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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here, and I have not read much of the thread. But as the parent of a kid in kindergarten, this is something I've thought a lot about.

I understand OP's request and why she would make it. If my child had a serious allergy, I'd of course worry about this too, and do whatever I could to protect my kid. That's what good parents do. I get it, I really do.

But here is the problem. I have a kid with ARFID who relies on nut butters and nuts to get enough protein. I expend a ton of energy worrying about my kid's diet. And what you are asking me to do is worry that some of the very few foods my kids will eat might leave a residue on her fingers that could be transferred to a piece of playground equipment and then harm your child.

I'm sorry, that's too much. It's too much! I have to worry about my own kid. Is the risk from a peanut residue actually that dangerous to your kid? If so, I think that like me, you need to take the responsibility for your child's unique situation on yourself -- wipe down equipment if you are concerned, have your kid wear gloves, even be ready to let other families at the playground know the situation so that they can make reasonable choices in the moment.

But to ask me to simply refrain from allowing my kid to eat one of a very small number of foods she will eat at the playground, especially when these foods are already not allowed at her school, is too much. I can't. I'd like to help you, but I can't. Just like you can't help me.

Good luck to you.

Why in God's name do all you people need to eat at the playground? Eat at your stupid nut butters at your *house*. Or at a restaurant. Or just keep it at the picnic table. This is not hard. NO ONE needs to eat on playground equipment. NO ONE. Not even your kid who only eats nut butters. NO ONE.

The real problem here is not that OP's kid has allergies or that your kid needs to eat nuts. It's that disgusting Americans feel they should be able to eat anytime anywhere and not clean up properly after themselves.

You all eating letting your little kids walk around with food all the time and everywhere are disgusting. YOUR kids are the ones learning to be entitled. Eat at home and then go. Or go and then come home and have your lunch. Are you traveling three hours to this playgrounds? WTAF????

I can’t believe it took 23 pages to get to this answer. Eating is for home or the picnic table. No one wants your toddler’s grubby hands smearing crumbs and cheese and yogurt and peanut butter and whatever else in God’s name they don’t need to be eating on playground equipment. No one needs granola bar wrappers and empty goldfish bags littered about attracting rodents. My kids have always known that snacks/meals are eaten sitting at the table (save for the occasional pizza and a movie night when we let them eat in the basement). I’ve seen the parents who bring backpacks full of snacks galore that they dole out as their kid wanders around shoving food in their mouth and it’s so gross. Can your kid not function without food on their mouth?

And yes I have an ADHD/ASD kid who struggles with textures and has preferred foods. He still has to eat them at a table like a functional human being.

This.

[Anonymous]

Why do kids need to eat while they are ON the playground equipment?

[Anonymous]

Nobody is eating on the equipment. This is a stupid strawman concocted by the nut allergy harpies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is eating on the equipment. This is a stupid strawman concocted by the nut allergy harpies.

No it isn't. There are a whole contingent of irresponsible, gross parents who think their sweet angel MUST eat whenever and where ever. Food doesn't need to be and shouldn't be consumed just anywhere. This is about basic common sense and hygiene. But they don't care.

The real problem is just lack of common courtesy and thoughtfulness.

And you're doubly gross for calling people "nut allergy harpies". Walk a day in their shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here, and I have not read much of the thread. But as the parent of a kid in kindergarten, this is something I've thought a lot about.

I understand OP's request and why she would make it. If my child had a serious allergy, I'd of course worry about this too, and do whatever I could to protect my kid. That's what good parents do. I get it, I really do.

But here is the problem. I have a kid with ARFID who relies on nut butters and nuts to get enough protein. I expend a ton of energy worrying about my kid's diet. And what you are asking me to do is worry that some of the very few foods my kids will eat might leave a residue on her fingers that could be transferred to a piece of playground equipment and then harm your child.

I'm sorry, that's too much. It's too much! I have to worry about my own kid. Is the risk from a peanut residue actually that dangerous to your kid? If so, I think that like me, you need to take the responsibility for your child's unique situation on yourself -- wipe down equipment if you are concerned, have your kid wear gloves, even be ready to let other families at the playground know the situation so that they can make reasonable choices in the moment.

But to ask me to simply refrain from allowing my kid to eat one of a very small number of foods she will eat at the playground, especially when these foods are already not allowed at her school, is too much. I can't. I'd like to help you, but I can't. Just like you can't help me.

Good luck to you.

Why in God's name do all you people need to eat at the playground? Eat at your stupid nut butters at your *house*. Or at a restaurant. Or just keep it at the picnic table. This is not hard. NO ONE needs to eat on playground equipment. NO ONE. Not even your kid who only eats nut butters. NO ONE.

The real problem here is not that OP's kid has allergies or that your kid needs to eat nuts. It's that disgusting Americans feel they should be able to eat anytime anywhere and not clean up properly after themselves.

You all eating letting your little kids walk around with food all the time and everywhere are disgusting. YOUR kids are the ones learning to be entitled. Eat at home and then go. Or go and then come home and have your lunch. Are you traveling three hours to this playgrounds? WTAF????

I can’t believe it took 23 pages to get to this answer. Eating is for home or the picnic table. No one wants your toddler’s grubby hands smearing crumbs and cheese and yogurt and peanut butter and whatever else in God’s name they don’t need to be eating on playground equipment. No one needs granola bar wrappers and empty goldfish bags littered about attracting rodents. My kids have always known that snacks/meals are eaten sitting at the table (save for the occasional pizza and a movie night when we let them eat in the basement). I’ve seen the parents who bring backpacks full of snacks galore that they dole out as their kid wanders around shoving food in their mouth and it’s so gross. Can your kid not function without food on their mouth?

And yes I have an ADHD/ASD kid who struggles with textures and has preferred foods. He still has to eat them at a table like a functional human being.

Oh, my. I do hope you come visit my playground soon.

Why? Are you having a potluck?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is eating on the equipment. This is a stupid strawman concocted by the nut allergy harpies.

No it isn't. There are a whole contingent of irresponsible, gross parents who think their sweet angel MUST eat whenever and where ever. Food doesn't need to be and shouldn't be consumed just anywhere. This is about basic common sense and hygiene. But they don't care.

The real problem is just lack of common courtesy and thoughtfulness.

And you're doubly gross for calling people "nut allergy harpies". Walk a day in their shoes.

Been taking my kids and nieces and nephews to playgrounds for decades and I cannot even recall the last time I saw someone eating while playing on the equipment. I have, however, been on the receiving end of a nut allergy harpy lecture, when my young charges were eating their snacks at the picnic tables, all of us minding our own damn business. Nut allergy harpies don't want you eating nuts anywhere on the park premises, which they seem to think they own.

[Anonymous]

Are nut allergy harpies overwhelmingly foreign or something? So much "ze stupeed Americains an zer noots! why do zey haf to it zer noots on ze playgroug aykeepmont" in these posts. As if nuts-based snacks only exist in America. Zut alors!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing that people are here claiming that nuts are the “only food” their kids can eat. BS. Have your child eat other foods, it’s not that hard

Nobody owes you an explanation of what their kids will or won't eat. Work with the park officials to make a nut free park because this is not the way. And as you know first it will be you with the nuts, then someone else with dairy, then the next person with wheat. it will never stop. You can't control others.

I am laughing at “what your kid will eat”. Be.a.parent. You people who let your kids run your whole house are unbelievable. Feed them some other foods.

I find this attitude weird. Look at all the adults with restricted diets you respect — vegan, kosher, gf— but kids should just eat whatever to satisfy your need to act like you’re some kind of extraordinary parent?

Yeah but those adults aren’t only eating five foods. If your child will only eat nuts, maybe they don’t want to live? Because they COULD eat something else, unlike the kids who are physically harmed by nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing that people are here claiming that nuts are the “only food” their kids can eat. BS. Have your child eat other foods, it’s not that hard

Nobody owes you an explanation of what their kids will or won't eat. Work with the park officials to make a nut free park because this is not the way. And as you know first it will be you with the nuts, then someone else with dairy, then the next person with wheat. it will never stop. You can't control others.

I am laughing at “what your kid will eat”. Be.a.parent. You people who let your kids run your whole house are unbelievable. Feed them some other foods.

I find this attitude weird. Look at all the adults with restricted diets you respect — vegan, kosher, gf— but kids should just eat whatever to satisfy your need to act like you’re some kind of extraordinary parent?

Yeah but those adults aren’t only eating five foods. If your child will only eat nuts, maybe they don’t want to live? Because they COULD eat something else, unlike the kids who are physically harmed by nuts.

Your attitude makes me want to bring all the nuts and nut products to the park. You're not helping your cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. You have to learn to be ruthless. As you can see, these people don’t care about your kid. They don’t care or she lives or dies. They only care about their child and their comfort.

So what do I do? Grab the snack and throw it out. I don’t care if I make an enemy out of every parent and nanny in the park. You will have to learn to aggressively put your child first because everyone around them won’t ever.

Let them be angry. My child’s right to life is more important than your kids snack.

I used to not understand the peanut allergy thing and honestly was annonyed by it but later on I realized how terrible that was. I didn't realize the severity. These child will be hurt and die if they get anywehere near peanuts, shouldn't we all be mindful of that? It's just 1 thing to avoid in teh presence of other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing that people are here claiming that nuts are the “only food” their kids can eat. BS. Have your child eat other foods, it’s not that hard

Nobody owes you an explanation of what their kids will or won't eat. Work with the park officials to make a nut free park because this is not the way. And as you know first it will be you with the nuts, then someone else with dairy, then the next person with wheat. it will never stop. You can't control others.

I am laughing at “what your kid will eat”. Be.a.parent. You people who let your kids run your whole house are unbelievable. Feed them some other foods.

I find this attitude weird. Look at all the adults with restricted diets you respect — vegan, kosher, gf— but kids should just eat whatever to satisfy your need to act like you’re some kind of extraordinary parent?

Yeah but those adults aren’t only eating five foods. If your child will only eat nuts, maybe they don’t want to live? Because they COULD eat something else, unlike the kids who are physically harmed by nuts.

Your attitude makes me want to bring all the nuts and nut products to the park. You're not helping your cause.

My kid doesn’t have a nut allergy. I just think it’s gross and selfish to eat on the equipment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. You have to learn to be ruthless. As you can see, these people don’t care about your kid. They don’t care or she lives or dies. They only care about their child and their comfort.

So what do I do? Grab the snack and throw it out. I don’t care if I make an enemy out of every parent and nanny in the park. You will have to learn to aggressively put your child first because everyone around them won’t ever.

Let them be angry. My child’s right to life is more important than your kids snack.

I used to not understand the peanut allergy thing and honestly was annonyed by it but later on I realized how terrible that was. I didn't realize the severity. These child will be hurt and die if they get anywehere near peanuts, shouldn't we all be mindful of that? It's just 1 thing to avoid in teh presence of other kids.

This is such an overstatement. People are not dropping like flies when they get anywhere near peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing that people are here claiming that nuts are the “only food” their kids can eat. BS. Have your child eat other foods, it’s not that hard

Nobody owes you an explanation of what their kids will or won't eat. Work with the park officials to make a nut free park because this is not the way. And as you know first it will be you with the nuts, then someone else with dairy, then the next person with wheat. it will never stop. You can't control others.

I am laughing at “what your kid will eat”. Be.a.parent. You people who let your kids run your whole house are unbelievable. Feed them some other foods.

I find this attitude weird. Look at all the adults with restricted diets you respect — vegan, kosher, gf— but kids should just eat whatever to satisfy your need to act like you’re some kind of extraordinary parent?

Yeah but those adults aren’t only eating five foods. If your child will only eat nuts, maybe they don’t want to live? Because they COULD eat something else, unlike the kids who are physically harmed by nuts.

Your attitude makes me want to bring all the nuts and nut products to the park. You're not helping your cause.

My kid doesn’t have a nut allergy. I just think it’s gross and selfish to eat on the equipment.

So tell people who are doing that when you see it. All the complaining here is useless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is eating on the equipment. This is a stupid strawman concocted by the nut allergy harpies.

You’d be surprised. The vast majority of parents don’t allow this, but in a large crowd there’s usually 1 or 2 giving the under 5 crowd a zip lock bag of trail mix or the like to tote around with them. I imagine the food allergy parents are more likely to be attuned to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is eating on the equipment. This is a stupid strawman concocted by the nut allergy harpies.

You’d be surprised. The vast majority of parents don’t allow this, but in a large crowd there’s usually 1 or 2 giving the under 5 crowd a zip lock bag of trail mix or the like to tote around with them. I imagine the food allergy parents are more likely to be attuned to it.

And I’ll add that I’ve never once had any “nut allergy harpies” yell at me for feeding my kid. But that is probably because I don’t allow my kids to toddle around with snacks. What are you people doing who are constantly getting told off by the nut allergy parents? Are they literally coming up and yelling at you for allowing your kid to have a picnic in the pavillion 20 feet from the playground equipment? I somehow doubt that. My bet is you got called out for your gross behavior and are salty about it.