Peanut free classroom this year...

[perkinsrose]

You know, I would love it if my DD could just carry a fanny pack around all day long with her epipens in case of emergency. But, she can't. It isn't allowed at her school. Furthermore, she doesn't know how to use it. Well, she knows the procedure but she is not yet mature enough, imo, to administer a shot to herself. FWIW, she's never known a life without epipens so she is very accustomed to them and to the fact that they are there to save her life. But seeing as how she can't remember to pack pj's for an overnight stay at Nana's...I'm not quite ready for her to be completely responsible for her meds.

I'm all for --prepare for the worst, expect the best. But there is hope.

Some nut allergies are outgrown. Here's one article/study link and quote saying about 9% will outgrown nut and peanut/legume allergy. I've also seen places online that suggest 25 %. This study suggested 20% outgrown peanut specific allergy.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051109092647.htm

"Their study, reported in the November issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, also found that clinicians can use blood levels of tree nut antibody (TN-IgE) as an accurate guideline in estimating the likelihood that a child has outgrown the allergy.

"What's crystal clear is that children with these allergies should be regularly re-evaluated," researchers concluded.

"Allergic reactions to tree nuts as well as peanuts (which are not nuts but legumes) can be quite severe, and they are generally thought to be lifelong," says senior author Robert Wood, M.D., director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Children's Center. "Our research shows that for some children, however, lifelong avoidance of these nuts, found in countless food products, may not be necessary." "

also here
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2005/11_07a_05.html

 

[Aristomommy]

The problem with peanut free schools is two fold.

1) It provides a false sense of security. Sometimes grandma packs lunch and doesn't know. Sometimes Devon had peanut butter toast for breakfast and made a dart to the bus without washing.

2) Its a bad slippery slope. Ban peanuts today and a parent who has a child allergic to eggs can now ask for the same for her child. The child whose asthma is kicked off by cat dander can start demanding a "dander free zone" (asthma still kills more children than peanut allergies in the U.S.) The one whose kid is allergic to bees can insist all the children sit in for recess so her child has no chance of getting stung and doesn't get left out. Personally, I don't think we like where we end up if we go down that path.

I agree with both points. Both my children have asthma and have been hospitalized with life threatening low oxygen levels. Both times it started because they got an infection from school/daycare. There are clear rules about fever, runny nose etc. but some parents choose to ignore it because they don't see the consequences for another child. Schools should be made an infection free zone for my children .

I also find it unfair that my child sits out most of gym when she is wheezing. Maybe all children should sit and pretend to wheeze so she would not feel alone . I'm sorry, but my children know that they have a chronic illness and sometimes they don't get to do things that others do. We have missed swim parties for new ear tubes and fun event due to surgeries or being ill. I can't demand the world to stop because my child is having trouble that day. My kids are resilient and have not whined or complained about their circumstances. It's just the way life is.

 

[scoochie75]

I read through some of these posts and it makes me really sad that this is such an issue - I think somewhere along the way the fact that these children really could die is being lost on everyone. I am a parent of a peanut/tree nut allergy kid. He does go into anaphylaxis on ingestion and this is our first year dealing with school and lunch. I encountered a few parents the night we met at school who were bent out of shape about not being able to send "peanut" snacks into the classroom - they can send PB&J for lunch. Here was my story - 10 years ago a family friend attended a function that was serving dinner. She was 20 years old and allergic to peanuts. She never had a severe reaction so got out of the habit of carrying her epi-pen. On the way out of the function she picked up a cookie asked if it contains peanuts was told no and went on her way. By the time the elevator got her and her family to ground level she was in full anaphylaxis the epi-pen was not administered during the crucial first few minutes - the next morning her parents had to remove her from life support - people really do die from this. Little kids in elementary school can't be expected to handle this responsibility on their own - my friend died b/c someone used the same spatula to serve the cookies as another dessert that contained peanuts - a child with peanut butter on their hands accidentally touching an allergic child while they are eating is all it takes to cause a reaction - I just don't see where the problem lies.

 

[Laneychris]

Our schools are peanut free if there is one child that needs it.

 

[dawnball]

[/B]
My DD's school is TOTALLY peanut free. She cannot even bring in a snack that has been packaged in a factory that processes peanut products. Even if it is "peanut free" This means I can't send her to school with animal crackers if the box says "may contain traces of tree nuts" The school even sent home a list of packaged store bought snacks that is acceptable for school.

I don't mind not sending in peanut butter, or peanut products if there's a child who's so peanut allergic that my child's lunch would cause a problem.

However, I would find it almost intolerable to have the no-shared equipment with peanuts or tree-nuts policy. My child has allergies of her own, andmost of the things I can send for lunch are shared facility with peanuts or tree nuts. I can buy a few specialty products that are made in allergen free facilities. Some of them don't taste outright bad. They're all very expensive. If I assembled a school lunch out of them, I'd be looking at more than $5/day for lunches.

Especially since I have allergies, so we cook with a -lot- of nuts in our house (no nut allergies here) - anything I made at home would be shared facility with tree nuts.

I'm all in favor of reasonable accommodations. I wouldn't consider that reasonable.

 

[dawnball]

a 5yo would seeit as nothing more than a punishment if they were not allowed to be with the other kids.

Gosh, my food allergic kid sees it as keeping her safe when she can't do things. And yes, that's included her sitting at a different table for meals/snacks in some situations. It will *always* include not sharing food with other kids.

Seeing it as punishment is almost always a function of adults suggesting a negative interpretation.

 

[stephbillalec]

I'm sorry, but this is stupid. If my kid had a peanut allergy, she'd either carry an epipen with her at all times or I'd probably have to keep her at home.

I think your post is stupid (your word!)

Sure let's give all peanut allergic children their own epipens to carry so they can deal with reactions on their own. That seems like a real SMART thing to do. It's their problem, right??? Other people shouldn't be inconvenienced by someone else's issue. Isn't that what you're implying? There'd be nothing like the sight of a five year old struggling to breathe during an allergic reaction and trying to inject a two inch needle into the side of their thigh at the same time just so they could continue living, right? OR they could just stay home??????
In a public school setting...in which ALL children are entitled to an education...the people in charge of their care are responsible for their safety, as it should be. Hopefully you don't work in a school!

 

[DisneyKT]

My DD is not allergic to peanuts. Thank god. She has children in her class with peanut allergies so that means no peanut snacks. But at lunch there is a peanut free table. I don't have a problem with sending no peanut products to school. I wouldn't want my kids lunch responsible for a child's bad reaction.

 

[DVCJones]

Should all colleges be peanut free, too?

Should all restaurants be forced to be peanut free? Don't be silly...College students are old enought o carry their own epi pen.

Should grocery stores be nut free so that those with nut allergies can shop in peace? Again, most parents can a do carry their child's epi with them.

Should we ban all nut products in the United States? come on now...

What if someone ate a peanut butter sandwich and then went to vote, touching the voting booth, and then a peanut allergy sufferer walked in, why voting could kill them! again, old enough to vote...old enough to carry an epi.

I believe that a peanut free table is sufficient for most kids with peanut allergies, given the track record of such steps in our local schools. If a child needs a peanut free room, then they should be allowed to have a designated space to eat, and allowed to have friends, who are peanut free, join them. Sometimes this is not safe enough.

I think reasonable precautions include banning peanut/nut products from an allergic child's classroom, but forcing all the children in a class to avoid the cafeteria seems unnecessary.

--Eeyore's Wife

It is not just the allergy it is their age. Geez, I still check my DD's butt when she comes home from school to make sure she wipes everything.Kids that are elementary aged still have trouble with that... you can't expect a 5-9 yo to know what to do during an allergic reaction. Usually you have a few minutes, and children do tend to panic. Again, as a parent of two who don't have allergies (thank God) and who follows a very strict "peanut free" school policy. IT REALLY IS NO BIG DEAL!!! You are keeping children safe while the are trying to get an education.

 

[DVCJones]

I don't mind not sending in peanut butter, or peanut products if there's a child who's so peanut allergic that my child's lunch would cause a problem.

However, I would find it almost intolerable to have the no-shared equipment with peanuts or tree-nuts policy. My child has allergies of her own, andmost of the things I can send for lunch are shared facility with peanuts or tree nuts. I can buy a few specialty products that are made in allergen free facilities. Some of them don't taste outright bad. They're all very expensive. If I assembled a school lunch out of them, I'd be looking at more than $5/day for lunches.

Especially since I have allergies, so we cook with a -lot- of nuts in our house (no nut allergies here) - anything I made at home would be shared facility with tree nuts.

I'm all in favor of reasonable accommodations. I wouldn't consider that reasonable.

You would be surprised with what was on the list of acceptable foods. Basic store brand stuff like Cheese-it, Sunshine animal crackers, pudding....all items that I found at the local store. Sure I guess i could go to a place likr Trader Joe's and find more options (and I probably will) but for now there really is no issue with following the policy.

I think if one has an open mind and is willing to give it some effort instead of getting put out of place over it they would find it really is not that big of a problem.

 

[PaDisney02]

my son just started Kind. and his school is going crazy with this nut free thing. It's rediculous! Every paper that gets sent home has a little reminder on the bottom to remind us about not bringing in nuts. Our orientation packet even said if your child eats nuts b4 coming to school we should make sure he/she brushed teeth b4 attending! I think it's great that they r concerned and want to ensure every1's saftey with allergies and everthing but it is only the first week of school and I am so tired of hearing about nuts! They even gave us a list of nut free products that we may bring in if we wish to bring in food!

 

[d1gitman]

considering the trends to ban soda machines, junk food machines, fried foods, etc...(by the way, i am all for getting rid of hte crap food in our society) then i don't think that schools being peanut free or whatever other food allergies that the studen body may have, is such a bad idea. it's common courtesy to be repectful of others around us. it's not like they chose to have these allergies. i would say the same for any known allergy. i do however think a letter from the child's physician should be submitted.

i do think that segregating a classroom from the cafeteria is a bad idea. kids learning how to be social is a huge part of their development, isolating them at lunch time doesn't seem like the right solution to me.

for anyone unwilling to accomodate someone's food allergies, shame on you. this is serious stuff and often is a matter of life and death. little Johnnie or Suzy most certainly can live without a crappin pb&j sandwich for the well being of a fellow human being.

 

[IndianaPrincess]

If there were children at my DD's school with life threatening allergies to anything and a "____ free school" would make them safe, then all the power to that! I wouldn't care what my daughter had to cut out of her lunch... we would make it happen. I would teach her that we are making these changes for the good of others because they need our help. There's no food item that can be throw at me to make me object - it is worth it to keep these kids alive.

That's my 2 cents from a parent of a food allergy-free kid.

 

[C.Ann]

i do think that segregating a classroom from the cafeteria is a bad idea. kids learning how to be social is a huge part of their development, isolating them at lunch time doesn't seem like the right solution to me..

--------------------

With this paricular thread, you hit the nail right on the head.. The OP was not implying that she had no regard for the safety of other children and never once said that she would even remotely consider endangering another child.. Her issue was with the segregation and even after approaching the principal (with several other mothers) with possible alternatives was met with a ridiculous response.. "Well, you can pick your kid up and take him home for lunch every day.." How does that give him the opportunity to experience something that he was really looking forward to and is an important part of childhood development?

I wonder how parents with kids who have allergies would feel if they were told, "Well, you'll have to pick your kid up and take him home for lunch every day.."

Accomodations need to be made on both sides - or - just make the entire school "peanut free" so that everyone can share the experience of eating in the cafeteria..

 

[1rockinmamato2]

I'm sorry, but this is stupid. If my kid had a peanut allergy, she'd either carry an epipen with her at all times or I'd probably have to keep her at home.

Well, my son who just turned three yesterday and has a peanut allergy... would not be able to tell someone he was having an anaphylactic episode and he sure wouldn't know how to use an EpiPen.

Keeping him at home all the time is not an option, nor is it practical. So, we have an EpiPen in the diaper bag and one that is kept at school.

He is not in a peanut-free room at daycare, but he is not allowed to sit near a child eating peanut butter or peanuts during lunch. My son is so picky, he wouldn't eat peanut butter in the first place, but we knew he had a peanut allergy when he broke out in hives are DH has peanut butter and was playing with DS in the floor.

I have not had peanut butter since he was diagnosed 9 months ago. And there are some days I really crave a Reeses peanut butter cup rotfl: ) but I'm afraid if I eat it, kiss him, hold him, etc. it may cause him to have a reaction.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

my son just started Kind. and his school is going crazy with this nut free thing. It's rediculous! Every paper that gets sent home has a little reminder on the bottom to remind us about not bringing in nuts. Our orientation packet even said if your child eats nuts b4 coming to school we should make sure he/she brushed teeth b4 attending! I think it's great that they r concerned and want to ensure every1's saftey with allergies and everthing but it is only the first week of school and I am so tired of hearing about nuts! They even gave us a list of nut free products that we may bring in if we wish to bring in food!

If your child had a nut allergy, you would be very happy the school is being so diligent.

 

[SLK1]

This thread might be getting old, but I remember a mom from our school who was a FREAK about her fifth grader being allergic to peanuts. We all felt like she was being just a bit over the top, but the principal was very accommodating. The mom even went so far as to YELL at another child for simply eating a cookie that a vendor happened to be selling. Well, come to find out, her child had gone and done one of those pin prick allergy tests and came up "allergic to peanuts" but the child had never had any kind of reaction whatsoever to any nuts or being around them. My point is, sometimes (and no need to jump all over this, I'm just saying there is a slight possibility) moms like the attention on their kid, whether it's positive or negative, and do blow their child's "condition" out of proportion. It's certainly not something you would want to play around with, but there is that possibility - it's along the lines of that Munchausen's syndrome or whatever.

And, just so people don't think I'm cold-hearted or uncaring, I do have a child with an Epi-Pen at school. She is allergic to fire ant bites (a huge problem in Florida). She still goes to PE, and I would never think for a second to expect her class to sit out of PE because of her particular allergy. In fact, no one but the nurse and her teacher know about her allergy. It's just not necessary to make a production out of it.

 

[PaulaSue]

I think that if a kid has a life-threatening peanut allergy, then the whole school should be peanut-free. I think that if the parent requests it and the school agrees, arguing with that is just selfish. Peanut butter over a child's life??? Wow. I'm a teacher, and I'd be more than happy to find peanut-free foods to bring for lunch if that was the case.

Okay but what about the kids who have peanut/nuts (or other food that thye are allergic too) with breakfast.

If the child is that allergic, risk of death, maybe they should be homeschooled for thier own safety or a parent come in and check everything everyday. I worked at preschool and helped out at lunches. So many parents sent in peanut/nut products that we had to pitch because they didn't read the labels. It is very scary being responsible for the little one with so many foods possible slipping by parents who don't pay attention or even don't care.

 

[imthatgirl]

Gosh, my food allergic kid sees it as keeping her safe when she can't do things. And yes, that's included her sitting at a different table for meals/snacks in some situations. It will *always* include not sharing food with other kids.

Seeing it as punishment is almost always a function of adults suggesting a negative interpretation.

im sorry, but dont be ridiculous. a 5yo does not have the ability nor the maturity to understand that being singled out isnt personal. kids take everything personally.
children certainly dont need an adult to tell them they are being left out.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Okay but what about the kids who have peanut/nuts (or other food that thye are allergic too) with breakfast.

If the child is that allergic, risk of death, maybe they should be homeschooled for thier own safety or a parent come in and check everything everyday. I worked at preschool and helped out at lunches. So many parents sent in peanut/nut products that we had to pitch because they didn't read the labels. It is very scary being responsible for the little one with so many foods possible slipping by parents who don't pay attention or even don't care.

In case you haven't heard, children with allergies are protected just as anyone with a disability. They are guaranteed a free and appropriate public education.

There's a "little" thing called "Section 504" that would be violated if modifications for these children were not made. And no school system wants to violate it. Nope, 'cause that would be bad.