Hayfever season arrives every year with all the subtlety of a marching band in a library. For our family of four, it’s not just a mild inconvenience. It’s a shared trial of itchy eyes, endless sneezing, and bedtime routines that involve more medication than stories.
Yes, all four of us suffer from hayfever. Two adults, two kids, and not a clear nasal passage in sight. As soon as the first blossom appears, the symptoms kick off. And once the pollen count hits ‘high’, we know it’s time to shift into summer survival mode.
Here’s what our lives look like during hayfever season—and the things we do to manage it without locking ourselves indoors for three months.
Spotting the Signs Early
It starts the same way every year. One of the kids wakes up red-eyed and sniffling. Before long, the rest of us follow. We’ve learned to take these early warning signs seriously. A slow reaction can mean days of discomfort that could’ve been avoided.
We keep a close eye on the pollen forecast—it’s not always accurate, but it helps us plan. When the count is high, we know to take extra steps to protect ourselves and prep the kids.
Managing Hayfever in Adults: What Actually Helps
Over time, we’ve developed a reliable routine. These are the strategies that make a noticeable difference for us grown-ups:
- Take antihistamines daily: We start before symptoms appear. This gives our bodies a head start. Non-drowsy tablets are a must during work hours.
- Use eye drops and nasal sprays: Targeted treatments help where tablets don’t. We use preservative-free eye drops and steroid nasal sprays when things get tough.
- Apply a pollen barrier: A thin layer of petroleum jelly just inside the nostrils helps trap pollen before it gets into the system.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors: Especially on windy or high pollen days. It keeps pollen out of the eyes and offers some relief.
- Shower and change clothes after being outside: This stops pollen from hanging around on clothes, hair, or skin and reduces indoor exposure.
These small adjustments make a big impact. They’re not cure-alls, but they turn hayfever from a miserable ordeal into something more manageable.
Family Life in Peak Pollen Season
We’re not naturally an indoorsy bunch, but hayfever can really sap your enthusiasm for the great outdoors. That said, we don’t shut ourselves away entirely. It’s more about choosing our moments.
We still go for walks, visit the park, and eat outside occasionally—but we’ve become much more strategic. Mornings and evenings are generally safer than the middle of the day, when pollen levels peak. And if it’s a particularly bad day, we’ll opt for indoor fun instead.
There’s a noticeable shift in the house around this time of year. Tissues in every room. Eye drops on the kitchen counter. That familiar rustle of antihistamine packets. It’s all part of the rhythm of our summers now.
Keeping the House as Pollen-Free as Possible
Even when you’re indoors, pollen can follow you. These are the steps we take to reduce exposure at home:
- Keep windows shut during peak pollen hours: Typically late morning through early evening. We ventilate early or late when the count is lower.
- Change clothes after coming inside: Especially after school runs, park visits, or gardening. Pollen clings to fabric.
- Wash bedding more often: Pollen can settle on pillows and sheets. A weekly wash—especially of pillowcases—helps.
- Vacuum and dust regularly: A good HEPA filter vacuum is ideal. We also try to keep surfaces clear of dust and pollen buildup.
- Use a pollen filter in the car: It makes a real difference on long journeys.
These measures don’t create a totally pollen-free zone, but they reduce the load enough to keep symptoms in check.
Helping the Kids Handle Hayfever
The kids’ symptoms vary year to year, but both are affected enough that we have to stay on top of it. The biggest difference with children is how you approach treatment and prevention.
- Children’s antihistamines: We use liquid versions for ease, or melt-in-the-mouth tablets when they’re a bit older. Check doses carefully and avoid anything that causes drowsiness unless it’s bedtime.
- Eye drops: We had to practice these. It helps to make them lie back and look up while you drop it in. The first few tries were chaos, but they’ve got used to it now.
- Nasal sprays: A bit trickier with younger kids. We opt for gentle saline sprays for them, and steroid sprays only with GP guidance.
- Keeping them cool and hydrated: On hot, pollen-heavy days, this helps keep symptoms from escalating.
- Avoid peak times outdoors: Same as us—mornings and evenings are best. We also plan shaded activities or opt for places with fewer trees and grasses.
Helping them understand what’s happening is part of the process. They now recognise their symptoms and tell us when they need something. We’ve also tried to make medication part of the routine, rather than a big deal.
Making Outdoor Time Bearable
We still want the kids to enjoy the summer—and we want to enjoy it too. So here’s how we make the most of outdoor time without paying for it later:
- Check the pollen count before heading out
- Pack antihistamines and tissues in every bag
- Stick to low-pollen areas when possible: Beaches and city centres tend to be better than fields and countryside.
- Wear wraparound sunglasses and hats
- Rinse faces and hands after playing outside
These habits are now second nature. We don’t always get it right—sometimes we’ll misjudge it and come home with streaming eyes—but we’ve become more resilient.
Why We Don’t Just Wait It Out
It’s easy to think hayfever is just a seasonal nuisance. But it affects sleep, schoolwork, concentration, and general well-being. Especially for kids, poor sleep or itchy eyes can make the whole day harder.
We’ve decided not to just wait it out. By treating it early and consistently, we’ve kept symptoms from spiralling. It also means fewer days written off by headaches or exhaustion.
And as any parent knows, managing your own symptoms is one thing. Trying to function while two sneezy, overtired children are melting down is something else entirely.
Tips for Fellow Families
If hayfever is a regular summer guest in your household, here’s what we’ve learned:
- Start treatment before symptoms begin
- Tailor medication to each family member’s age and needs
- Keep windows shut and clothes clean during high pollen periods
- Use barriers like Vaseline and sunglasses
- Have a plan for high pollen days—indoor activities are your friend
- Let teachers know if your child’s symptoms are affecting them in class
And perhaps most importantly, be kind to yourselves. It’s exhausting at times, but it’s not forever.
The Upside of a Shared Struggle
We wouldn’t wish hayfever on anyone, but there’s a strange sort of solidarity in all going through it together. We get it. We don’t need to explain why someone’s rubbing their eyes or sneezing 14 times in a row.
There’s comfort in the shared experience—and a lot of tissues.
Hayfever might be the price we pay for sunshine and greenery, but we’ve learned how to live with it. And every year, we get a little better at managing it. Which means a little more time enjoying summer, and a little less time hiding from it.
Just don’t invite us to a midday BBQ on a high pollen count day—because we will show up red-eyed, wheezing, and looking like we’ve just emerged from a sandstorm.
