Spring With Benefits: The Ultimate Checklist To Help Sports Moms Beat Allergies This Outdoor Season

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AllergyFreeAdventures #CollectiveBias

Are you a sports mom? Spring is here, and like most of us you worry about the allergy season, right? If your schedule is nearly as chaotic as mine, your calendar is already pretty full. I find the best way to combat hectic schedules is to plan accordingly and to be organized, so I’ve put together an The Ultimate Checklist for busy sports moms who spend hours shuttling kids around, toting heavy bag chairs, stadium seats and over sized coolers in between the loud sneezes, consistent coughs and watery eyes. I am that mom!

I am a cheer coach, cheer mom and track mom. Living in Texas, we spend more time outdoors because we have more warm months. Trying to adjust to the spring outdoor season always seem to get the best of me. Just when I thought I was prepared to juggle the kids busy schedules, multiple practice locations and the all day games it seems like I just can’t get comfortable. The reality of living out of my car is no joke and just when I think you have it all together I realize I forgot the darn sunscreen.

This year I am prepared! I put together an on the go “Allergy Survival Kit” with some of my favorite must-haves!  I even have you covered with the ultimate checklist so you can make your own Allergy Survival Kit and get your home and car in order to beat allergies this spring during the outdoor sporting season!

Every sports mom needs an on-the-go allergy survival kit to keep in the car. They also make great gifts if you know another sports mom in need. Thank me later!

ALLERGY SURVIVAL KIT

There are certain instances that are likely to come up when you’re outdoors at practices and games, and much of them are allergy related during the spring season. It’s always really important to be prepared just in case. Put together an on-the-go allergy kit! Its much needed and easy to create.

YOU WILL NEED:

A distinctive tote bag with a handle. Placing these items in a durable reusable tote is easy to carry, will lessen the chances of you leaving it somewhere or mixing it with another sports moms outdoor essentials. Place all of the items in the bag and keep it in the car at all times. This will lessen your chances of forgetting it.

So what’s in my sports mom on-the-go allergy survival kit? Here’s some of my favorite essentials:

• Flonase
• Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes*
• Tissues
• Water
• Change of clothes
• Cough Drops
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Hand Sanitizer
• Eye Drops

If you have all of these items on hand, you’ll be able to comfortably deal with whatever allergen comes your way!

Once the spring allergy checklist was made, it was time to shop for the products. I made a quick trip to Kroger and stocked up on must-have products. Having a Kroger just a short distance from my house makes it super easy to pick up all of my essentials items there. When you create your  “Allergy Survival Kit”, don’t forget to include Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes and FLONASE at your local Kroger.

I absolutely love Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes! I use them for everything. They are so hard to keep stocked in my house especially during the outdoor season. Keeping these in the car at all times is highly recommended because its a convenient and effective way to wipe away most common allergens. The wipes are a great way to wipe down the inside of your car as you travel to and from practice and games because a lot of time pollen, dust and other allergens fly in as you enter and exit the vehicle. I also use these to wipe down the kids sporting equipment. They are really proficient with kicking germs and most common allergens to the curb and the fact that they kill 99.9% of the outdoor yucky stuff is even better!

I kept hearing so many great things about FLONASE, that I had to try it for myself. It was the absolute best thing I could have done for my seasonal allergies. What I think helped me the most was that unlike most allergy pills, FLONASE Relieves* Nasal Congestion Plus Runny Nose, Sneezing, Itchy Nose, Itchy Eyes, and Watery Eyes. When I spend time outdoors during allergy season these are my exact symptoms to the tee! It’s hard to cheer on your kids or see how awesome they are doing when you can’t stop sneezing and your watery eyes are interrupting your vision. Don’t just take my word for it. Try this complete allergy symptom relief for yourself!

Learn more about great allergy solutions for spring and take advantage of savings!

You can find FLONASE in the Allergy & Sinus aisle

and Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes in the cleaning products aisle

all at Kroger.

Your children will play sports and you will be there. The important thing is figuring out how to stay healthy and be your best self in the process. Whether you are coach, team mom or spectator and watching from the bleachers, sidelines or your car you want to be prepared and in the moment. Will you smell like outdoors when its all said and done? Yes! Will you perspire from the heat? Yes! Will you get a mosquito bite here and there? Yes! But it’s all so worth it! I’ve worn many hats and spectated from many places and I still don’t have it all figured out. However, I do know what has helped me comfortably endure the long outdoor sports season in the midst of spring and I hope these tips work for you too!

ALLERGY PROOF YOUR CAR

As a sports mom you will spend more time in your car than any where else. As a result, it’s a great place to start when trying to combat allergies for the entire family. Here is a list of things to guide you as you set out to allergy proof your car:

• Do not roll down the windows! This simple act will keep allergens at bay. There are so many allergens floating in the air and you’re at risk of them blowing in your face and consuming the inside of your car if you do so.
• Change your air filter regularly. It’s extremely important! If you are going to drive with your air conditioner on you want clean air to circulate. It’s important to get rid of old filters because they too collect allergens over time.
• Keep all practice essentials and sporting equipment in the trunk. It’s so easy for you all to run straight for the car after a long, hot day of outdoor events but slow down and consider your health. Your first stop should be the trunk! Placing these items that having been sitting outdoors for hours in the trunk will help keep the particles out of the car.
• Wipe down the inside of your car with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes frequently. This will help wipe away any allergens that have sneaked inside.
• Vacuum the inside of the car consistently. This will eliminate the rubbish that have been tracked inside from your feet and blowing allergens as you open the car doors.
• Do not use car air freshener’s. It’s easy for these to irritate your nose during allergy season.

DON’T LET ALLERGIES GET IN THE WAY OF YOU BEING IN THE MOMENT WITH YOUR CHILDREN!

PRACTICE/GAME DAY ROUTINE

Fighting allergies start right at home. The best thing you can do to get a head start on practice and games days is to stay indoors before heading out. Don’t go watering the lawn or playing in the backyard with the kids. Insuring that your home is clean and ready to receive you after the long day outdoors is instrumental. Here’s what you can do:

• Check the pollen count! You need to know what you are up against. Staying informed goes a long way.
• Rest up! If you know that you have a busy schedule ahead, get a good night’s sleep or grab a power nap. You are more equipped to handle issues that may arise when you are well rested.
• Hydrate. This is so important not only for fighting allergies but also for fighting the warm temperatures outdoors as well.
• Keep the windows at home closed. You don’t want any allergens seeping into your home.
• Take off shoes at the door. This will eliminate tracking germs and harmful particles from outside throughout the house.
• Don’t use lotion before heading out. This will decrease the likelihood of pollen and other particles sticking to your skin from the combination of sweat and moisture.
• Consume and pack allergy fighting snacks for the rode. Research shows that consuming hot tea, raw honey, and even spicy foods help with allergy relief.
• Wear protective accessories when outdoors. Sunglasses will help keep things from getting in your eyes. Wearing a hat will help keep particles from settling in your hair. These simple accessories go a long way.
• Don’t sit or park under trees. When the wind blows trees release pollen and other allergens and they will fall on whatever is underneath it. Just like myself, i’m sure you are looking for some shade on those hot days. However, I realized that I like being allergy free much better. Don’t do it!
• Don’t sit in the grass! This is another sure way to have you itching and sneezing. Bring your bag chair, sit in the bleachers or watch from your car. Find another option!
• Change clothes immediately after getting home. Don’t walk around polluting your home with the clothes that you have just spent wearing for hours outdoors. Go take a hot shower, turn on the fans in the bathroom to reduce the possibility of mold forming and get a good nights rest in your freshly made bed.
• Wash sheets regularly. If you have a carpeted home vacuum regularly. Dust regularly.

What are some of your favorite seasonal allergy survival essentials?

What are you waiting for!?! GO OWN YOUR FANCY!!!

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*Use Clorox products as directed for removal of non-living allergens like pet dander, dust mite matter and pest matter on hard nonporous surfaces in your home. Keep out of reach of children.

**vs single-ingredient antihistamines which do not treat nasal congestion