Need advice about food allergies

[skw444]

My dd6 has a nut allergy. She was diagnosed back in 2006 when she had a severe reaction from contact with peanut butter. She has not had a reaction since then, but we've been very diligent. Her dr did another blood test about a month ago and she's still showing allergic. She started K last year and sat at a peanut free table during lunch. Luckily, she had 3 kids in her class with a nut allergy so they sat at the table with her. Fast forward to this year...yesterday was the first day of school and she sat at the peanut free table...all by herself! I feel so bad that she has to eat lunch all by herself all year. Any advice on what we can do to make this better for her? Any parents that have gone through similar situations?

 

[Lakeside Pirate]

She can't be around it at all? My DS has a peanut allergy also. I am extremely careful about what he eats but luckily he is able to be around it without having problems. He has never had any reactions since his initial (cross my fingers).

I'd talk to the parents of some of her friends and see if they will sit her at the peanut free table.

Not easy.

 

[Tosie]

My dd6 has a nut allergy. She was diagnosed back in 2006 when she had a severe reaction from contact with peanut butter. She has not had a reaction since then, but we've been very diligent. Her dr did another blood test about a month ago and she's still showing allergic. She started K last year and sat at a peanut free table during lunch. Luckily, she had 3 kids in her class with a nut allergy so they sat at the table with her. Fast forward to this year...yesterday was the first day of school and she sat at the peanut free table...all by herself! I feel so bad that she has to eat lunch all by herself all year. Any advice on what we can do to make this better for her? Any parents that have gone through similar situations?

Yes!! What my dd's teacher did was have dd "invite" a friend every day to eat with her at the peanut free table. Of course, that child had to have something with no peanuts that day too - but she could also ask in advance so that the invitee could be prepared. It worked out great for us!

Good luck!

 

[GoofyFairie]

Both of my children are highly allergic to peanut also. They have a peanut free table at lunch. They invite a couple of kids to sit with them and their lunchs are checked for peanuts to be sure it is safe. Their table is right by the exit where the kids come out with their trays so they can have a close monitor to make sure they haven't been cross contaminated by a hidden ingredient. No child should eat alone. Ever. Good luck!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would ask her dr if she, taking precautions, could sit at the table. She perhaps could have a wipe to clean her place or a place mat. DGS is peanut allergic and we have always been over the top cautious. We went beyound what the dr said we need to do. He however starts preschool this year and we are meeting with the dr to retest and re-access where we need to be to keep him safe with the least social restrictions we can have. Our doctor said we were ok with "made in the same factory as". We however have never done that. We are looking to see if we have the right balance.

 

[skw444]

She can't be around it at all?

Her reaction came from just contact...she didn't even eat it. It was a Halloween party at school and one of the treats contained peanut butter. She touched it and then we think she rubbed her eyes and within minutes her face started swelling up.


Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm going to the school on Thursday to have lunch with her and I'll talk to the teacher about having her invite friends to sit at the peanut free table with her.

 

[luvmy3]

When my ds was tested positive for tree nut allergy I found this site very helpful. There are alot of parents and children going through the same thing and this is a great place to get all kinds of advice.

http://allergy.hyperboards.com/index.php

 

[Betzee]

My DD6 also has a peanut/tree nut allergy. She also has a contact allergy, and just has to touch it, or sometimes even smell it, if it is strong enough.

She started K when she was 4, and I was very worried about lunch time, as I could no longer control what happened, but she's now going into 2nd grade and has done great!

We don't have peanut free tables at our school, but I make sure everyone is aware of the allergy and seats are moved around to be sure that the peanut butter eaters are at the far end of the table. This way she's never totally alone.

A recommendation for those who have the contact allergy -- it's important that the kids in class who had peanut butter or peanut/nut items for lunch wash their hands (and face) thoroughly before returning to class. It's not enough to have her at a separate table, if she just goes back to class to mix with a bunch of 1st graders, who are not always the cleanest bunch of people on the planet, LOL! I suggest you discuss this with the teacher, so the kids all know if they ate peanut butter, they need to wash up as soon as possible.

Good Luck!

 

[jasmom]

My kids school is peanut and nut-free. I believe all the schools in our city are the same. Also all the city run day camps and programs are peanut free. And the nursery schools and day cares are aswell.

 

[skw444]

My kids school is peanut and nut-free. I believe all the schools in our city are the same. Also all the city run day camps and programs are peanut free. And the nursery schools and day cares are aswell.

How do the schools ensure that no nuts are brought in?

 

[MSSANDRA]

You can't but you do your best. We are a "peanut friendly " preschool.

Parents do bring snacks and you have to watch very carefully to be sure no obvious products are brought in but parents do not, and really can not be expected to avoid everything that is made in the same factory as peanuts etc.
If any contact with these products cause problems then even more caution needs be be taken to ensure your child has no contact with outside foods.

We have a family that has an egg allergy child that can go anaphasix with even minimun touching of an egg product. We were willing to have the child but mom and I decided that it just was not a safe enviroment for this 2 year old. DGS is allergic to PN and will be in the school. We send notes home to every parent and my teacher for his class is great as well. I will always have him "good" snacks at school to reduce temptation of a fun, not safe snack that someone brings in. It is always a balancing act.

 

[lucyem]

At our school the classrooms of children with nut allergies are nut free completely. All snacks are left in the hall for the nurse to check them. Any child with nuts in a snack have to eat in the hallway or not have that snack.

At lunch there is a nut free table on one side of the room and the child with an allergy is allowed to have friends sit with them, after all their lunches are checked. They would never allow a child to sit alone. They really encourage friends.

My son has an anaphylactic dairy allergy. In his case he can be around dairy but just not eat it.

Allergies are on the rise. It is a very scary thing to send your child off to school and worry that just eating the wrong thing could kill them.