Around 4.9 million kids in America have asthma.
Being a chronic condition, asthma can go quiet for weeks, only to come roaring back after one viral infection or a dusty spring day. That’s why parents must understand one simple truth: managing your child’s asthma isn’t about reacting to flare-ups but staying one step ahead of them.
Here are 10 proven tips to help you do exactly that.
1. Keep Treating Even When Symptoms Disappear
Asthma isn’t like treating an infection.
It doesn’t just go away after ten days of treatment: it requires medication even after symptoms go away. Stopping treatment just because your child “feels fine” is one of the fastest ways to end up in the ER when asthma inevitably returns when you least expect it.
You need to focus on prevention.
Even if your child isn’t wheezing, inflammation may still be there.
That’s why I recommend a daily controller medication, like an inhaled steroid, even during symptom-free weeks. Have them take two puffs a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. This will help reduce your child’s lungs’ hypersensitivity.
Just don’t stop cold turkey unless your doctor tells you to.
2. Know Their Triggers (And Stay One Step Ahead)
Every kid has different asthma triggers.
In winter, it’s usually viral infections. In spring, it might be pollen. Indoors, common culprits include dust mites, mold, pet dander, and even cockroach allergens, especially in older homes or urban areas.
Simple interventions can go a long way if your child reacts to indoor allergens.
Use impermeable pillow and mattress covers to block dust mites. Fix leaks and reduce moisture to prevent mold. If cockroaches or rodents are present, integrated pest management is a must.
Secondhand smoke is another major trigger: Avoid exposure entirely if possible. It doesn’t just irritate the lungs, but it can also significantly worsen asthma symptoms over time.
I recommend meeting with an allergist to test for these specific triggers. That way, you’ll know if you need HEPA filters for dust, allergy-proof bedding, stricter cleaning routines, or to start controller meds at the first sign of a cold.
Always be ahead of the game.
3. Prepare for Daycare and School Like It’s a Petri Dish
Kids get sick at school all the time.
If your kid is in school, raise their controller dose slightly during sick season like the fall, and always send them with a rescue inhaler or breathing treatment like albuterol. Make sure you inform the school nurse and their teachers with instructions on what to do during an asthma attack if it happens.
For moderate to severe asthma in children 4 and up, a combination inhaler (ICS-formoterol) can be used for both daily control and quick relief.
Also, if your child tends to get hit hard by colds, ask your allergist about having a short burst of oral steroids on hand. If needed, they can prevent a trip to the ER by working within 30 minutes.
Being that the average wait time is 3-4 days for those, it’s best to have them on hand when you need them.
4. Know When It’s Time to Go to the ER
Here’s how to tell if your child needs emergency care:
- They’re using their rescue inhaler correctly, but wheezing or shortness of breath isn’t improving
- They’re struggling to breathe using their neck or chest muscles (called retractions)
- You don’t have their emergency meds available like oral corticosteroids or Albuterol
- Symptoms are getting worse, fast (like struggling to speak, showing signs of bluish lips or fingernails, or their symptoms worsen despite medication)
If you’re unsure, just go.
If you want to prevent this, create an asthma action plan with your allergist so you know exactly what to do step by step before it ever gets to that point.
You will be part of the 30% of prepared parents that do.
5. Asthma and Sports Can Coexist
Exercise-induced asthma is real, but that doesn’t mean your child should stop playing sports.
To do this safely, give them a puff or two of albuterol 15 minutes before activity. Then, have them do some vigorous warm-up for 5-10 minutes, then rest another 5 minutes before full activity. Just warming up will help your child become resistant to exercise-induced asthma for up to 3 hours.
If your child has team practice and their warm-ups don’t allow for adequate recovery, have them warm up before practice to be safe.
6. Viral Infections Hit Hard: Be Ready
Wheezing from a cold usually comes 2–3 days after the first runny nose.
The moment you hear the first sniffle, you need to increase their inhaled corticosteroids right away. Do not wait. If things worsen, and they begin coughing or wheezing more, that’s when oral steroids might be needed.
Always remember: Treating a viral infection early can keep a mild cold from turning into a dangerous asthma attack.
7. Nighttime Symptoms? Don’t Wait It Out
If your child is coughing all night, it’s a sign that their asthma is not under control.
You need to work with your allergist to create a written asthma action plan. This should tell you daily management strategies, when you should increase your controller medication, how to use albuterol, when to use oral steroids, and what to do if things don’t improve.
Also, consider buying a peak flow meter from your local pharmacy. It gives you an objective number showing how much air your child is moving through their lungs.
If their usual reading is 400, and they drop to 200, that’s your cue to act.
8. Explain It to Your Kid in a Way They Understand
Asthma can feel scary and overwhelming for kids.
Having dealt with hundreds of younger patients, the best thing you can do is explain what is happening and what to do about it in simple steps. Preferably, have it on paper so you and your child can reference it later and tape it to the fridge.
Let them know what to expect when symptoms start, what medicine helps, and that they’re not alone.
9. Educate the People Around Them
You won’t always be there when an asthma attack hits.
That’s why you need to educate as many people as you can that are associated with your child, like teachers, coaches, babysitters, and grandparents (and especially for the friend’s parents when they have sleepovers).
Print a copy of your child’s action plan and hand it out to them. Store backup meds in school bags, sports gear, and at Grandma’s house.
Make sure everyone knows:
- What the triggers are
- When to use the inhaler
- When to call you or 911
Don’t assume people know what to do because they probably won’t, and the risk isn’t worth it.
10. Let Them Live a Normal Life
Asthma doesn’t have to sideline your kid from fun, friends, or freedom.
Most preventive inhalers are used just twice a day at home: once in the morning, once at night. If your child stays consistent, that’s usually all it takes.
If you help them stay consistent and proactive, they can sleep through the night, join school sports, hang out at friends’ houses, and take trips with no problems.
And if they ever get discouraged, tell them this: as of the 1980s, Olympic athletes with asthma now perform just as well as those without it.
With today’s treatments, kids with asthma can grow up to do anything.
Bonus Tip: Get Digital Reminders
Life with kids is busy, and you will likely forget things.
To stay ahead of allergy seasons or medication timing, subscribe to digital alerts through organizations like:
- The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (acaai.org)
- The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (aaaai.org)
They’ll send you reminders, seasonal tips, and management tools to stay on track year-round.
(P.S., if you have questions or want a custom action plan for your child, reach out. I’m here to help.)
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