For some, pets are like family members, so even if a loved one develops a pet dander allergy, it’s understandable that you won’t want to just give up your beloved kitty or pooch. For expectant mothers, the thought of having a baby who is allergic to your pet can be stressful. After all, your newborn’s health is essential to their long-term development, and you don’t want to do anything that could compromise it. This can put some mothers in a difficult position: What do you do if your baby is allergic to your pet?
If your infant has a pat dander allergy, you’ll clearly want to speak with your doctor to get his advice, but there are also a number of things you can do to turn your house into an environment in which both your cat and your newborn can coexist.
You may want to try:
Keeping pets outside of the nursery – This may sound like common sense, but it’s important to have in mind. Pet dander can easily get into furniture and linens, so by determining areas of the home, such as the nursery, where your dog isn’t allowed to go, you may be able to keep your baby more comfortable.
Purchasing a whole house air purifier – These products work wonders for people with allergies and asthma because they are highly effective at removing allergens – such as pet dander, dust mites and pollen – directly from the air. You may even find that everyone in the house feels better after installing one of these.
Vacuuming and cleaning daily – A vacuum with a HEPA filter is your best bet, since these products have the ability to capture 99.97% of all particles. By cleaning the floors and the furniture regularly, you can drastically reduce the amount of pet dander in your home.
