Is your child or teen struggling with miserable allergies during this time of year? Sneezing stuffy noses, itchy watery eyes and just feeling miserable. Or does your child experience allergies all year round that negatively impact their health leading to ear infections, eczema, coughs, and asthma?

I remember well as a child starting back to school with miserable fall pollen allergies. While, I enjoyed school and liked my teachers, I dreaded going back to school. Why… because I would sit at my desk with my new colors, notebooks, and a box of kleenexes… sneezing and blowing my nose constantly. My eyes were itchy, red, and watery. At lunchtime, I was embarrassed because I would have to take allergy medicine. Instead of enjoying the excitement of back to school like the other children. I was miserable!!

Fast forward a few years and as a junior higher I was able to begin allergy shots as my allergies had then developed into asthma issues. It was no fun making multiple doctor visits to get frequent allergy shots. However, I was grateful that they did provide some relief from the miserable allergies. Fast-forward a few years later, and I had a bad reaction to the allergy injections, requiring epinephrine. My physician at the University of Iowa Health Care recommended that I be treated with sublingual immunotherapy through Allergy Associates of LaCrosse due to its safety and efficacy.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) utilizing The LaCrosse Method Protocol has been used safely and effectively for more than 50 years in the U.S. with no reported life-threatening reactions. More than 275,000 patients around the country have benefited from the most widely used published U.S. protocol that treats food and environmental allergies. The protocol was developed by internationally regarded allergy specialists through decades of clinical experience and research.

It is the researched and clinically proven, simple and effective way of treating allergies at home without the shots. Sublingual Immunonotherapy (SLIT) is affordable and takes just 1 drop of allergy extract under the tongue 3 times daily. The goal of allergy drops is to train your child/teen’s immune system to stop reacting to what it is allergic to. Sublingual immunotherapy addresses the underlying causes of allergies, not just treating symptoms.

It has been shown clinically and in research to be a safe alternative for treating allergies especially for:

• Young children through the teen years
• Asthmatics
• Conditions such as ear infections, eczema, and sinusitis
• Food and mold allergies
• Multiple allergies including dust mites, pollen, and animals

It has been supported by clinical research to:

• Reduce or eliminate need for allergy medications
• Reduce or eliminate related medical visits and procedures
• Provide more feeling better days to participate in life and activities with less lost time from work and play.

As a provider working with children with allergies and immune struggles, Wellness 4 KIDS is now privileged to be an approved and trained provider to offer Allergychoices prescription sublingual immunotherapy to their qualifying pediatric clients within the state of Iowa.

In collaboration with Allergychoices, Wellness 4 KIDS utilizes the researched and clinically proven LaCrosse Method for sublingual immunotherapy. (Allergychoices is the partner of Allergy Associates of LaCrosse, providing the FDA approved allergy extract for sublingual immunotherapy).

After struggling during my growing years with miserable allergies, I found allergy relief utilizing sublingual immunotherapy.  I want to provide children  a better health option in treating the underlying causes of their allergies, not just taking more medication. 

​For more information on Allergychoices Sublingual Allergy Treatment with Wellness 4 KIDS or to start your child’s health journey with sublingual immunotherapy to address their allergies click the button below.

With back to school just around the corner, now is the time to start easing into the back to school bedtime routine. Children may be accustomed to a more relaxed bedtime schedule during the summer months, but with back-to-school, bedtime routines may need to be reestablished.

​The transition is easiest if the routine is eased into approximately two weeks before the first day of school. A 15 minute earlier bedtime every few days the two weeks prior to school starting, helps the transition go smoother. In addition, the week or two prior is a great time to work on preparing clothing each evening that will be worn the next day. If preparing clothing and belongings needed for the next day is done the night before, the routine will go much smoother In the mornings for off to school timeframes.

Bedtime routines should be handled with a matter-of-fact approach with your child and should be consistent. It is important to set a time preceding the actual bedtime to accomplish the bedtime routine activities so that the actual bedtime can be accomplished without delay. Working with your child to develop a consistent bedtime routine that meets your child’s individual needs and assures adequate sleep on a nightly basis is important. 

Adequate sleep is essential for optimizing children’s physical and mental health. Lack of sleep can affect children’s normal growth and development including brain development and neurocognitive development. Too little sleep can impact a child or teen’s social and behavioral health. Lack of sleep has been implicated in poor school performance, behavioral disorders, and as a contributing factor in ADHD. In addition, sleep is essential to a healthy functioning immune system providing resiliency in fighting colds, flu, and infections. 

Children should spend approximately 40% of their time asleep during childhood. The AAP recommends the following sleep guidelines for children:
Infants: (4-12 months) 12-16 hours including naps
Toddlers: (1-2 yrs) 11-14 hours including naps
Preschoolers: (3-5 yrs) 10-13 hours including naps
Grade schoolers: (6-12 yrs) 9-12 hours
Teens: (13-18 yrs) 8-10 hours

Guidelines for Bedtime Routines:

• Turn OFF screens at least 1-2 hours before bedtime.
• If screens are needed for homework in the evening use amber blue-light blocking glasses.
• Keep TV, phones, and screens out of the bedroom.
• Avoid wearable devices with wi-fi during sleep.
• Avoid caffeine and sugar in the evening.
• Establish a consistent bedtime routine.
• Snuggle, cuddle, and have storytime for children before bed.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom.

If your child experiences back-to-school sleep struggles, Wellness 4 KIDS is here to help. Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call or learn more at Wellness4KIDS.net