Quick answer: Pollen season in the US generally runs from February through November, with the worst months being April–June (tree and grass pollen) and August–October (ragweed). But it varies significantly by region — Southern states start earlier, and climate change is making seasons longer and more intense every year.
Every spring it starts the same way. Your kid comes inside from the backyard with a runny nose, watery eyes, and that miserable look that makes you want to wrap them in a bubble. You check the weather app, and sure enough — pollen count: HIGH. But what does that actually mean? When does pollen season start and end? And more importantly, what can you actually do about it?
I spent way too many hours researching this when my oldest started getting seasonal allergies at age four. Here’s everything I wish someone had told me back then — broken down by pollen type, region, and what actually helps.
The Three Types of Pollen (and When They Peak)
Pollen season isn’t one single event. It’s three overlapping waves, each from a different plant group. Understanding which type is active right now is the key to knowing what you’re dealing with.
Tree Pollen — The Early Wave
- Starts earlier in the South (February), later in the North (April)
- This is the first wave — the one that catches you off guard in early spring
- Some of the most allergenic trees release pollen before they even have visible leaves
Common culprits: oak, birch, cedar, maple, elm, pine
Grass Pollen — The Overlap
- Overlaps with the tail end of tree pollen season, so late spring can feel like one long allergy attack
- Grass pollen is lightweight and travels easily on wind — it can drift for miles
- Peak activity during warm, dry, breezy days
Common culprits: Bermuda, Timothy, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue
Weed Pollen — The Fall Comeback
- Just when you think allergy season is over, ragweed shows up
- Ragweed alone affects about 15% of Americans
- A single ragweed plant can produce up to 1 billion pollen grains per season
- Ragweed pollen can travel up to 400 miles on the wind
Common culprits: ragweed (the big one), sagebrush, pigweed, lamb’s quarters
So if it feels like your kid is sneezing from March to October, they very well might be. The three pollen types overlap just enough that there’s rarely a true break in many parts of the country.
How Pollen Affects Kids
Kids aren’t just small adults when it comes to allergies. They’re more susceptible for several reasons: their airways are smaller (so even mild swelling causes more congestion), their immune systems are still developing, and they spend more time outdoors at ground level where pollen concentrations are highest.
- Runny nose (usually clear, thin mucus)
- Repeated sneezing, especially in bursts
- Itchy, watery, or red eyes
- Coughing and throat clearing
- Nasal congestion and mouth-breathing
- Restless sleep and daytime fatigue
- Eye-rubbing and nose-rubbing (the “allergic salute”)
- “Allergic shiners” — dark circles under the eyes from sinus congestion
Allergic rhinitis (the medical name for pollen allergies) affects roughly 10–20% of children. That’s a significant number — in a typical classroom, two to five kids are dealing with this.
What many parents don’t realize is that pollen allergies can also trigger asthma attacks in kids with asthma. If your child has both conditions, high pollen days require extra vigilance. And younger kids especially may not be able to describe what they’re feeling — watch for behavioral cues like mouth-breathing during the day, rubbing their eyes constantly, or tossing and turning at night.
Pollen Season Is Getting Worse
This isn’t your imagination, and it’s not just nostalgia. Pollen seasons are measurably worse than they were a generation ago, and climate change is the reason.
Research shows pollen seasons in North America have lengthened by approximately 20 days since 1990, and pollen concentrations have increased by roughly 21%.
Here’s what’s happening: warmer temperatures cause plants to start producing pollen earlier in the spring and continue later into the fall. And higher CO2 levels in the atmosphere act like fertilizer — plants grow larger and produce more pollen per season. It’s a double hit.
This trend is expected to continue. Today’s kids will deal with worse pollen seasons than we did growing up, and their kids will likely face even more intense seasons. It’s one more reason to have a solid plan for managing allergies rather than just toughing it out.
How to Protect Your Kids During Pollen Season
You can’t eliminate pollen exposure entirely (and honestly, some exposure is fine for kids without allergies). But if your child is suffering, these strategies make a real difference.
Check Pollen Counts Daily
Use our pollen tracker to check daily counts for your area. Plan outdoor activities for low-count days when possible.
Time Outdoor Play Wisely
Pollen counts are highest in the morning (5am–10am). Schedule outdoor play for the afternoon when counts typically drop.
Keep Windows Closed
On high pollen days, keep windows and doors closed. It feels counterintuitive in nice weather, but open windows invite pollen indoors.
Change Clothes After Outside
Have kids change clothes and bathe (or at least wash face and hands) after outdoor play. Pollen clings to hair and fabric.
Run a HEPA Air Purifier
A HEPA purifier in the bedroom reduces nighttime pollen exposure so kids sleep better.
Wash Bedding Weekly
Use hot water to wash sheets and pillowcases weekly. Pollen accumulates on bedding, especially if kids go to bed without bathing.
Try Saline Nasal Rinse
For older kids, a saline rinse flushes pollen from nasal passages. Gentle, drug-free, and surprisingly effective.
Don’t Dry Laundry Outside
Clothes and sheets hung outside to dry become pollen magnets. Use the dryer on high pollen days.
A couple more tips that are easy to overlook: sunglasses help keep pollen out of your child’s eyes (wrap-around styles work best), and over-the-counter antihistamines like Children’s Zyrtec or Claritin can make a big difference. Just talk to your pediatrician about the right medication and dose for your child’s age.
When to See a Doctor
Most pollen allergies can be managed at home with the strategies above. But there are times when you should loop in your pediatrician:
- Symptoms last more than 2 weeks without improvement
- OTC antihistamines aren’t helping even after consistent use
- Your child is wheezing or having trouble breathing — this could indicate an asthma connection
- Symptoms are affecting sleep or school performance
- Recurrent ear infections during allergy season (chronic congestion can contribute)
Your pediatrician can refer you to a pediatric allergist for skin-prick or blood testing. Knowing exactly which pollens trigger your child’s symptoms helps you target your prevention strategy and consider whether allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots or sublingual tablets) might be appropriate.
The Air Purifier Connection
This is the piece that made the biggest difference for our family. During pollen season, even with windows closed, pollen gets inside — on clothes, shoes, pets, through door openings. A HEPA air purifier in your child’s bedroom filters out those airborne particles so they’re not breathing pollen all night long.
True HEPA filters (H13 grade) capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. Pollen grains are typically 10–100 microns, so a HEPA filter catches them easily. The result is cleaner bedroom air, less nighttime congestion, and better sleep — which means a less miserable kid (and parent) the next morning.
Two purifiers I specifically recommend for bedrooms during allergy season:
Levoit Core 300S
$80–$100 · True HEPA H13 · 24 dB sleep mode
This is the best value air purifier for a child’s bedroom. The H13 HEPA filter captures pollen, dust, and pet dander. The sleep mode drops noise to just 24 dB (quieter than a whisper), and the smart features let you check air quality from your phone. At this price point, it’s hard to beat.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH
~$190 · True HEPA · Auto mode with air quality sensor
If you want a purifier that reacts to air quality changes automatically, the Coway Airmega is the one. Its built-in sensor detects particle spikes (like when someone opens a door on a high pollen day) and ramps up fan speed accordingly. It’s been a Consumer Reports top pick for years.
The Bottom Line
Pollen season is a fact of life, but you don’t have to suffer through it blindly. The season runs roughly February through November depending on your region, with the worst stretches in late spring (tree + grass overlap) and early fall (ragweed). Climate change is making it worse every year, which means having a plan matters more than ever.
Check the pollen count before planning outdoor time. Keep windows closed on bad days. Run a HEPA purifier in bedrooms. Change clothes after outdoor play. And talk to your pediatrician if OTC medications aren’t cutting it.
Your kids don’t have to be miserable every spring. A little awareness and a few simple habits can make pollen season manageable — even for the most allergy-prone family.