Babies can be allergic from birth, or develop allergies later, to inhalants such as house dust mites, pollens, moulds, pets and other animals, or fibres, such as wool. If you want full information on any of these, go to the relevant sections of the Guide for detailed advice on full avoidance measures. Below you will find advice on precautionary measures to protect a potentially allergic baby.
Babies (and people generally) with allergies sometimes have a predisposition to develop further allergies. It can help to prevent this by taking general precautions to reduce the load of allergens on a young baby, particularly in the first two years of life.
Precautionary Measures
For bedding, using pure cotton blankets, which are washable at high temperatures, helps protect against house dust mites. Duvets are more difficult to dry and air, not usually washable at high temperatures, and are best avoided. Wool and feathers are more allergenic than cotton and best avoided.
Do not put a newborn baby on a sheepskin sleeping rug, to protect against allergy to wool. Allergy to cotton is rare but if your baby is allergic to cotton.
Wash all bedding regularly, and keep it aired and dry to keep house dust mites and moulds under control. Turning back blankets to air and placing a hot water bottle in a cot a few hours before bedtime helps to keep bedding dry. Avoid cot bumpers which obstruct ventilation and can harbour dust mites. Keep all rooms well aired, dry and ventilate well. Damp and poor ventilation encourage house dust mites and moulds.
Avoid keeping any pets if you can until a child is at least two years old. If you do keep a pet, prevent it sleeping on the baby’s cot, in the baby’s room, or where the baby crawls or plays most of the time.
Use filters on a vacuum cleaner, and ‘damp dust’. This prevents virtually all allergens (house dust mites, pet allergens, pollens, moulds, fibres) being dispersed back around the room during the cleaning, and gradually clears allergens embedded in furnishings and flooring.
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