Hay fever in toddlers: what to look for and how to treat it

What are the symptoms of hay fever in toddlers?

A toddler with hay fever may:

Rub their eyes because they're itchy
Have watery, red or swollen eyes
Have a constant runny nose – with clear, rather than thick, mucus
Sneeze, particularly when outdoors
Cough
Complain of itching in the nose, throat, eyes or ears
Develop a nettle-like reach (urticaria), if they come into contact with pollen
Have eczema that is worse in the pollen season, especially on areas not covered by clothing, such as the face and hands

These symptoms can vary in intensity from mild and irritating to severe and causing significant disruption to your toddler's daily life.

What times of year are the key times for hay fever symptoms?

The UK hay fever 'season' runs from late February to September, when, one after the other, trees, weeds, plants, and grasses that are wind-pollinated release their fine, powdery pollen into the air.

The 3 main pollen trigger periods are:

February to May: tree pollen
May to July/August: grass pollen (the most common hay fever trigger)
April to September: weed pollen

"Some children with hay fever react to 1 type of pollen – grass pollen, say – and so have symptoms when grass pollen is around and then feel better," says Margaret Kellman, Acting Head of Clinical Services at Allergy UK. "Others will possibly be affected by more than 1 type of pollen, and so have symptoms for much longer over the spring and summer."

What exactly is hay fever?

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen. In Britain, most people who get hay fever are affected by grass pollen, although flowers, trees and even mould can also cause it.

Susceptibility to hayfever (and other allergies) can be inherited, so your toddler is more likely to get hay fever if there's a family history of asthma, eczema or hay fever.

How can I tell my toddler has hay fever and not just a cold – or something else?

Hay fever is seasonal: its sneezy, runny-nose, red-eye symptoms only happen when there is pollen in the air – from February to September. So you can tell your child's likely to have hay fever and not something else if the symptoms:

Happen in the spring / summer months
Get better/clear up when your toddler's away from grass/trees/weeds
Are worse on warm and sunny days (when pollen counts are often high)
Don't clear up after a few days (as a cold would)
Don't come with a temperature (as a cold might)
Improve with a child-appropriate dose of antihistamine (see Are there any hay fever medications toddlers can take?, below)

If your toddler is sneezing and has itchy runny nose and eyes out of pollen season, and doesn't seem to have a cold, then it's possible they might have another allergy, perhaps to pet hair or dust mites. In this case, it's best to see your GP to find out if allergy testing would be a good idea.

Are there any hay fever medicines toddlers can take?

Yes, if your toddler is over the age of 1. But you should always check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving your toddler any medicine.

Non-sedating antihistamines are often the best treatment for multiple hay fever symptoms in your toddler. Make sure you get an accurate diagnosis from your GP first and a prescription for the correct dose for your child's age
Dr Lowri Kew, family GP

Sore eyes can be treated with lubricating eye drops or washes. Anti-allergy eye drops, such as sodium cromoglycate (available from pharmacies), may also help – if your toddler will let you put eye drops in.

If your toddler is short of breath or is wheezing, an asthma inhaler (prescribed by your GP) may be useful. And, if your toddler's nose is badly affected, a steroid nose spray can help. These are available over the counter for adults but are prescription-only for your child. Ideally (but not always practically), you should start using a nose spray like this about 4 weeks before you anticipate symptoms beginning.

What natural remedies are safe to use for hay fever in toddlers?

There is no scientific evidence that any of the natural remedies below will relieve hay fever symptoms but there are unlikely to cause any harm, so you could give them a try if you'd like to:

Try giving your child apples and red onions, which contain the natural antihistamine quercetin. Eating pineapple also helps the body to absorb quercetin more easily.
Brightly coloured fruit and veg, such as oranges, watermelon, grapefruit, red pepper and carrots, are stuffed full of vitamin C and bioflavonoids, which can help the body to tackle hay fever symptoms.

What other practical steps can I take to relieve my toddler's hay fever symptoms?

My best advice is to stay inside as much as possible, especially in the early morning and evening, when pollen counts are higher.

Don't be tempted to open windows to keep bedrooms cool, as the pollen count is highest in the evening and at dawn. Instead, if you can, invest in a purifying fan or a portable air conditioning unit.

Also, don't keep fresh flowers in the house or dry clothes and sheets outside.

Before you go out during hay fever season:

Check the daily pollen forecast and don't go to parks or gardens when the pollen count is high, and especially not if the grass has just been cut. If you're already out, don't walk on freshly cut grass.
Get your child to wear a pair of wrap-around sunglasses and a machine-washable, broad-brimmed hat, to help stop pollen getting into their nose and eyes
Smear a tiny bit of Vaseline around your child's nose to trap pollen and reduce the amount they breathe in

When you get home during hay fever season:

Put your child's hat in the washing machine
Shower your toddler and change their clothes to wash the pollen off
Brush or wipe down pets before they come back inside the house to remove any trapped pollen

About our expert Dr Lowri Kew

Dr Lowri Kew is a GP and the co-author of Your Baby's First Year: Month-by-Month What to Expect and How to Care for Your Baby. She has a special interest in paediatrics and is also a GP trainer, with a passion for helping GPs stay up to date in order to ensure good patient care.

About our expert Margaret Kelman

Margaret Kelman is Acting Head of Clinical Service at Allergy UK. She lives and works in Scotland and has a special interest in young people and food allergy, eczema and urticaria. She recently worked with the University of Edinburgh on te development of a nurse-led allergy care programme. Margaret studied at the University of Southampton and has worked within NHS Scotland as the allergy advisor for the Children and Young People’s Allergy Network Scotland. She’s been awarded the Barry Kay Award for excellence in allergy care and research in primary care.

Pics: Getty Images

Dr Lowri Kew, GP