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

[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.

We will occasionally bring snacks but I make my kids sit at the picnic table or bench to eat. But last week we ran into a few of DS’ classmates there and apparently one of the moms starts passing out lollipops. I was with our younger DC and then looked up to see all these kids running around and climbing with lollipops in their mouth , including DS who knows better. Made him go sit to finish but seriously people!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

We will occasionally bring snacks but I make my kids sit at the picnic table or bench to eat. But last week we ran into a few of DS’ classmates there and apparently one of the moms starts passing out lollipops. I was with our younger DC and then looked up to see all these kids running around and climbing with lollipops in their mouth , including DS who knows better. Made him go sit to finish but seriously people!

Omg what a safety hazard! What was that mom thinking.

[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, of course they exist. My kids go to nut-free daycare and elementary schools and even peanut-free camp (and no, we did not seek those out. Those happen to be the rules.)

[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, of course they exist. My kids go to nut-free daycare and elementary schools and even peanut-free camp (and no, we did not seek those out. Those happen to be the rules.)

They do exist - but research shows they don't reduce the incidence of severe reactions to peanuts in schools. The only thing that does that is specific peanut free tables in schools. I think that demonstrates why OPs request is useless. People can change behavior for a specific child or specific table but it is hard to change behavior in general for the hypothetical.

Signage in the park OP frequents might help.

And no I don't let my child eat snacks while playing on the equipment. (In fact I get annoyed at all the people who leave their leftover snack garbage floating around the playground because my toddler will find it and start eating the leftovers.) My pet peeve is if you are going to eat at the playground - clean up after yourself!!

[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.

LOL I feel the same way sometimes when I see all the over-the-top hatred and arrogance coming from these food allergy harpies. But they are not representative of food allergy parents by a long shot. They are just a tiny insane vocal minority who seek to control everyone. Most food allergy parents have a firm grip on reality and know that they are responsible for teaching their kids how to avoid their allergens.

[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.

You're triply gross for being a harpy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

No. Just anticipating free entertainment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You're triply gross for being a harpy.

All of this

[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.

LOL I feel the same way sometimes when I see all the over-the-top hatred and arrogance coming from these food allergy harpies. But they are not representative of food allergy parents by a long shot. They are just a tiny insane vocal minority who seek to control everyone. Most food allergy parents have a firm grip on reality and know that they are responsible for teaching their kids how to avoid their allergens.

Yep. Having a kid with a life-threatening allergy is scary and takes vigilance and a lot of education (parents educating their OWN children so that they will not consume the allergens when out of parental control). I think the majority of parents whose kids have food allergies are reasonable, rational, normal people. The tiny percentage who make their kids' allergies their entire identity and take every opportunity to go off on people do a massive disservice to every kid with a food allergy out there.

[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.

You have an unhealthy relationship with food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You're triply gross for being a harpy.

except...I'm not. Just someone who has more compassion from other people, unlike you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL I feel the same way sometimes when I see all the over-the-top hatred and arrogance coming from these food allergy harpies. But they are not representative of food allergy parents by a long shot. They are just a tiny insane vocal minority who seek to control everyone. Most food allergy parents have a firm grip on reality and know that they are responsible for teaching their kids how to avoid their allergens.

Yep. Having a kid with a life-threatening allergy is scary and takes vigilance and a lot of education (parents educating their OWN children so that they will not consume the allergens when out of parental control). I think the majority of parents whose kids have food allergies are reasonable, rational, normal people. The tiny percentage who make their kids' allergies their entire identity and take every opportunity to go off on people do a massive disservice to every kid with a food allergy out there.

And the OP is not one of those people. She's asking not to eat on the playground equipment. Not don't ever eat nuts ever anywhere.

And many of us have agreed that eating on playground equipment is gross regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL I feel the same way sometimes when I see all the over-the-top hatred and arrogance coming from these food allergy harpies. But they are not representative of food allergy parents by a long shot. They are just a tiny insane vocal minority who seek to control everyone. Most food allergy parents have a firm grip on reality and know that they are responsible for teaching their kids how to avoid their allergens.

Yep. Having a kid with a life-threatening allergy is scary and takes vigilance and a lot of education (parents educating their OWN children so that they will not consume the allergens when out of parental control). I think the majority of parents whose kids have food allergies are reasonable, rational, normal people. The tiny percentage who make their kids' allergies their entire identity and take every opportunity to go off on people do a massive disservice to every kid with a food allergy out there.

And the OP is not one of those people. She's asking not to eat on the playground equipment. Not don't ever eat nuts ever anywhere.

And many of us have agreed that eating on playground equipment is gross regardless.

Never seen anyone eating on the playground equipment in all my time taking kids to the playground. Either OP is in da ghetto where parks don't have picnic tables, or is the obnoxious attention-seeking sort of allergy parent who looks for trouble where there is none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You're triply gross for being a harpy.

except...I'm not. Just someone who has more compassion from other people, unlike you.

Funny that you think you have compassion when judging other people's parenting and calling them gross while mocking their "sweet" angel. You're so full of yourself. You don't have a shred of concern for anyone but yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL I feel the same way sometimes when I see all the over-the-top hatred and arrogance coming from these food allergy harpies. But they are not representative of food allergy parents by a long shot. They are just a tiny insane vocal minority who seek to control everyone. Most food allergy parents have a firm grip on reality and know that they are responsible for teaching their kids how to avoid their allergens.

Yep. Having a kid with a life-threatening allergy is scary and takes vigilance and a lot of education (parents educating their OWN children so that they will not consume the allergens when out of parental control). I think the majority of parents whose kids have food allergies are reasonable, rational, normal people. The tiny percentage who make their kids' allergies their entire identity and take every opportunity to go off on people do a massive disservice to every kid with a food allergy out there.

And the OP is not one of those people. She's asking not to eat on the playground equipment. Not don't ever eat nuts ever anywhere.

And many of us have agreed that eating on playground equipment is gross regardless.

I think it's debatable that she's not one of those people. You can't control the behavior of other people at a public playground (unless they are doing something blanantly illegal). You can control what you teach your own kid with allergies about how to interact at a playground (or find a safer alternative for them if the local playground is full of peanut butter-handed kids). It's also gross to change a diaper on a eating surface like a picnic table but I see that all the time too.