Blossom has developed this booklet for new parents and those who are pregnant, or are planning on becoming pregnant, so that parents can have a clear understanding of what care is best for the new baby and pregnant mums and prepares parents for how to minimise exposure to allergens for the newest family member.

Allergy, Pregnancy and the First Year looks at:

• The family links in allergic conditions
• Facts on having a healthy pregnancy
• Managing allergy treatments during pregnancy
• Preparing for the labour ward when you have an allergy
• Caring for your new baby and providing the best environment
• Feeding baby
• All the changing stages up to 12 months

This booklet includes the latest views on the possible causes of allergy in our children, and what produces the allergic reactions in the body.

It takes a step-by-step look at allergies and allergic conditions listing symptoms and providing facts on each condition including:

• Atopic asthma
• Atopic eczema
• Hayfever and perennial rhinitis
• Food allergy
• Oral allergy syndrome

This Blossom booklet gives complete information on what to expect if your child has to go for an allergy test, and also lists the range of treatments available to you and your child following diagnosis. The information contained in this booklet will help you understand how allergic conditions occur and how treatments work to combat the symptoms of allergies.

After diagnosis allergy control must be managed by setting up new routines for the child and parents. Parents have to absorb a lot of new information about their child's condition. This Blossom booklet introduces you to the medical professionals that will help you and your child throughout their diagnosis and treatment.

With comprehensive information on all allergy treatments, it gives parents the essentials they need on managing each allergy treatment, and how to set up the all important treatment routines. In addition it includes ideas about what you and your child can do to lessen allergy symptoms and their effects on everyday life, with suggestions on what you can do around the home to control allergy.

It is essential reading for anyone who has to manage the treatment of a child with allergy.

Managing a child's allergy condition and treatment means understanding their environment and their social life. To help parents make sure that their child can have a full and active social life while taking account of their condition, Blossom has produced this Living with Allergy booklet.

Here parents and child carers can find information on how to manage the different environments and social settings that children are in, while still taking care that the exposure to allergens is eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels.

Child carers and parents are given the essentials to manage allergy in the following settings:

• In child care
• In school
• At clubs
• At parties
• On day trips
• On holiday