Wooden verandas are covered in pollen, winds sweep across the fields and days go between blue skies and endless sunshine with threats of bushfires on our endless plains, to thunderstorms and rain that soaks deep into the earth.

The gardens are bursting with flowers, the air full of buzzing sounds of busy worker bees pollinating, and baby animals are being born, spring has truly sprung! It is such a beautiful sight.


Despite the beauty and the smell of hay and fresh flowers for those with asthma and allergies spring can be a testing time. My eldest and youngest suffer from the affects of these crazy weather changes and the pollens in the air. Taking their asthma inhalers has become part of their daily routine, as has hay fever medication and eyedrops, anything to relieve their red sore eyes. Their noses also end up red and sore due to constant sneezing and blowing even with the softest tissues a parent can purchase.

It is hard watching them suffer whilst their sister, father and I do not suffer at all and get to enjoy all the beauty springtime has to offer us. Last November our eldest was hospitalised at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne with her Asthma, she is more affected than our youngest, however he was more affected by the terrible Thunderstorm Asthma that occurred in Melbourne in 2016. Whilst we watched over our eldest with worry it was our youngest struggling to breathe in bed and we had no idea, it was a very scary experience. According to Wiki The November 2016 incident “overwhelmed the ambulance system and some local hospitals, resulted in at least nine deaths.”

WebMD describes it here... “Thunderstorm asthma is when heavy storms hit on a day with a very high pollen count, usually during the spring, and cause symptoms of an asthma attack.

Grains of pollen get sucked into the storm clouds. Once those grains take in a certain amount of water, they pop, making even smaller grains. Those smaller grains get into the wind at ground level. There, they can be breathed in easily. That can lead to asthma attacks.”

For anyone who has children who suffer from Asthma or Hay Fever, or if you suffer from it yourself you will be aware how horrible it can actually be. Although I am lucky to not suffer from it myself watching my children struggle to get a decent sleep or breathe properly, have either a blocked nose, or a nose that never stops running, have sore watery and itchy red eyes and sometimes throats is hard when as a parent there is little you can do. During the worst days they become so tired because even their sleep is disturbed due to poor breathing, or coughing.

As beautiful as it is living on this gorgeous farm right now, I am hoping that our move to the bayside will bring some relief.

If you, or that your child have hay fever here are some things we find helpful.

  1. Running an air purifier in the home and in their bedroom.
  2. Over the counter hay fever medications, but see a doctor first and talk to your chemist, or pharmacist.
  3. Gentle nasal sprays that are age appropriate.
  4. Avoiding ‘Triggers’ if you know what they are. These can include certain plants, grasses, hay, pet hair and pollen.
  5. Have plenty of soft tissues on hand, aloe vera tissues can be good.
  6. Staying indoors on high pollen count days.
  7. Avoid going out in high winds over spring and summer if possible.
  8. Sips of warm herbal tea.
  9. My daughter gets a burning nose feeling so sometimes a cool face cloth, or small ice pack over the bridge of her nose can offer some relief.
  10. Lots of TLC and patience.
  11. Keeping eyes moist, gentle eye drops, or eye spray if they can not handle the drops. (If they don’t like drops put directly into eyes, allow them to close their eyes, place a drop on inner corner of the eye and get them to blink it in.)
  12. Get them to splash their faces with water.
  13. Encourage washing hands regularly.
  14. Give them an icy pole to suck on.
  15. Small ice packs over the eyes can also offer relief.

If you suspect you, or your child has Asthma please see a doctor as soon as possible, my eldest was only 16 months old when we first found her struggling to breathe and she was hospitalised. It can be a very scary time, seeking medical treatment is something you can not hesitate to do.

Thank you for reading, if you have any tips please share, Kylie xx