:

 
ScrubBugs:

 

Invented by a Mom to help keep her kids healthier throughout the year, Scrub Bugs are creating an entirely new category of healthy hygiene for kids.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hands are the #1 carriers of sickness causing germs.  Despite this, kids don't actually wash their hands well enough to remove all the germs.  Scrub Bugs to the rescue!!!  Scrub Bugs make hand washing both more effective and more fun. They are the new critical component to every kid's hygiene routine.

Such an awesome idea.  I cringe sometimes when I watch my kids 'wash' their hands. If I'm not there over their shoulder there is a good chance they are breezing their hands through the water and moving on - disgusting.  A scrub bug is something I think they would totally use, just as that superman toothbrush gets my son to actually brush his teeth!


Penny Powers:

 

PENNY POWERS is the superpowered alter ego of fourth grader Penelope Powski. No one knows Penelope's secret except for her superpowered sidekick, and cat, Pepper. Together, these two heroes protect their school and their neighborhood from the forces of evil as PENNY POWERS and HYPER-CAT!

We love a girl super hero -- even more so one whose sidekick is her cat!  Awesome drawings and a funny storyline, something we can imagine kids really enjoying.

 

Kind Doll:

 

We have created soft and huggable dolls to team up with your children to be a force for good. Each doll comes with a bag of heart tokens that are given away as an act of kindness. Plus, for each doll purchased a doll will be donated to a child less fortunate.

Not only are the dolls really cute, we love the idea of inspiring your children to commit acts of kindness while giving back to those in need.  The back story of the founders is heartwarming and inspiring.  Best of luck to Kind Doll!

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Inspired to fund one of these projects?  For as little as $5.00 you can take part in KickStarting a dream.  Let us know about your favorite Kickstarter projects!

Plan Ahead! National Walk to Work Day is April 1st

With a little planning ahead, the whole family can enjoy National Walk to Work Day!

First, have your favorite to-go mug ready for your morning cup o'joe.
Personally, we are loving this cold brew recipe and have gone as far as brewing a special batch just for the ice cubes so there's no watered-down taste! 

Have an activity that requires the car after work?
Have your hubby pick you up after work or see about leaving the office a bit early to head home and grab the car!

Afraid you'll work up a sweat on the way in?

Wear layers and carry a backpack for the extras (we love to use these carabiners on the backpack because they are perfect for looping through coats/sweaters/and even some shoes).

Need to drop the kids off on the way to work and don't want to be stuck with an empty stroller for the day? Ask your daycare if you leave your stroller there until pick-up (ours doesn't mind)!
   
If walking with the kids, don't forget to sing their favorite walking song!

Walking walking. Walking walking.

Hop hop hop. Hop hop hop.

Running running running. Running running running.

Now let's stop. Now let's stop.