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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure this thread is crazy. Not going to read.

My peanut allergic child is doing Palforzia. It’s life changing. Look into it OP. It’s gone really well for us.

You can’t expect the world to adapt OR BE EDUCATED ENOUGH TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. Whether they should or not is beside the point. It’s not happening. Plan accordingly.

Good luck.

Had to add the bolded. It isn't just that people may not avoid those foods on purpose, they are also not educated enough to properly avoid them if they tried. Again, no one knows how serious your child's allergies are. Is it just peanuts/peanut butter? Cross-contamination? Contact? Etc.

The OP is being deaf and blind to other risk factors at the expense of yelling at people because of what she can see happening. Its what you cant see and cant mitigate that is the risk.

I would rather assume people are not educated and that most places / surfaces frequented by kids are contaminated than rely on the imperfect compliance by non-allergy parents. My kids have been in class with kids that have nut allergies. I also was a vegetarian for a long time and I have a cousin who is gluten sensitive. People think they know more than they do and people will tell you to your face that something is safe and have no idea they are doing something dangerous. A normally smart, thoughtful mom I know brought a plate of “healthy cookies” to a preschool potluck. The cookies were indeed gluten free and vegan - but they were partially made with almond flour. She didn’t even think about it because it was flour, not a whole or chopped nut or nut butter. Another mom thought pistachios were seeds not nuts.

Peanuts and tree-nuts seem easy enough and yet people mess it up all the time. God help the parents with dairy, sesame, or soy allergies.

Well meaning, good intentioned people will still never be as vigilant or educated as a parent who has a kid with a life threatening allergy. OP can ask for some awareness and caution from fellow parents, but I would never trust another adult’s judgement unless I knew them pretty well.

OP - make flyers that educate people about the top 8 allergens and how food residue on playground equipment or water fountain handles can be dangerous.
Maybe include some helpful tips like “eat outside the playground gate or at a table” “use a paper towel or other material to cover the table” and “wipe your kids’ hands before they return to playing”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until your child gets to elementary school, high school, college and the work world. Are you going to tell your child’s roommates they can’t eat almonds?

Actually yes. We only will be able to send her to peanut free schools. In college she will have to request a peanut free roommate unless she grows out of it. And we’re working on it.

These don’t exist. Maybe preschools.

Good luck.

Yes, they do?!

My DD's public elementary school was 100% peanut free due to kids with severe allergies. We received numerous notices prior to the start of every school year to remind us/inform new parents. They sent lists of alternative nut butters that were approved instead. There was even an open house event that had samples of different nut butters so kids could try alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP. Please know that some of us give a damn and will not allow our kids to eat peanut snacks at the playground or on airplanes. It’s hardly a hardship. We just eat something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure this thread is crazy. Not going to read.

My peanut allergic child is doing Palforzia. It’s life changing. Look into it OP. It’s gone really well for us.

You can’t expect the world to adapt OR BE EDUCATED ENOUGH TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. Whether they should or not is beside the point. It’s not happening. Plan accordingly.

Good luck.

Had to add the bolded. It isn't just that people may not avoid those foods on purpose, they are also not educated enough to properly avoid them if they tried. Again, no one knows how serious your child's allergies are. Is it just peanuts/peanut butter? Cross-contamination? Contact? Etc.

The OP is being deaf and blind to other risk factors at the expense of yelling at people because of what she can see happening. Its what you cant see and cant mitigate that is the risk.

I would rather assume people are not educated and that most places / surfaces frequented by kids are contaminated than rely on the imperfect compliance by non-allergy parents. My kids have been in class with kids that have nut allergies. I also was a vegetarian for a long time and I have a cousin who is gluten sensitive. People think they know more than they do and people will tell you to your face that something is safe and have no idea they are doing something dangerous. A normally smart, thoughtful mom I know brought a plate of “healthy cookies” to a preschool potluck. The cookies were indeed gluten free and vegan - but they were partially made with almond flour. She didn’t even think about it because it was flour, not a whole or chopped nut or nut butter. Another mom thought pistachios were seeds not nuts.

Peanuts and tree-nuts seem easy enough and yet people mess it up all the time. God help the parents with dairy, sesame, or soy allergies.

Well meaning, good intentioned people will still never be as vigilant or educated as a parent who has a kid with a life threatening allergy. OP can ask for some awareness and caution from fellow parents, but I would never trust another adult’s judgement unless I knew them pretty well.

OP - make flyers that educate people about the top 8 allergens and how food residue on playground equipment or water fountain handles can be dangerous.
Maybe include some helpful tips like “eat outside the playground gate or at a table” “use a paper towel or other material to cover the table” and “wipe your kids’ hands before they return to playing”.

I think that is the issue. A wonderful brilliant woman from my synagogue brings me food sometimes. I am gluten free. She has a PhD but frequently brings me food containing gluten. Not because she is disrespecting my wishes but because not having this issue she doesn’t carefully read the ingredients and isn’t that conscious of which foods contain gluten.

Even my nut free daycare once had a little display of almonds in gift bags after a staff persons wedding. They were delicious but definitely not nut free - someone obviously wasn’t thinking.

I have occasionally seen a stray Bamba in my daughters stroller after dropping her off at daycare. Knowing the daycare is supposed to be nut free I don’t through it out there but pocket it. (Stroller gets left at daycare) BUT I don’t immediately wash my hands and of course touch door nobs and other things before leaving. Now as I learned from this post that could be a problem for a severely allergic kid.

The only time we’ve eaten Bambas near a playground I asked all the parents there if it was an issue before taking them out (it was a parent picnic and I was unprepared and that was the only food I had) if someone had said yes I would have been happy to take it back to my car. My daughter did not touch any equipment afterwards but I would not have been aware enough to know that is a problem.

Parents are doing the best they can and don’t want to endanger someone else’s kid but just don’t operate at the level of awareness that an allergic kids parent must so it must be assumed that they will make mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until your child gets to elementary school, high school, college and the work world. Are you going to tell your child’s roommates they can’t eat almonds?

Actually yes. We only will be able to send her to peanut free schools. In college she will have to request a peanut free roommate unless she grows out of it. And we’re working on it.

These don’t exist. Maybe preschools.

Good luck.

Yes, they do?!

My DD's public elementary school was 100% peanut free due to kids with severe allergies. We received numerous notices prior to the start of every school year to remind us/inform new parents. They sent lists of alternative nut butters that were approved instead. There was even an open house event that had samples of different nut butters so kids could try alternatives.

My kids school is supposed to be nut free and there are kids there every day with nuts in their lunchboxes!!! My own kid will only eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so we just tell him it’s sunflower seed butter and not to share it with other kids! The nut free allergy kids I know are smart and don’t eat anything from other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until your child gets to elementary school, high school, college and the work world. Are you going to tell your child’s roommates they can’t eat almonds?

Actually yes. We only will be able to send her to peanut free schools. In college she will have to request a peanut free roommate unless she grows out of it. And we’re working on it.

These don’t exist. Maybe preschools.

Good luck.

Yes, they do?!

My DD's public elementary school was 100% peanut free due to kids with severe allergies. We received numerous notices prior to the start of every school year to remind us/inform new parents. They sent lists of alternative nut butters that were approved instead. There was even an open house event that had samples of different nut butters so kids could try alternatives.

My kids school is supposed to be nut free and there are kids there every day with nuts in their lunchboxes!!! My own kid will only eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so we just tell him it’s sunflower seed butter and not to share it with other kids! The nut free allergy kids I know are smart and don’t eat anything from other kids.

I also have a kid who will only eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. We tried various meats and other good sources of protein, but for a kid with severe feeding issues that require OT, everything else is just too damn difficult for my kid to eat in the very very short lunch period. Nut allergy parents assume every kid can just eat something else and be fine and that only their kids have special snowflake problems. I really wish I had more empathy for nut allergy parents, but I have been dealing with my kid's neurological and feeding issues for too long and I am f'ing exhausted! Nut allergy kids are not my problem. I have enough problems.

[Anonymous]

Troll. Might as well say please don’t let kids eat anything anywhere in public!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until your child gets to elementary school, high school, college and the work world. Are you going to tell your child’s roommates they can’t eat almonds?

Actually yes. We only will be able to send her to peanut free schools. In college she will have to request a peanut free roommate unless she grows out of it. And we’re working on it.

These don’t exist. Maybe preschools.

Good luck.

Yes, they do?!

My DD's public elementary school was 100% peanut free due to kids with severe allergies. We received numerous notices prior to the start of every school year to remind us/inform new parents. They sent lists of alternative nut butters that were approved instead. There was even an open house event that had samples of different nut butters so kids could try alternatives.

My kids school is supposed to be nut free and there are kids there every day with nuts in their lunchboxes!!! My own kid will only eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so we just tell him it’s sunflower seed butter and not to share it with other kids! The nut free allergy kids I know are smart and don’t eat anything from other kids.

I also have a kid who will only eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. We tried various meats and other good sources of protein, but for a kid with severe feeding issues that require OT, everything else is just too damn difficult for my kid to eat in the very very short lunch period. Nut allergy parents assume every kid can just eat something else and be fine and that only their kids have special snowflake problems. I really wish I had more empathy for nut allergy parents, but I have been dealing with my kid's neurological and feeding issues for too long and I am f'ing exhausted! Nut allergy kids are not my problem. I have enough problems.

Selfish pig

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP. Please know that some of us give a damn and will not allow our kids to eat peanut snacks at the playground or on airplanes. It’s hardly a hardship. We just eat something else.

Take a lesson, Ghandi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until your child gets to elementary school, high school, college and the work world. Are you going to tell your child’s roommates they can’t eat almonds?

Actually yes. We only will be able to send her to peanut free schools. In college she will have to request a peanut free roommate unless she grows out of it. And we’re working on it.

These don’t exist. Maybe preschools.

Good luck.

Yes, they do?!

My DD's public elementary school was 100% peanut free due to kids with severe allergies. We received numerous notices prior to the start of every school year to remind us/inform new parents. They sent lists of alternative nut butters that were approved instead. There was even an open house event that had samples of different nut butters so kids could try alternatives.

My kids school is supposed to be nut free and there are kids there every day with nuts in their lunchboxes!!! My own kid will only eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so we just tell him it’s sunflower seed butter and not to share it with other kids! The nut free allergy kids I know are smart and don’t eat anything from other kids.

I also have a kid who will only eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. We tried various meats and other good sources of protein, but for a kid with severe feeding issues that require OT, everything else is just too damn difficult for my kid to eat in the very very short lunch period. Nut allergy parents assume every kid can just eat something else and be fine and that only their kids have special snowflake problems. I really wish I had more empathy for nut allergy parents, but I have been dealing with my kid's neurological and feeding issues for too long and I am f'ing exhausted! Nut allergy kids are not my problem. I have enough problems.

Selfish pig

Yes yes, your nut allergy kid is the specialist sneaux flake of them all.

[Anonymous]

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?

Good luck! People are selfish individuals, they don’t care wether your child
is allergic or not. It’s called LIFE. The good old days are over, sadly(thank your President for that.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry OP. Please know that some of us give a damn and will not allow our kids to eat peanut snacks at the playground or on airplanes. It’s hardly a hardship. We just eat something else.

To each it’s own. You care, good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until your child gets to elementary school, high school, college and the work world. Are you going to tell your child’s roommates they can’t eat almonds?

Actually yes. We only will be able to send her to peanut free schools. In college she will have to request a peanut free roommate unless she grows out of it. And we’re working on it.

These don’t exist. Maybe preschools.

Good luck.

Yes, they do?!

My DD's public elementary school was 100% peanut free due to kids with severe allergies. We received numerous notices prior to the start of every school year to remind us/inform new parents. They sent lists of alternative nut butters that were approved instead. There was even an open house event that had samples of different nut butters so kids could try alternatives.

My kids school is supposed to be nut free and there are kids there every day with nuts in their lunchboxes!!! My own kid will only eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so we just tell him it’s sunflower seed butter and not to share it with other kids! The nut free allergy kids I know are smart and don’t eat anything from other kids.

I also have a kid who will only eat peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. We tried various meats and other good sources of protein, but for a kid with severe feeding issues that require OT, everything else is just too damn difficult for my kid to eat in the very very short lunch period. Nut allergy parents assume every kid can just eat something else and be fine and that only their kids have special snowflake problems. I really wish I had more empathy for nut allergy parents, but I have been dealing with my kid's neurological and feeding issues for too long and I am f'ing exhausted! Nut allergy kids are not my problem. I have enough problems.

Selfish pig

This is obviously a troll post, but the idea that everyone must care about other people's children as much as they care about their own is so stupid. There is absolutely nothing selfish about a parent working themselves to exhaustion to meet their own child's needs and not having anything left over to accommodate some **hypothetical** stranger's child's needs. Do you go around whispering and never whistling because there exist children with sensory issues who react badly to certain loud noises? Do you forego deodorant and perfume because there exist children with sensitivity to fragrances? If not, you too are a selfish pig.

[Anonymous]

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?

Good luck! People are selfish individuals, they don’t care wether your child
is allergic or not. It’s called LIFE. The good old days are over, sadly(thank your President for that.)

That's right. They have their own children to worry about. That's life for you! What a crazy world we live in that there are other children besides OP's kids!

[Anonymous]

In life it has always been the majority rules. If your child/children has such a severe allergy then you should be home schooling.