Please don’t let your children eat common allergens while playing on public playground equipment

[Anonymous]

Does rain wash away peanut allergens like this? I wonder if only coming to the playground after a rainy day would be safe for OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the obsession with snacks at the playground; can't kids live without having snacks around 24-7? Plus, the playground years are so fleeting, not worth freaking out about the concept of eating at home for those years.

Our nanny would takes the kids to the playground for hours at a time when the weather was good. They'd typically have at least one meal there (lunch, usually) and a snack or two. This seemed pretty common.

[Anonymous]

You know how some neighborhoods have “slow: deaf child” signs? Maybe OP’s neighborhood park could have a bright yellow sign like that for a child with serious peanut allergies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Getting popcorn ready for a potential 20 pager

Please don’t eat popcorn here. It’s a potential choking risk to small children.

[Anonymous]

Not happening. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the obsession with snacks at the playground; can't kids live without having snacks around 24-7? Plus, the playground years are so fleeting, not worth freaking out about the concept of eating at home for those years.

This is an unreasonable take. Lots of children have feeding problems and eat frequent small meals/snacks instead of three meals. Lots have sensory issues/ASD and can only eat a limited selection of foods, which often includes nut and peanut products. There are far far more children with feeding issues than children with deadly allergies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s such a small and easy thing to not eat common allergens in shared spaces. The “don’t tell me what to eat” people sound like entitled 4 year old brats. Do you think OP *likes* having to think about what everyone around her kid is eating?

There are 9 top allergens. NINE.
EGGS
MILK
PEANUTS
SHELLFISH
FISH
SOY
TREE NUTS
WHEAT
SESAME

So eliminate all of those foods for schools and playgrounds.

Depending on where you are, mustard is a priority allergen (eg. Canada)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the obsession with snacks at the playground; can't kids live without having snacks around 24-7? Plus, the playground years are so fleeting, not worth freaking out about the concept of eating at home for those years.

This is an unreasonable take. Lots of children have feeding problems and eat frequent small meals/snacks instead of three meals. Lots have sensory issues/ASD and can only eat a limited selection of foods, which often includes nut and peanut products. There are far far more children with feeding issues than children with deadly allergies.

So note the problem is not only what parents are feeding their kids, but how and when?

Our playground is in between one of DD’s activities and home. We often walk or bike over to the activity. On the way home, she likes to stop by the playground and play. As she’s just finished her activity and biked/ walked and dinner is delayed to stop at the park, yeah, she gets to bring and have a snack.

The no snack warriors are the weirdest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to be accommodating and respectful but OP I think you can’t ever expect a playground not to have contact with peanut butter hands. In your neighborhood playground you could try putting up signs and that would help, but you still couldn’t count on it.

As for school, I would think parents would be willing to be peanut free at school. That’s how our preschool works - when an allergy joins the class, we all cut that food for school.

But at the playground instead of being mad at people for not following rules that don’t exist you’ll have to find another strategy.

Agreed. A couple of ideas OP- have your child wear gloves and remind them to not touch their face/mouth. Avoid times where you know it will be crowded. Or, if you've already found your peanut-free school, take them to playgrounds associated with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:This is a death sentence for my NK. There is already so much she has to miss out on in life due to a severe anaphylactic allergy to peanuts.

I’m not saying your kid can’t go to the park and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a picnic. Wash their hands, etc. But having your kid run around on the equipment with a bag of Bamba’s leaving peanut oil residue on every surface means we can no longer play.

And I do understand we live in a “I, me and mine” society where it’s ok if not encouraged to get yours and do what you want because how your actions effect others isn’t your problem. I understand. I’m sad, that’s not how I’m raising my kids but I get that’s a key American value especially in dog eat dog D.C. but can we just try to have a little concern for others?

You’re the one who doesn’t care that some kids are severely sensitive eaters and that peanut foods might be all they’ll eat.

Nope, you don't get to act like you care about "severely sensitive eaters". I have a child with ARFID and know several families with children with ARFID. It's an incredibly, kind, supportive community that is very sensitive to food allergies because it's entirely possible to have ARFID and food allergies.

Also, as this thread exemplifies, parents of kids without disabilities can be such selfish idiots. In my experience, parents of kids with disabilities can be much more open minded and caring about the challenges others are facing.

So much ugliness in this thread. What ugly hearts some of you have.

+1. Some of the ugliest collection of parents that I've ever seen.

+2 I'm a parent of 4, none of which have food allergies, and they all LOVE peanut butter. But I have so much empathy for a parent that has to live with this fear that I would gladly give up my children having peanut butter. And although I know there are other disabilities or illnesses that are severe, I can't imagine having one like this where you never know what your child will touch that will induce a reaction. So I would also feel like I would want to ask that others help me. But seeing these responses only reinforces the fact that she cannot ever depend on others to help.

You people seem to lack common sense or reading comprehension skills. It's quite stunning actually. And no, I didn't post anything before you did, so I haven't participated in this argument you're responding to.

You do realize that you said you have so much empathy for parents living with the fear of peanut allergies that you would gladly give up your children having peanut butter. So you have, since typing that, thrown it all out, correct? You have removed any food, not just peanut butter, than contains traces of nuts from your house? And informed all your family members that they are no longer allowed to purchase, consume, or even touch those products, yes? Because if not, you're just a hypocrite.

DP Not just nuts but the subject is "common allergens" so that list ought to include dairy, soy, wheat, sesame, tree nuts, and on and on. Has PP removed all these common allergens from her home and instructed her family to never touch them again, just in case?

She has! As a matter of fact she’s done it GLADLY. (And with mucho empathy, to boot.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I try to be accommodating and respectful but OP I think you can’t ever expect a playground not to have contact with peanut butter hands. In your neighborhood playground you could try putting up signs and that would help, but you still couldn’t count on it.

As for school, I would think parents would be willing to be peanut free at school. That’s how our preschool works - when an allergy joins the class, we all cut that food for school.

But at the playground instead of being mad at people for not following rules that don’t exist you’ll have to find another strategy.

So if class has a peanut allergy kid, a milk and egg allergy kid, and a celiac kid…. Does the entire class really ban milk, egg, peanut, and wheat from school grounds? What do they eat for lunch? Rice and beans for everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a death sentence for my NK. There is already so much she has to miss out on in life due to a severe anaphylactic allergy to peanuts.

I’m not saying your kid can’t go to the park and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a picnic. Wash their hands, etc. But having your kid run around on the equipment with a bag of Bamba’s leaving peanut oil residue on every surface means we can no longer play.

And I do understand we live in a “I, me and mine” society where it’s ok if not encouraged to get yours and do what you want because how your actions effect others isn’t your problem. I understand. I’m sad, that’s not how I’m raising my kids but I get that’s a key American value especially in dog eat dog D.C. but can we just try to have a little concern for others?

You’re the one who doesn’t care that some kids are severely sensitive eaters and that peanut foods might be all they’ll eat.

Nope, you don't get to act like you care about "severely sensitive eaters". I have a child with ARFID and know several families with children with ARFID. It's an incredibly, kind, supportive community that is very sensitive to food allergies because it's entirely possible to have ARFID and food allergies.

Also, as this thread exemplifies, parents of kids without disabilities can be such selfish idiots. In my experience, parents of kids with disabilities can be much more open minded and caring about the challenges others are facing.

So much ugliness in this thread. What ugly hearts some of you have.

+1. Some of the ugliest collection of parents that I've ever seen.

Ok, keyboard preacher. You sit there and judge other people all you want, but I highly doubt you exercise a level of vigilance regarding peanut products that OP would find acceptable. Some people are just being more realistic than others. But it's easy to type whatever you want. Doing it is another thing.

This is so unbelievable true! The women in the DMV are so angry, like all. the. time. What is in the water there?

PP here. I don't know, I moved away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I try to be accommodating and respectful but OP I think you can’t ever expect a playground not to have contact with peanut butter hands. In your neighborhood playground you could try putting up signs and that would help, but you still couldn’t count on it.

As for school, I would think parents would be willing to be peanut free at school. That’s how our preschool works - when an allergy joins the class, we all cut that food for school.

But at the playground instead of being mad at people for not following rules that don’t exist you’ll have to find another strategy.

So if class has a peanut allergy kid, a milk and egg allergy kid, and a celiac kid…. Does the entire class really ban milk, egg, peanut, and wheat from school grounds? What do they eat for lunch? Rice and beans for everyone?

Ironically, beans are legumes, just like peanuts...

[Anonymous]

why doesn't the OP have her kid wear a mask so they don't put their hands in their mouth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why doesn't the OP have her kid wear a mask so they don't put their hands in their mouth?

Control. She wants to force others to do things her way.