As the summer months race to a finish, we’re gearing up for the school year ahead. While anticipating the experiences our kids will have and the friends they’ll make, there is one thing no parent looks forward to — those pesky back-to-school colds and fall allergies. We know it seems unavoidable; however, all is not lost.

We’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to a sniffle-free school year. Follow these strategies so your little ones can focus on having fun learning, and not on sneezing through the year!

Stay clean

A great way to help your child avoid pollen-related sniffles is to make sure they leave their shoes and bags at the door and wash their face as soon as they come home from school. This is particularly important if they’ve been playing sports or spending time outside. By adopting these habits, you’ll create a cleaner, healthier environment for your child at home.

Good hygiene is also the key to minimizing the spread of germs. Teach your kids that the things they use most, like doorknobs, desks, and handrails, get dirty more often and so they should wash their hands after using them, especially when in the classroom. Let them also know that they can keep their friends healthy by coughing and sneezing into their elbows and not sharing food or drink out of the same container.

Stay aware

As pollen levels can be high during the back-to-school months, stay informed about air quality. During higher pollen days, there are things you can do to limit exposure to allergens.

• Use air conditioning. Avoid opening windows to prevent allergens from entering the car on the way to school.
• Talk to school staff about your child’s allergies. Ask if accommodations can be arranged, such as closing windows on high-pollen days or using air purifiers in the classroom.

Even on low-pollen days, it’s important to practice healthy habits to prepare your kid’s body for the school days ahead. Ensure that your child gets enough nutrition, sleep, and exercise so their immune system can function to the best of its ability.

Try home remedies

Even when taking precautions, cold and allergy symptoms can still affect your children. When this happens, be proactive and support their well-being in the following ways:

• Clear congestion with onions. Slice an onion in half and leave it on a plate by your child’s bedside. Known to make noses run, a cut onion can alleviate a stuffy nose throughout the night.
• Try steam. Have them hold their head over a warm bowl of water with a towel draped over them. The trapped steam can ease a stuffy nose and help your child breathe easier.
• Explore supplements like Vitamins C and D, Echinacea, and zinc. These have been shown to enhance the immune system’s defense against the common cold and even against allergies.
• Hydrate. Drinking water can keep mucous membranes moist, which provides better protection against allergens and germs.

Manage symptoms with homeopathy

For extra help in fighting symptoms, over-the-counter medicines can be beneficial. Boiron offers a range of kid-friendly options that you can use at the first sign of a cold or allergies. As homeopathic medicines, they work without causing drowsiness or hyperactivity, and they have no known interactions with other medications, herbs, or supplements you may already be using.

ColdCalm Kids Pellets are designed to relieve sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.* They make a great first choice and are easy for kids to take because the pellets melt under the tongue. This medicine is also available in convenient liquid doses.

And for allergy symptoms, there’s AllergyCalm Kids Tablets. They relieve itchy and watery eyes, sneezing and runny nose, and an itchy throat or nose.*

For more tips and advice on keeping your family healthy throughout the school year, check out Boiron’s Wellness Tips.

*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated