Best hay fever remedies for kids and toddlers 2026

With the arrival of spring and warm, sunny days comes the return of blossoming plants and hay fever season.
If you have a toddler with hay fever, you can check out our guide on soothing symptoms and tips on how to treat it. We’ve also outlined some of the best products below, designed to help children with their sniffles, sneezes and sore eyes.

• Jump to our list of the best hay fever remedies for kids

Hay fever is very rare in babies under 1, and standard treatments for hay fever are not licensed for use in children under 12 months. You can find out more information in our guide to hay fever in babies.

Best hay fever remedies for kids at a glance

• Best hay fever barrier balm for toddlers: HayMax Pure Allergen Barrier, from £8.49 at Amazon
• Best toddler hay fever remedy for bedtime: Piriton Antihistamine Allergy Relief Syrup, £7.65 at Boots
• Best hay fever remedy for using when out and about: Nuage Hayfever Relief Wipes, £1 at Amazon
• Best hay fever remedy for humidifying the nursery: Vicks Mini Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier, £54.99 £35 at Amazon (Save £19.99 or 36%)
• Best humidifier for night-time hay fever relief: Levoit Humidifier, £39.99 £29.95 at Amazon (Save £10.04 or 25%)
• Best budget buy hay fever remedy for toddlers: Boots Children’s Allergy Relief Antihistamine, £5.35 at Boots

Scroll down to see our pick of the best hay fever remedies for toddlers, or use the links below for more toddler hay fever advice:

• What is hay fever?
• What kind of hay fever remedies are available for toddlers?
• When should you contact your GP about your toddler’s hay fever?
• What are the symptoms of hay fever in toddlers?
• How can you help avoid hay fever in toddlers?

Best hay fever remedies for kids 2026

HayMax Pure Allergen Barrier, from £8.49

Best for: Toddlers needing a drug-free pollen barrier

Suitable for: From birth

Why we chose it: This simple, drug-free balm is easy to apply and helps trap pollen before it gets into your child’s nose.

Hay Max is great. My daughter suffers quite badly with hay fever and it definitely made a difference.

What we like

• Drug-free and non-drowsy
• Suitable from birth
• Easy to apply with a fingertip

What to keep in mind

• You’ll need to reapply it through the day

This natural balm is made from organic beeswax and sunflower seed oil. It creates a barrier around the nose to trap pollen before it can travel further up into the nasal passages. For little ones who won’t tolerate sprays or medicines, it’s one of the easiest hay fever remedies to use.

Available from: Amazon, Boots

Piriton Antihistamine Allergy Relief Syrup, £7.65

Best for: Bedtime relief

Suitable for: 1 year+

Why we chose it: Piriton is a trusted antihistamine syrup that can help calm symptoms when hay fever is making nights difficult.

Piriton liquid saved us over the last couple of summers as my son suffers with quite heavy hay fever. A spoonful of this before bed works wonders. He would have one dose every evening before bed and it reduced the sneezing quite a bit.

What we like

• Well-known antihistamine for children
• Suitable from age 1+
• Helpful at night when symptoms disrupt sleep

What to keep in mind

• May cause drowsiness
• Always check diagnosis, dosage and frequency with a GP or pharmacist first

Piriton contains chlorphenamine maleate and is designed to offer fast relief from symptoms in children over 1. Many parents find it especially useful before bedtime, when sneezing and congestion can stop little ones from settling.

Available from: Boots, Superdrug, Pharmacy Online

Nuage Hayfever Relief Wipes, £1

Best for: Using when out and about

Suitable for: From birth

Why we chose it: These handy wipes are easy to stash in your bag and help remove pollen from little hands and faces when you’re out.

These really help itchy eyes and help prevent a foul hay fever attack, I carry them with me in the summer months.

What we like

• Compact resealable pack
• Suitable from birth
• Useful for quick relief on the go

What to keep in mind

• Best used as part of a wider hay fever routine rather than on their own

These wipes are designed to trap and remove pollen before it can take effect. Made with peppermint and tea tree oil, they can also help your child feel more comfortable if allergies have left them feeling stuffy. The pack is a practical size for keeping in your changing bag or buggy.

Available from: Amazon and The Range

Vicks Mini Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier, £54.99

Best for: Humidifying the nursery

Suitable for: From birth

Why we chose it: This humidifier helps add moisture to dry nursery air, which can be especially helpful overnight.

It honestly makes such a difference to the air quality — it stops my son's coughing, itchy eyes and dryness overnight. If it broke tomorrow, I wouldn't think twice about repurchasing.

What we like

• Quiet enough not to disturb sleep
• Cool mist means no risk of burns or scalds
• Adjustable nozzle and humidity level

What to keep in mind

• It’s more of an investment than wipes or balms
• VapoPads are an extra cost if you want to use them

This cool mist humidifier can help relieve itchy eyes and throats by adding moisture to the air. It’s also useful in winter for coughs and colds, making it a more versatile buy if your child often struggles with congestion.

Available from: Amazon, Boots, Argos

Levoit Humidifier, £39.99

Best for: Night-time hay fever relief

Why we chose it: This is another humidifier option for families who’ve found added moisture in the air makes a noticeable difference to overnight hay fever symptoms.

We got the Levoit humidifier and it’s been the best thing we have in my daughter's room. She suffered so badly the past couple of years with hay fever and was having to take over the counter medicine just to ease it slightly, but this has helped more than any of the meds she tried.

What we like

• Designed for bedroom and nursery use
• Could be especially helpful when symptoms are worse at night

What to keep in mind

• Requires a lot of cleaning and maintenance
• It’s more of an investment than wipes or balms

This Levoit humidifier was recommended by our parent tester as the product that helped more than over-the-counter remedies their child had previously tried. For families dealing with persistent night-time irritation, a humidifier like this may be worth considering.

Available from: Amazon

Boots Children’s Allergy Relief Antihistamine, £5.35

Best for: Budget-friendly hay fever relief

Suitable for: 1 year+

Why we chose it: This affordable antihistamine is a useful option for parents who want effective symptom relief without spending too much.

we tried Boots own Children’s Allergy Relief Antihistamine. We just give him a small dose before bed time if we think he’s been really congested in the day and it’s been like a miracle! We can finally all sleep again!

What we like

• Budget-friendly price point
• Suitable from age 1+
• Easy to give using the syringe

What to keep in mind

• As with any antihistamine, check with a pharmacist or GP before use

This allergy remedy contains chlorphenamine maleate and can help with hay fever as well as other allergic reactions. It’s a handy medicine-cabinet staple for families who want a lower-cost option that still offers practical relief.

Available from: Boots

What is hay fever?

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen and is usually a short-lived condition that is triggered by a high pollen count. You can see the pollen count each day on the weather forecast, so if you know it’s going to be high, you can take action to avoid being exposed too much.

Hay fever sufferers are often triggered by particular types of pollen, with some affected by trees, others by flowers or farm crops. The symptoms can start as early as March and go on until October. It does not occur in the winter, which is how you can tell that the symptoms are hay fever and not some kind of virus.

Hay fever in toddlers may be worse some years than others due to things like weather conditions. You can develop hay fever at any time, in childhood or as an adult. For more information on spotting it and preventing it, scroll to the bottom of this article.

What kind of hay fever remedies are available for toddlers?

Antihistamines
This is a drug that helps block the effects and symptoms of an allergic reaction. It is good at relieving symptoms like sneezing, itchiness and watery eyes. It may cause drowsiness, so always check the label. Speak to a pharmacist or GP about what your child can take, the recommended dose and how often they can have it. Children’s antihistamines will be different from the one-a-day pills sold for adults.

Eye drops
These can be used to reduce eye itchiness and redness. They contain anti-inflammatory medicines.

Nasal drops
These may be medicated to reduce sneezing or be a natural product to help prevent the dry nose that often comes with sneezing a lot.

Barrier products
These can be jelly- or wax-like substances designed to be spread around the nostrils. They trap pollen to prevent it getting further into the nose.

Wipes
Used like a wet wipe, these can help wipe away pollen and dust when you’re out and about. Some have essential oils on them too, to aid breathing.

Tablets
Antihistamine often comes in tablets for adults, but a syrup is much easier to administer to a toddler. There are some homeopathic tablets that dissolve on the tongue and claim to help with hay fever, but it might be hard for a toddler to manage this. It’s also worth noting the NHS does not recommend homeopathy due to lack of evidence of its effectiveness.

When should you contact your GP about your toddler’s hay fever?

If your little one is really suffering from the effects of hay fever, you might want to speak to a pharmacist or your GP if they have:

• Bad symptoms and they are under two
• Symptoms that aren’t responding to medications
• Adverse effects to medication
• Worsening asthma, shortness of breath or wheezing
• Unusual symptoms or symptoms at different times of the year, such as winter, as they may be allergic to something other than pollen

Anshu Kaura, Pharmacist at Lloyds Pharmacy, advises: "It’s clear from our research that allergic reactions are not only extremely common amongst Brits but are also not mild and can often be really debilitating, making it incredibly difficult to continue with their everyday lives.

That’s why it is so important for those who do live with allergies – especially those that flare up seasonally – to speak to a pharmacist or GP to know exactly what is causing them, so they can get the best possible support to mitigate the symptoms. Lloyds Pharmacy is here to offer advice – just drop into one of our stores where one of our pharmacists will be there to help."

What are the symptoms of hay fever in toddlers?

• Itching, red, streaming eyes
• Sneezing and coughing
• Tiredness and problems sleeping due to the symptoms
• A blocked nose and sinuses
• Itching of the throat and nose
• Headache and earache

If your toddler also has asthma, they might also:

• Have a tight chest
• Be short of breath
• Have a cough or a wheeze

Is it a cold, a virus or hay fever?

It is notoriously difficult to diagnose health conditions in small children, but generally speaking, a cold or virus will last a week or two and then go away, whereas hay fever can last several weeks.

How can you help avoid hay fever in toddlers?

Prevention is always better than cure, so try these simple methods to help protect your little one from the worst effects of hay fever:

• Close windows and doors so that pollen doesn’t blow in
• Buy some sunglasses for your child to prevent pollen blowing into the eyes
• Put a small amount of petroleum jelly or a pollen blocker around your child’s nostrils – this traps pollen, preventing it from being breathed in
• When your child has been outdoors, wash their hair, hands and face or put them in the bath and then put them into clean clothes
• Dry your child’s clothes indoors to prevent pollen collecting on them
• When your child does play outside, avoid fields, grasslands and large gardens
• Consider buying an air filtration unit
• Wash their hands frequently and wipe hands and faces with anti-hay fever wipes
• Avoid spending too much time outdoors
• Avoid freshly mown grass and fresh flowers
• Clean your home regularly – look for a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and use a damp cloth to dust

Read more:

• Can babies get hay fever?
• Does my toddler have hay fever?
• Best kids' sunglasses
• Best sunglasses for babies
• Best buggy sunshades and covers