Is Your Child Allergic to Christmas?

My family has several different traditions during the holiday season: we go and choose a tree together, make a ton of sweet treats for family and friends, and decorate the house. Little did I know that sneezing would soon become one of our traditions as well.

“Momb, I tink I’m allergic to Christmas,” my sneezing, wheezing daughter gasped. She was extremely congested, her eyes were watering, and – wait, was that a hive on her neck?

Maybe my mind made up the hive, but I never stopped to think of just how many allergens we are potentially bringing into our home each and every December. Here’s the first and most prevalent of them all:

Dust

Those decorations that have been lovingly packed away into those boxes probably haven’t been touched for, well, 11 months. The amount of dust that those boxes and decorations have accrued is astounding. To prevent bringing more dust into your home, try to air out and brush off those boxes and decorations outside and away from any allergy sufferers.

Food

With all of the different meals and treats being brought into your house and eaten, there is also a good chance that unknown allergies may crop up as a result. If your child does seem to have an allergic reaction to a type of food, be sure to avoid that food and arrange for an allergy test.

Wool (Lanolin)

Believe it or not, those wooly stockings that you love to hang on your chimney with care may be the reason why your child is experiencing such grief this holiday season. If you suspect that your child does have a wool allergy, opt for cotton or silk stockings and clothing articles.

Mold

Got a live tree? Then there’s a pretty good chance you’ve also got mold. Consider buying artificial garlands and trees rather than real ones to cut down on any possible mold allergy outbreaks

Outdoor Allergens

This is another good reason why you should stick to artificial foliage in your house. Many different outdoor allergens that come in from that tree or wreath can be causing your child’s winter-time asthma or sneezing with watering eyes.

Nickel

Thinking about getting your son or daughter a piece of jewelry? Try to avoid any metal jewelry that contains nickel. Up to 10% of women will have an allergic reaction to nickel, which causes swelling and soreness at the contact site.

When in doubt, be sure to check in with your doctor about any potential allergies that your child may have and for further information on how to help treat them.

photo by Miguel Saavedra