Even if the definitive treatment for hives is the identification and the elimination of the triggers, the allergenic food or the milk from the diet in case of a food allergy related hives, there are several actions you can do to reduce your child itching and swelling.

Here are some suggestions:

1.   Avoid contact with hot water, while having a bath or a shower. Hot and hot water worsen hives. Lukewarm water, instead, can be very useful to refresh the skin and reduce itching. Thus, try to cool the itching area with a fan, cold flannel, ice pack or soothing moisturising lotion. Skin can be also cooled with soothing and anti itching lotions, such as calamine or 1% menthol in aqueous cream.
   
   
2. Use moisturizing creams on your baby's skin: it can help reducing dryness and itch.
   
   
3. Avoid that your baby harshly scratches the skin and reduce possible complications of excessive scratching by keeping nails short and clean, and by gently rubbing the skin with your palms of the hands if necessary.
   
   
4. Don't dress your baby in tight-fitting clothing that can scratch his skin, worsening the hives. Instead, dress him in loose-fitting lightweight clothes that doesn't irritate the skin, as cotton or other natural fibers.
   
   
5. Ask your doctor about minimizing the use of some medications, as aspirin, salicylates, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In fact, these drugs act as histamine releasers and may trigger hives.
   
   
6. The definitive food that, in case of a food allergy, need to be avoided, should be determined clearly by appropriate food challenge test. However, even if scientific evidences are controversial, dietary changes may help. Some foods, food components and food additives are known to cause the production of histamine, a chemical that normally is released by the immune system and trigger the allergic reaction.
   Foods that are known to cause the production of histamine include:
• spinach
• yoghurt
• fish
• tomato products
• processed meats
• strawberries and
• chocolate

Food additives that may worsen hives include:

• salicylates, that are in certain fruits or additives
• the amines, preservatives or fortifying additive, often present in cereals and baked products
• the yellow/orange colour (the substance called tartrazina)
• the benzoates, preservatives and anti-oxidants frequently present in fruit products, soft drinks, pickled produce and salad dressings
  
  
7. It could be hard but try to avoid your baby is doing strenuous activities that might cause sweating. Sweat is irritating and may worsen itching, as well as stress.