Things You'll Need:
- Air Cleaners
- Allergy Free Matress Covers
- Dehumidifiers
- Allergy-free Bedding
- Humidifiers
- Dehumidifiers
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Step 1
Discuss your child's allergy history with the child care provider.
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Step 2
Provide a list of known allergy-producing foods.
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Step 3
Look for signs of a pet - a child care provider will not always divulge that his or her cat uses the sofa as a bed during the night.
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Step 4
Familiarize yourself with the child care provider's emergency procedures in case of a serious allergy attack.
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Step 5
Talk about designing strategies to help your child avoid allergens while in the provider's home or center.
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Step 6
Bring in a humidifier or dehumidifier if possible.
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Step 7
Provide anti-allergen bedding to encase mattresses and sheets that may used at naptime.
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Step 8
Request that your child be kept away from chalk and not allowed around blackboards if chalk is a known allergen.
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Step 9
Inquire about cleaning frequency - how often the room is dusted, vacuumed or mopped and how often cloth toys are washed.
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Step 10
Suggest using nontoxic cleaning products that you know will not irritate your child. Perhaps provide these products initially.
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Step 11
Ask about storing washable yet dust-collecting toys in airtight containers.
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Step 12
Combat pollen by keeping your child indoors when the pollen count is high or on windy days.
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Step 13
Make sure the sandbox is covered when not in use.
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Step 14
Be on the alert for behavioral changes that may indicate discomfort resulting from allergies while at child care.
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Step 15
Share your child's allergy experience at child care with his or her health care provider or allergist.
