S/O gluten free thread

[Anonymous]

I would want to know. I usually don’t provide foods with nuts just in case but I’d want to make sure your child has appropriate food.

[Anonymous]

It depends on your child’s age. For OP, whose child is a preschooler, I’m assuming you are attending the party. It’s not rude at all to ask the host what the dessert will be so you can bring your child an alternative treat if the one the host is serving isn’t safe for your child.

By about 3rd or 4th grade, allergy kids know to ask an adult if something has nuts. Honestly, by that age, if an item is ambiguous, the allergy kids know not to eat it and that’s that. They don’t seem to require an alternative treat every time other kids are having cupcakes.

The trickiest time is early elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child has multiple food allergies and we always bring food, never expect someone else to accommodate. Honestly, I would not trust someone else’s efforts to accommodate because you don’t know how careful you have to be about cross contamination unless you have lived it. I have never minded bringing her food.

I do mind if the host parents obsess about it or feel overly sad. I know it is well intentioned, but it does no one any good to repeatedly ask, “what about this, can you eat this?” and then express disappointment when the answer is no. It’s awkward for the kid and can coerce the wrong kid into eating something she shouldn’t.

Yes it drives me crazy too. It makes my kid feel guilty for having the allergies and saying no, and it also draws a lot of attention to the fact that they’re not eating and makes other kids notice when they’d prefer to try to blend in. We can eat at home or have a safe snack in the car on the way home.