ugh. my 4 year old just started sneezing this spring.
I have terrible allergies and I'm sad for him. My older son would have his eyes swell shut and he'd have to come home from school a lot.

My son first showed signed of seasonal allergies at 2. I'd read that it takes one full season.

We use Allegra. Start in mid-February to get ahead of tree pollen. He takes it until June/July.

OP here - thanks for the helpful info. I feel so badly for my little guy; he loves being outdoors and is really uncomfortable right now. His ped recommended that I immediately change his clothes when he's been outside, and wash his hair ASAP, as the pollen collects on the clothes and hair. I guess we'll be doing extra laundry in springtime from now on.

Also - I discovered that Benadryl actually makes him WIRED instead of sleepy. Lesson learned.

Seasonal allergies show up right around this age. My son is about to be 3 and never had them before but is starting to show them just now, and he's a little on the early side. Worth mentioning that allergies generally run in the family, which means that you might have had allergies to dust and never pollen but your children may have it to pollen. The genetic component is not specific to the type of allergen.

It's pretty common for allergies to show up later - unfortunately you can even develop them as an adult. Ask me how I know...

Anonymous wrote:My daughter’s allergist always said that allergies in kids don’t develop until they are older - more commonly closer to 4 or 5 but signs can show up at 3 in some kids. So I would say he’s right on track/early to show signs of seasonal allergies.

PP here correcting myself. I should said “seasonal allergies” don’t tend to show up until 3/4/5. Obviously food allergies can show up much earlier, which is the whole reason that my DD had an allergist before 3 who could give us that advice!

My daughter’s allergist always said that allergies in kids don’t develop until they are older - more commonly closer to 4 or 5 but signs can show up at 3 in some kids. So I would say he’s right on track/early to show signs of seasonal allergies.

No, my kid developed it later, like in preschool or kindergarten.

My son is 3 1/2 and never experienced (or at least, never displayed signs of) season allergies before - but in the last couple of week he is a sneezy mess with swollen, red, itchy eyes. He's been to the doctor and is taking Claritin and Zaditor eye drops. Is it typical for allergies to develop like this? I always thought it was something you were born with. (Neither my husband nor I suffer with this so we're at a bit of a loss.)