Allergy free school frustration

[foltzy]

My 3 year old's preschool is peanut and pork free (she has no allergies except raspberries which if she eats some she only gets a rash). The preschool provides the children breakfast and lunch which is fine. However her birthday is in March and I want to provide a snack and we're not big on cupcakes and things like that (thankfully neither is her preschool) so I went looking online about products that might be allergy freindly foods and found this site. http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/index.php . Now I don't know if anyone in her class has allergies but wanted to make sure all the kids could enjoy what snack I brought in.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I can totally relate to the original OP's frustration! Two of my kids go to a preschool that is now peanut and strawberry free. On the first day of school a two page letter was sent out to parents detailing what can and can't be brought in for snack time. It was so detailed that I was just amazed! We can't send anything with "berry flavors", "natural flavors" or anything that even has a picture of a berry on the packaging (including no punch or tropical flavored juice boxes). We also can't send any snacks that have been processed in a plant that has peanut products.

My first thought was this is going way overboard. I could understand them saying not to bring peanut butter or strawberries into the school. But to say that I can't send a bag of pretzels for my child's snack that have been processed in a plant that has peanuts (which I did, by the way, the very first day before I got the letter). I guess I'm just ignorant on how severe a child's allergies can be, that I was unaware that my child eating a pretzel could hurt another child.

The first day of school I sent (along with the contaminated pretzels) homemade chocolate chip cookies that had pecans in them. My son told me that they inspected his cookies and re-packed them back into his bag. (By the way, the pecans were from a tree in my sister's yard and not processed in a nut plant). I will adjust the recipe from now on and not include any nuts, but gee whiz!

Dh told me that I should pack a bag of air and a bottle of water for their snack....but it sounds like if there could be a latex allergy around even this could be dangerous....

Seriously though, I'm trying to take this all in with the attitude that I am very thankful my child doesn't have any of these allergies. I can't imagine how difficult life would be if they did and I am very sympathetic to parents who have to deal with this problem. I don't see how you can ever take your kids out to eat, or to Disneyworld, on a cruise, or anywhere else if you have to protect them to that degree.

In the meantime, I have to figure out a way to get rid of all of the contraband snacks and juice boxes that I bought before I received the letter. It's a good thing they still allow peanut butter in my eldest daughter's school! She's a vegetarian and peanut butter is one of her major sources of protein.

 

[abdmom]

For those who have questions about the prevalence of food allergies and why more kids are being diagnosed with food allergies, here is a good website by the FDA: FDA on Food Allergies

Since children are required by law to be in school - whether it's public school or private or homeschooling, schools have to do all that they can to make the environment safe for a child with food allergies. They cannot just tell the child to stay away. The idea of peanut - free classrooms/tables/schools is a relatively new one. When my ds was diagnosed with a peanut allergy 12 years ago - many educators did not know about food allergies. The incidence has exploded in the past decade. So, a lot of schools are trying to figure out the best method to deal with this. There isn't a one size fits all policy.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I forgot to add to my post something that I thought was pretty funny. When my four year old came home from school the first day and heard me talking to dh about the letter, she told us that she was going to be in trouble because she had worn underpants to school that had strawberries on them

 

[cosmicdaisy]

I don't see how you can ever take your kids out to eat, or to Disneyworld, on a cruise, or anywhere else if you have to protect them to that degree.

Sadly, for a while, we couldn't go out to eat! My DD reacted in any restaurant from other people eating around her. Her allergist commented that she was actually the first airborn milk allergy patient he had had...but I'm sure not the last. Now, it's better. I think the daily dose of Zyrtec has made a vast improvement on restaurant going...but since she can't really eat anything anyways...we usually do not go out to eat.

However...we CAN go to Disney World WDW was the first place I had ever been that catered for food allergies. I still cry just thinking about our very first meal on WDW property.

As far as cruises though...I've just now started thinking it was possible if the cruise was equipped to handle an emergency.

I did think the bag of air comment was a little much

 

[cosmicdaisy]

I forgot to add to my post something that I thought was pretty funny. When my four year old came home from school the first day and heard me talking to dh about the letter, she told us that she was going to be in trouble because she had worn underpants to school that had strawberries on them

That is cute. It actually reminds me that I've always found DD's classmates to get her allergy far better than adults...even some of my own family members don't get it or try to My SIL asked me just the other day "she can't have milk, right?"

 

[hildarumpole]

How far is the school planning on taking this idea of banning anything anyone is allergic to from the whole school? I can understand not allowing latex or peanuts or tomatoes in the classrooms of the affected children, particularly if they are contact sensitive, but from the entire school is absurd. My DD10 is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, kiwi, and bananas. We only ask that nuts not be allowed in her classroom, because she can have a reaction if she touches them. However, I don't believe it's necessary to inconvenience hundreds of people in the rest of the school or even her classmates in the lunchroom to keep her safe. What happens next year if a kid has a dairy allergy? Is the school going to ban milk and cheese? It sounds like the school administration is devoid of common sense.

 

[Lilogirl]

I forgot to add to my post something that I thought was pretty funny. When my four year old came home from school the first day and heard me talking to dh about the letter, she told us that she was going to be in trouble because she had worn underpants to school that had strawberries on them

That is too cute! My DD said she could not wear clothes with apples on them because she was allergic to apples LOL. Out of the mouths of babes!

 

[leebee]

DD14 goes to a school that has for many years had a "peanut product" table, as there is are several students with severe peanut allergies. This totally mystifies me. If there are kids with severe peanut allergies, what good will a peanut table be? I can pretty much guarantee that the school cafeteria uses foods that have tree-nut exposed products, as well as nuts. If you cannot be around peanuts at all, what good is a peanut table? There will always be peanuts around, somehow. You can't monitor or control what others do at home, in their personal lives. And then there is the peanut-free zone, which I think is probably easier to monitor/enforce. One parent complained to the school board that having her peanut-allergic child sit at a peanut free table is violating her civil rights, ostracizing her for her medical issues and violating her child's right to privacy about her medical conditions. Say what? I am sorry, I try to be sensitive and understanding, but I am about over it when a bunch of people have to change their lifestyles because one person needs them to but isn't willing to make accommodations themselves (not saying everyone is like that, but it a source of anger and frustration here!).

I, too, have a child with serious allergic reactions, to environmental stimuli. Nobody is ever terribly concerned that my child lives on zyrtek because she has severe environmental allergies- chemical allergies that are both airborne and by touch (including perfumes, stuff in cleaning agents, room deodorizers, wipes, dryer sheets, all soap products, scented EVERYTHING, the list is endless), dust mites, every kind of pollen imaginable, all kinds of animal dander, chalk dust, house dust, etc. DD lives congested, with sinus issues, sleep-deprived, taking antihistamines regularly, as a result of all her allergies. Sometimes there are anaphylactic reactions, sometimes not, she carries an epi pen, and no, allergy shots didn't help even after 24 months of treatment. I haven't asked the schools to ban anything with odors, any of their cleaning products, haven't asked kids to be vacuumed to remove pet dander, dust, or pollen from home/outside before entering school. We have to be overly cautious about sleep-overs, about where we go, about whether she can walk to school if it's pine season, or where to cross the street to avoid gardens. We take responsibility for her allergies and react accordingly. That's all anyone can do, that and pray that their kid remembers to NOT roll on the grass or in the leaves with her friends- at least in OUR case.

Oh yes, two more things. "Natural" peanut butter (or homemade) is one of the few things DD can actually eat without concern. Many of the lunch meats and cheeses have processing chemicals in them that she is allergic to. Unfortunately, now the school has gone peanut free, so I'm not sure WHAT to send for lunch. Also, those baby wipes someone mentioned earlier? The "hypoallergenic" kinds simply give DD a rash- the regular ones cause breathing problems. Liquid hand sanitizers are likewise out of the question...

 

[churchpilot]

This is so tough. I have a friend whose child has severe eczema and constant hand washing or even hand wiping severely aggravates her skin and her hands get open sores. What does this child do to try and fit in at her school? She can't constantly wash her hands to meet the requirements in one of the earlier responses where the mother provided the wipes for all the children to use. It seems like there is no "one" good answer for any of the situations listed here.

 

[LuvBaloo]

Thanks for all the responses. It helps to ease my frustration to hear others agree with it. It also helps to hear from the parents trying to deal with the allergy. My frustration is not with the parents of the allergic child, its with the school and how they handle it. I agree with a PP who commented that the schools are concerned about liability so go with the easy answer of banning it. I know last year I accidentally sent DD with PB sandwich one day (I mixed up her lunch with her sisters, so I had 2 kids complaining at the end of the day, one because she got the PB she knew she couldn't have, and the other because she got Cheezwhiz which she doesn't like )

I am happy that my children do not have any severe allergies. I can't imagine the fear that somebody will give your child the wrong thing accidentally. Or my personal favourite is people who truly think they are working around a food allergy but don't really understand it.
For example, my aunt would try to bake something for the family to accomodate the milk allergies, then she grease the cake pan with butter or she'd read the label on one package of premade icing, and assume all the icing by the company was safe

My DD has about 300 kids in her school. There is no cafeteria/lunch room, they all eat in their classrooms. The school sent home the letter at the end of last year saying there was a child coming into the school for Sept with severe latex allergy and so all school supplies were to be latex free. But they didn't put that note actually on the school supply list, so anybody that forgot about it, when the went to buy supplies 2 months later, wouldn't remember. That is the route of my frustration is they put out a ban, but don't communicate well. It almost feels as if they are going through the motions to cover their butts, but they could do a much better job.

Finally, I think I should learn to relax. DD is more accepting of it than I am. She was disappointed to learn she can't have the tomatoes, but when told that its because they could make somebody else sick, she accepts it.

 

[brooklynheights]

My DN 7 has asthma being around anyone who smokes or has smoked can send him into an asthma attack ( when he was a baby anyone who had smoked before getting near him had to scrub down and wear a mask he was a premie my niece was extra carefull )but the school hasn't banned teachers or parents from smoking he knows how to take his meds and so do the teachers we hope for the best if the kids allergys to foods are that bad it must be hard how do they manage to be in public ie movie theaters,grocery stores trips to the zoo shopping malls anywhere latex even would block out disney they have balloons and some are in the dining rooms when you eat I'm allergic to all cheese that has mold in it and onions but I don't stop others from eating it around me I feel for both sides but somewhere we have to draw a line at what we ban for one out of a huge group

 

[perkinsrose]

Seriously? My son was diagnosed with a corn allergy two years ago. While he can eat some now, I can't imagine if the whole school had to go corn free. I realize that peanut and latex can be really serious but there are cases where a corn allergy can be life threatening too. Corn, in one way or another, is in everything. I say they are doing these kids an injustice by not teaching them to deal with their allergy.

Soy is common allergy and in many things too!! Getting slightly better now that many companies are moving away from the evil "partially hydrogenated soy oil"s. Even most newspapers are printed in soy ink--I have respiratory reaction but not severe when handling soyink paper.

 

[jnzimm]

My ds3 has a dairy allergy. Luckly for him, it is not severe enough that he would react if someone was around him with it. I do have a friend whos son has a severe peanut allergy, if he is around it he has reactions. In my sons preschool class we found out today that it is now a peanut free and gluten free building along with no dairy or eggs in the snacks. Wow. I was going to just take my son is snack everyday so I knew for myself that what he was eating was ok. I have mixed feelings about the whole "free" building thing. One aspect you could have a kid who has a reaction just by being around an item but the other aspect it is not fair to those kids who have no problems and who love the stuff. I feel better knowing that there will be nothing there that he can't have. I understand your frustration

Glueten Free????? I find that hard to believe. That rules out quite a bit. What do you take ?????

 

[WindyCityDisney]

At DS' preschool a couple of years ago, there was a child with a severe peanut allergy. A note went home asking for all parents to have children brush their teeth and wash their hands after breakfast because even the smallest touch -- brush hand on a seatbelt and then the allergic child touch the area -- was enough for a life-threatening reaction.

I thought that was a good way to handle it.

And that really satisfied the parents of the allergic child? Sorry, I just wouldn't be able to put my trust in that. If I could, I would home-school, in the hopes that my kid would outgrow the allergy. There is a false sense of security when you ASSUME people are doing what you have asked.

While we're on it, has anyone researched WHY there is such an increase in the severe allergic reactions kids are having? It just never seemed to be an issue when I was a kid...many, many years ago!!!

I didn't know the parents directly so I can't answer that. We jsut avoided PB in the morning, which wasn't hard for us. It was only half-day preschool, so that was the only meal we had to be concerned about.

 

[C.Ann]

If my children were still little and had an allergy that was life-threatening, I honestly and truly think I would home school them.. There is always going to be a parent who will ignore the rules and send peanuts, tomatoes, latex items, etc., to school and I don't think that I could live with that fear hanging over my head every day throughout the school year..

When the child was old enough to manage their allergy alone (self-administer an epi pen; etc.), I would then consider returning them to the public school system..

I guess it's kind of like the "boy in the bubble".. The parents didn't like the fact that he had to live that way, but they did what was best for his physical health and what gave them peace of mind..

Tough position to be in..

 

[Disneygirl26]

That's what I've been thinking this whole time. I am fortunate that DS does not have any food allergies and I hope the one I'm carrying has the same fortune. So far there are no restrictions at his daycare other than no home-baked goods, everything must have an ingredient label. I know when he hits elementary school this will probably change.

To all the parents of kids with food allergies: do you have food allergies in your family? Were you totally surprised by the diagnosis or did you have an inclination that it may be a problem based on you or your families allergies? Just curious.

Personally, I think we oversanitize stuff. We have immune systems for a reason and if you don't use it then it doens't learn how to work. If you have a family history of food allergies that may not apply, but there are those that get this out-of-the-blue. It satarts in the womb - PG ladies can't eat this or that because it may cause an allergy, or *not* eating it may cause the allergy, who knows? The big thing now is anti-oxidants - I swear in 10 years we're going to find out that it was the free radicals in our bodies that prevented allergies in the first place!

You can't win, what's good now is bad tomrrow and the alternative is bad 10 years from now.

D4D

I was thinking the same thing

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Now thats just insane! TONS of lunch foods carry that same warning..

Please do not think that I am being sarcastic and or uncaring with this reply. I do not have this problem in my family only seasonal allergies and I (yes me) feel that this is going overboard.

I received a 5 page (front and back list) of items that were and were not acceptable.... From fruit snacks, to sandwiches (bread types), to hotpockets, crackers, chips, chex-mix, brownies, cake mixes, etc... It was an extreme list. I feel for the family that has this problem, but what do these families do when they go to the mall, a parade, the park. Do they make their child stay home all the time other than school?? And if there is a Dr. reading, is this what is going to be the norm soon? Schools buying specific school items, parents paying for them, and sending kids home each day to eat and wash properly before returning. What happens when different laundry soaps become a problem??

 

[jnzimm]

That's what I've been thinking this whole time. I am fortunate that DS does not have any food allergies and I hope the one I'm carrying has the same fortune. So far there are no restrictions at his daycare other than no home-baked goods, everything must have an ingredient label. I know when he hits elementary school this will probably change.

To all the parents of kids with food allergies: do you have food allergies in your family? Were you totally surprised by the diagnosis or did you have an inclination that it may be a problem based on you or your families allergies? Just curious.

Personally, I think we oversanitize stuff. We have immune systems for a reason and if you don't use it then it doens't learn how to work. If you have a family history of food allergies that may not apply, but there are those that get this out-of-the-blue. It satarts in the womb - PG ladies can't eat this or that because it may cause an allergy, or *not* eating it may cause the allergy, who knows? The big thing now is anti-oxidants - I swear in 10 years we're going to find out that it was the free radicals in our bodies that prevented allergies in the first place!

You can't win, what's good now is bad tomrrow and the alternative is bad 10 years from now.

D4D

I was thinking the same thing. Why the sudden increase. These allergies have been around for who knows how long. Over cleaning, air cleaners in your house, air conditioning. The folks next doors two daughters are sick all the time, colds runny nose on and on. They shower twice a day can't play outside for too long if its hot [ over 85 deg.] the house is shut up with the air or heat running all the time. Our immune systems need excersise and need to be subjected to dirt and such to be in shape. While this may not apply to all allergies in general it holds true. I put on my flame proof outfit and hook up my oxygen bottle now.

 

[cosmicdaisy]

... but what do these families do when they go to the mall, a parade, the park. Do they make their child stay home all the time other than school?? And if there is a Dr. reading, is this what is going to be the norm soon? Schools buying specific school items, parents paying for them, and sending kids home each day to eat and wash properly before returning. What happens when different laundry soaps become a problem??

A lot of questions have been posed about other places besides school. One thing to consider is that, when we go to the mall...my DD is with me. When we go to the zoo, we are together. I could go on and on.

Something I mentioned in a previous post is that a lot of people do not realize that schools are required by law to make the school day safe for children with life-threatening allergies. Every school is different. Just the same, every child with a food allergy is different. Reactions might be similar, but a different amount of the allergen in a different form can creat completely different reactions in two different allergic people. Usually, parents sit down with school administration and teachers and sometimes doctors too and come up with the best course of action to keep the child safe.

I agree that it is probably a liability issue...but it is also a legal one.