If you’re the parent of a child with allergies, chances are you’re familiar with losing sleep over itching, scratching, and general discomfort. It’s common for parents and kids to lose out on valuable sleep because allergies get in the way. Falling asleep can be almost impossible when your child can’t stop itching or experiencing discomfort. The good news is that there are some simple tips you can use to help increase your chances of a good night’s sleep without a lot of fuss.

MEDICATION

Your doctor may suggest a mild medication that will help calm the allergies before bedtime. This is not a good option for all children since the goal is to use as little medication as possible – but sleep is absolutely integral to healing and growing so for some kids it may be necessary.

MEDICATION TIMING

If your child is using medication, consider adjusting the timing with your doctor’s mentorship. Taking allergy medicine even just a couple of hours later can make sure that they are in full effect when it’s time to hit the hay. If your child’s medication is working fully at bedtime, they are more likely to be symptom-free which will help them doze off easier.

BATHS

Should your child have skin allergies, a night time bath using oatmeal or other soothing elements may be a great option for you. A bath can calm allergies, soothe the skin, increase circulation, and help make your child slow down long enough to realize he is sleepy. An evening bath can be combined with a story to help get your child in the right mindset for sleep. If dealing with eczema, you may want to try a home remedy such as apple cider vinegar baths (1/2 cup diluted in a bathtub of water) or bleach baths* (cap full diluted in a bathtub of water) to reduce the itchies. *Be sure to consult with a physician if you’d like to try bleach baths, they have been clinically proven to help dramatically reduce eczema symptoms.

EXERCISE

It’s summer time, believe it or not, pool time not only increased my daughter’s daily exercise, it also helped improve her eczema! Both provided a better night’s rest. For some children, chlorinated pools do wonders for the skin, for others, not so much. Be sure to monitor your child’s condition to determine what is best for you. Add moisture back to your child’s skin by applying the necessary creams after water activities are over. If water activities aren’t right for you, maybe mommy & me yoga, soccer, or nature walks may be the right fit for your family.

IS IT TOO HOT, TOO COLD OR JUST RIGHT?

Allergies and itchy skin alike can be triggered by the temperature. Determine if a cooler bedroom temperature will prevent excessive sweating, or if an extra pair of socks or a warmer temperature may help your little sleep better. A humidifier/vaporizer may also help the breathing air quality. All in hopes of a better nights rest.

As you can see, there are options available to help your child and your family get the sleep you need every night. Sleep is an integral part of the healing and growing process, so if you find that you or your child aren’t getting enough – take action now and put it as a top priority to ensure everyone can get a good nights rest.

What did you do to make sure your child had a good nights rest?

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