12_BT_December2019

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
kids with household pets and parents do not even realise
it! These can cause sniffles even in kids who aren't highly
allergic. What's the difference between an allergy and a
cold? It's a good bet your child is allergic to your pet if he or
she sneezes and has a runny nose for three weeks or more,
and this is according to William Calhoun, M.D., director of
allergy, pulmonary, immunology, critical care and sleep at the
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Carpets - a haven for nasty lil’ things
There is something about carpets that gives us that fost,
comfy feeling. It also lends a luxurious feel to a room, doesn’t
it? But did you know that most carpets, unless they happen
to be meticulously cleaned every day, are a haven for dust
mites? If you really want to use one, keep in mind that it
should not be placed in a child’s bedroom, where they spend
lots of time in, including eight-plus hours a night.
Note too, that if it's been installed over concrete, carpeting
can interfere with the evaporation of moisture, which also
contributes to dust mites and mold, according to James
L. Sublett, M.D., chair of the American College of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Indoor Environment
Committee. These common allergens thrive in high levels of
humidity. If you’re looking to prevent allergies in your child,
it’s best to opt for bare floors or area rugs, which are much
easier to keep clean.
Check your house plants
As much as your indoor plants cheer up the
living room and make it look fresh and
inviting, if your child has symptoms of
allergies, it may be a good idea to put them
outside. That's because houseplants can be
surprisingly irritating. The culprit is mold spores
that live in the warm and wet dirt, according to
Allen Seiden, M.D., professor of otolaryngology
at the University of Cincinnati. If you really must
have some in your home, avoid overwatering them
to keep mold away. Also, watch out for leaves
that seem to be rotting, for it that can be a sign of
overwatering or disease. FYI: Fake or silk plants aren't
good substitutes, for they collect dust like crazy.
Switch on the air conditioner
It may sound counterintuitive, but running your
air conditioner may benefit allergy sufferers by
reducing the humidity in the house - Heather
Solos, author of Home-Ec 101: Skills for
Everyday Living.
Upkeep your bathroom cleanliness
If you don’t already know, that green stuff that forms in your
bathtub gives off spores that get sent into the air. The result:
sneezing, wheezing, and other allergic reactions. Scrubbing
the tub with a combo of one cup of lemon juice and two
tablespoons of baking soda (or use and organic bathroom
cleaners) will remove the mildew. Don't forget to look
elsewhere, too. For example: the bottom of the bathmat you
step on every day when exiting the shower can
be a culprit. Being constantly damp, it can
encourage mildew. After using, hang the
bathmat over the shower rod to let it dry,
and wash it weekly.
Pets and kids should not be sleeping
nearby each other
And by that, we mean in different rooms or areas of the
house. As much as your kids would love to cuddle up with
their furry friend, experts urge to skip it. What your kids
actually are doing is snuggling up with fur, dander—dried
skin, hair, and saliva—which are allergens to so many
BabyTalk | December 2019 37