At Baby Smiles Labels, we’re always looking for ways to make every aspect of parenting a little easier on you. And while our waterproof labels are a great way to keep track of things, there’s much more to parenting than looking after sippy-cups. For this blog, we’re going to talk about an important and often-overlooked aspect of caring for children – managing allergies, and why watching out for allergic symptoms getting your child tested for them can be such a crucial step.
More Than Just the Sniffles
Allergies are, at their core, an overreaction of the immune system to foreign irritants (called allergens) – anything from peanuts to pet dander. They’re extremely common, and it’s estimated that upwards of 50 million Americans, millions of those children, have allergies of some form or another. To most, it’s just a harmless case of hay fever – but for same children, allergies take a much more sinister form.
Allergies happen when the body releases chemicals known as histamines into the bloodstream to “defend” against the allergen. The problem is that often, the histamines cause more problems than the allergens. In extreme reactions, known as anaphylaxis, the release of these chemicals can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms like difficulty breathing and swallowing.
Thankfully, anaphylaxis is a fairly rare condition, but it’s still important to be careful. Allergies are often hereditary, so if you have a family history of allergies, be especially watchful of your child. If your child gets a “cold” for a week or more around the same time every year, that can be another indicator. If you suspect your child has allergies, you can talk to their doctor and receive a skin test for the allergen, or they can receive a series of blood tests (known as a mini-screen or mini-panel) to check for allergies. For many children this won’t be necessary, but it’s important to know the signs and be mindful of them.
Contact Your Baby Bottle Label Online Source
If you have more questions about allergies or parenting, we’re always here for you. Feel free to reach out to us at our contact page or browse our extensive line of quality, waterproof labels. Don’t forget to check back to this blog periodically for more tips and info on raising children, and we look forward to hearing from you!
