The 5 signs of hay fever in babies that every parent needs to know

THE sun is shining, that means a play date in the park with your little one.

But like adults, babies can also suffer from hay fever, with 15 percent of young children being affected each year.

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Spending more time outdoors during the Easter period is likely to bring on symptoms as a pollen bomb is set to hit in the next few days.

Today, pollen concentrations are high in the South West, London and South East, East England, East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire and Humber and the North West.

Levels are low in all other regions except the Northeast where mild pollen levels will occur.

These high readings will continue across the country through Sunday, with readings returning to more stable levels on Monday.

Babysense experts say the five most common symptoms of hay fever in toddlers are:

1. sneezing and coughing
2. runny or stuffy nose
3. red, itchy, watery eyes
4. gasping
5. fatigue

Elaine Soller, expert on baby feeling While there’s no way to avoid hay fever entirely, there are some things you can do to help your little ones play and have fun this Easter.

She said: “Yes, babies can get hay fever. Hay fever in children and babies is very common and it is important to be able to distinguish between these allergies and the common cold.

“Signs and symptoms of hay fever in babies and children are similar to those in adults.”

If you suspect your child has an allergy, you should consult your doctor for advice.

This, she says, is important because your baby may need to be tested to get an accurate diagnosis.

“It’s important to be sure it’s a pollen/hay fever allergy and rule out any medical conditions that may require prescription medication.

“However, there are things you can do to reduce the chances of your child getting hay fever and/or minimize the symptoms.

“First, I would suggest checking pollen counts online and avoiding long days outside if it’s too high.”

Second, she said you should make sure your home and any common places your child has (like a car) are always dust-free (dust with a damp cloth) and vacuumed regularly.

“Also, I would keep windows and doors closed around the house to keep pollen out.

“Finally, when you come back from an outing, I would wash your baby’s clothes to rid them of pollen and to remove pollen from your child’s face, gently wash in cold water,” she added.