Preparing Your Home for a Child with Asthma

As a parent of a child with asthma, you may be wondering how you can make your home a safer place so your child has fewer triggers and can lead a happy and healthy life.

The home can be a breeding ground for allergens that can trigger or aggravate your child’s condition, which may also lead to emergencies. Luckily, there are ways for you to transform your home into a safe environment so your child can breathe easier and live better.

Below is a guide on how to get started on preparing your home for a child with asthma.

Start by preparing yourself.

As good as it is to be able to rely on the safety of the home, it is the duty of the people in that home to be prepared as much as possible in case the child’s asthma is triggered.

The first thing you’ll need to do is prepare and educate yourself on all relevant matters for the task at hand. One of your best options would be to complete an asthma and anaphylaxis training that can teach you how to recognize reactions and how to help your child when he or she has them.

Keep the air clean.

Even people who don’t have asthma can benefit from fresh and clean air. For your child, however, it may be beneficial to maintain low humidity and avoid irritants such as cigarette smoke, wood smoke, perfumes, strong aerosol sprays, and more.

If you live in areas where pollen may get blown into the house, keep all the windows and doors shut whenever possible, and use air conditioners that can filter out the particles in the air. Additionally, you can also get HEPA filtered or ionising air purifiers to further get rid of allergens in the air and minimize potential triggers for your child.

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Reduce dust in the home.

Dust is one of the potential triggers for asthma. Dust mites, which are tiny insects that live in the dust and thrive in moist and warm air, can be troublesome for your asthmatic child. Have an efficient cleaning schedule and stick to it. Furthermore, wash your bedding regularly, use washable blinds or curtains, and avoid using carpets, especially wall-to-wall varieties.

Ensure there’s no mold.

Molds are microscopic fungi that thrive in damp places with decaying material. They send spores into the air that float like pollen and can be a major trigger for a child with asthma.

If you already have mold in your home, you may need to hire a cleaning service to get rid of them. Otherwise, you can prevent mold from developing by minimising the moisture in the air and keeping areas from becoming damp. You may also clean out any visible mold yourself by applying bleach and regularly cleaning out these areas.

Manage your pets.

Warm-blooded animals such as cats, dogs, birds, and mice can trigger allergies and cause asthma in children. If possible, keep your pets outside of the house or outside of places where your asthmatic child frequently stays in. Also, regularly washing and brushing your pets may help reduce asthma triggers. Just make sure to wash your own hands too after touching or playing with them.

Get rid of pests and rodents.

It’s not just your furry companions that can trigger your child’s asthma; unwelcome pests and rodents are also a problem, especially if you’re living in a small rented space such as an apartment.

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Always keep garbage containers closed, avoid stacking paper bags, newspapers, or boxes, and keep your kitchen counters free from food crumbs or leftovers. For persisting pest problems, you may need to hire a professional rodent or pest exterminator.

Your home should be the first line of defense to prevent asthma triggers for your child.

While it may take some effort to prepare our own homes for our kids who have asthma, the payoff is worth it. Our little ones spend most of their time at home, so it only makes sense to make it the cleanest and safest place, so they have fewer triggers and grow up happier and healthier.

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