Someone gave gluten to my gluten sensitive child

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm so sorry. I think it's okay -- no, important -- to take a stand on this issue.

Two parents in my child's multi-ate preschool/K school have partnered with the director to educate and execute. This means that the parents invited someone from I think the city health board (???) first to talk with the teachers about how important this is (photos, the works--once you see what happens to a kid with these problems, it's no longer a theoretical issue) and to give very clear guidelines.

Next, information went out to parents over email, again and again. Whenever an offending food is found, an email goes out to all parents so everyone knows that XYZ is not allowed. This isn't intended to embarass anyone, and the "perpetrator" isn't identified. The emails are to remind people and re-educate them. If Mr. A thinks a biscotti is okay, then there's probably a Ms. B and Ms C who are also unawares. This is ongoing. I think notes go into individual students' lunch boxes when it happens.

And finally, parents are invited to an allergy training at school. Again, pictures and so on will be used. If you care about your kid, you can imagine that all children are somone's little snowflake. It's helpful to have everyone on board.

Now, this is a private school, so the director can stipulate her own policies a bit easier, I think. The culture is generally one of inclusion and helpfulness. When one parent balked (but my Joen NEEEEEDS to eat nuts), I understand that she said that mother was free to disenroll her child. The director would rather not have that kind of stupid drama.

I love this idea! And I think the PPs who said "no big deal" and "you're THAT mom" would be the ones being invited to enroll their kids elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

It's tough. One child in my DC preschool had a nut allergy. She always brought in her own snack and was told to eat only her snakc. Most of the time it was fine but one day as parents were setting up for party, the child sat down at another child's place and took a bit of a crackers before anybody could stop her. crackers (not brought in by me) had been produced in a facility with nuts. I went to tell the mother who was at the party who got very irritated (I think she thought I brought in the treats plus was worried). Child was about 3.

My point is that with a large number of kids, things happen even with parents trying their best to follow the rules. Maybe you should wait until your DC is a bit older and knows not to touch any food except her own.

[Anonymous]

If this is a preschool where the other children will have offending snackyou will either need to request your child sit separately from others or right beside a teacher. They may not have "given" her anything but she took something off another napkin or another shared. 2.5 years is far too young for her to monitor herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm so sorry. I think it's okay -- no, important -- to take a stand on this issue.

Two parents in my child's multi-ate preschool/K school have partnered with the director to educate and execute. This means that the parents invited someone from I think the city health board (???) first to talk with the teachers about how important this is (photos, the works--once you see what happens to a kid with these problems, it's no longer a theoretical issue) and to give very clear guidelines.

Next, information went out to parents over email, again and again. Whenever an offending food is found, an email goes out to all parents so everyone knows that XYZ is not allowed. This isn't intended to embarass anyone, and the "perpetrator" isn't identified. The emails are to remind people and re-educate them. If Mr. A thinks a biscotti is okay, then there's probably a Ms. B and Ms C who are also unawares. This is ongoing. I think notes go into individual students' lunch boxes when it happens.

And finally, parents are invited to an allergy training at school. Again, pictures and so on will be used. If you care about your kid, you can imagine that all children are somone's little snowflake. It's helpful to have everyone on board.

Now, this is a private school, so the director can stipulate her own policies a bit easier, I think. The culture is generally one of inclusion and helpfulness. When one parent balked (but my Joen NEEEEEDS to eat nuts), I understand that she said that mother was free to disenroll her child. The director would rather not have that kind of stupid drama.

Wow, difficult situation all around. I understand both perspectives, including the "need to have nuts" perspective. Some children have diabetes and sometimes they need to quickly ingest protein or else they'll become ill. I have an autoimmune disease, and the same thing applies to me. Nuts are easy because they don't have to be refrigerated and don't spoil quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


Wow, difficult situation all around. I understand both perspectives, including the "need to have nuts" perspective. Some children have diabetes and sometimes they need to quickly ingest protein or else they'll become ill. I have an autoimmune disease, and the same thing applies to me. Nuts are easy because they don't have to be refrigerated and don't spoil quickly.

Wait, this is such a crazy comment. You with a severe health disorder understand unecessarily putting other people at a health risk?? There are so many forms of protein that could be eaten in the situation you described and if there are nut-allregic kids around, frankly there can't possibily be a situation in which someone "needs to have nuts" so bad that they put those other kids at risk.

It would just be so much easier at schools if we all agreed to help eachother take care of ALL our kids. If that means no nuts or no crackers or no hitting or no guns or no bullying or whatever, I just don't understand how ANY parent can object to creating safe school environments even if it means you can't have your favorite food during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers can only do but so much. You have to drill it into your young children to only eat what is in their lunch box. Not what Sally is having or what Johnny is offering. Unless you want them to move your child to sit alone during meal times. If your child is not old enough to understand, I would ask to have them sit alone to eat. Better safe than sorry.

Do you even have children?! This is absurd! First of all, most preschools provide students a snack. Second, a 2 or 3 year old is not going to understand the complexity of a gluten free diet! Most adults do not understand a gluten free diet! Hell, not even Whole Foods can stock their gluten free freezer section correctly!! It is very complex diet because it is a protein found in wheat, barley, malt, spelt. Gluten is used as an emulsifier in many foods. Did you know the chocolate used in Starbucks drinks contains gluten? Did you know soy sauce has gluten? What about imitation crab?! Seriously, it isn't easy. My child with Celiac has developed a food phobia because of food making him sick. He is 5 and will not eat at friends' houses. He also will freak out if someone eats a regular sandwich near him. This phobia was made worse by his preschool giving him a graham cracker. So yes, my son's teachers have to be on the ball but that's why I pay tuition. I know a public school teacher would have your attitude! Being gluten free is isolating enough without further isolating the children at snack or lunch time. All school activities revolve around food, which my son cannot participate.

If you really want to hear something crazy, I also have Celiac. I am so sensitive I cannot eat gluten free breads/muffins/cereals because they all contain trace levels of gluten! Gluten free items are not 100% gluten free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, OP already said the school knows about the sensitivity. Also, you are DCUM's worst nightmare, b/c you don't read; you just attack.

Her kid has a health issue, for Pete's sake.

Exactly. WTF, to the prior poster? She's upset. Her kid is still small. And sick.

Besides an inability to read OPs post, have a little compassion. Even if it is not how you would handle it. And, if you can't do that, then just be quiet. No one is interested in your nastiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers can only do but so much. You have to drill it into your young children to only eat what is in their lunch box. Not what Sally is having or what Johnny is offering. Unless you want them to move your child to sit alone during meal times. If your child is not old enough to understand, I would ask to have them sit alone to eat. Better safe than sorry.

Do you even have children?! This is absurd! First of all, most preschools provide students a snack. Second, a 2 or 3 year old is not going to understand the complexity of a gluten free diet! Most adults do not understand a gluten free diet! Hell, not even Whole Foods can stock their gluten free freezer section correctly!! It is very complex diet because it is a protein found in wheat, barley, malt, spelt. Gluten is used as an emulsifier in many foods. Did you know the chocolate used in Starbucks drinks contains gluten? Did you know soy sauce has gluten? What about imitation crab?! Seriously, it isn't easy. My child with Celiac has developed a food phobia because of food making him sick. He is 5 and will not eat at friends' houses. He also will freak out if someone eats a regular sandwich near him. This phobia was made worse by his preschool giving him a graham cracker. So yes, my son's teachers have to be on the ball but that's why I pay tuition. I know a public school teacher would have your attitude! Being gluten free is isolating enough without further isolating the children at snack or lunch time. All school activities revolve around food, which my son cannot participate.

If you really want to hear something crazy, I also have Celiac. I am so sensitive I cannot eat gluten free breads/muffins/cereals because they all contain trace levels of gluten! Gluten free items are not 100% gluten free.

OP here. I'm so sorry to hear that, PP I hope your son gets over the fear of food.

It breaks my heart to keep DD from participating on the activities. She can't play with playdoh, she can't do fingerpaint, she has special markers and crayons, it's not easy, and we don't even have celiac. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you guys.

I'm on an elimination diet because we found our infant's colics were also due to gluten and dairy sensitivity so I'm not eating any of it. DH is still trying to grasp the seriousness of it all and will sometimes come home eating offending food. DD will ask for a bite and we have to go through the whole conversation all over again

Like a PP said, we pay tuition for several reasons and picking a school that took allergies seriously was our number one priority. This school seemed very good on this aspect since they're a completely nut free environment and said they would accommodate any special diet. DD is sleeping 16 hours straight because of exhaustion, is not eating well because her tummy hurts an obviously has very low energy. I hate to see her like this.

I'll definitely talk to them on Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers can only do but so much. You have to drill it into your young children to only eat what is in their lunch box. Not what Sally is having or what Johnny is offering. Unless you want them to move your child to sit alone during meal times. If your child is not old enough to understand, I would ask to have them sit alone to eat. Better safe than sorry.

Do you even have children?! This is absurd! First of all, most preschools provide students a snack. Second, a 2 or 3 year old is not going to understand the complexity of a gluten free diet! Most adults do not understand a gluten free diet! Hell, not even Whole Foods can stock their gluten free freezer section correctly!! It is very complex diet because it is a protein found in wheat, barley, malt, spelt. Gluten is used as an emulsifier in many foods. Did you know the chocolate used in Starbucks drinks contains gluten? Did you know soy sauce has gluten? What about imitation crab?! Seriously, it isn't easy. My child with Celiac has developed a food phobia because of food making him sick. He is 5 and will not eat at friends' houses. He also will freak out if someone eats a regular sandwich near him. This phobia was made worse by his preschool giving him a graham cracker. So yes, my son's teachers have to be on the ball but that's why I pay tuition. I know a public school teacher would have your attitude! Being gluten free is isolating enough without further isolating the children at snack or lunch time. All school activities revolve around food, which my son cannot participate.

If you really want to hear something crazy, I also have Celiac. I am so sensitive I cannot eat gluten free breads/muffins/cereals because they all contain trace levels of gluten! Gluten free items are not 100% gluten free.

OP here. I'm so sorry to hear that, PP I hope your son gets over the fear of food.

It breaks my heart to keep DD from participating on the activities. She can't play with playdoh, she can't do fingerpaint, she has special markers and crayons, it's not easy, and we don't even have celiac. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you guys.

I'm on an elimination diet because we found our infant's colics were also due to gluten and dairy sensitivity so I'm not eating any of it. DH is still trying to grasp the seriousness of it all and will sometimes come home eating offending food. DD will ask for a bite and we have to go through the whole conversation all over again

Like a PP said, we pay tuition for several reasons and picking a school that took allergies seriously was our number one priority. This school seemed very good on this aspect since they're a completely nut free environment and said they would accommodate any special diet. DD is sleeping 16 hours straight because of exhaustion, is not eating well because her tummy hurts an obviously has very low energy. I hate to see her like this.

I'll definitely talk to them on Monday.

I see where you both are coming from. My sympathy to all of your situations. When you talk to the teachers, I think you both have to realize that just as it is hard to teach your own children what to avoid. It will be just as hard if not harder to teach the entire class of two and three year olds what not to give Johnny or Sally. Sally could have celiacs. Johnny cannot have gluten. Paul and Sam cannot have peanuts. The list will go on and on. I would ask that the class be told not to share lunch foods or other snacks. The teachers really have control over what is taught but it is the kids who have to remember it.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you an overly anxious person? Are people in real life constantly telling you that you are over-reacting? Do you get upset when your DH, MIL, Pediatrician, constantly dismiss your concerns? Does this happen to you a lot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is old enough to learn to eat only the food you pack

Seriously?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, are you an overly anxious person? Are people in real life constantly telling you that you are over-reacting? Do you get upset when your DH, MIL, Pediatrician, constantly dismiss your concerns? Does this happen to you a lot?

No, not really. Actually DH just got mad at me because something happened, I thought it was not a big deal and didn't tell him and he learned about it through someone else. But thanks for trying to diagnose me over the internet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is old enough to learn to eat only the food you pack

Seriously?!

Right? LOL

I think the PP doesn't have kids or never had a 2.5yo around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is a preschool where the other children will have offending snackyou will either need to request your child sit separately from others or right beside a teacher. They may not have "given" her anything but she took something off another napkin or another shared. 2.5 years is far too young for her to monitor herself.

OP, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter and hope that she is feeling better soon. My DD is also 2, and while we don't face allergies, I can only imagine how I'd be feeling if she were so sick and in pain.

Unfortunately, I think advice like the above is probably your best bet. Schools can take allergies very seriously, and teachers can be committed to that philosophy. With a ratio of anywhere from 1:5 to 1:8 kids in the class, even the most loving teacher can't keep her eyes on a single child at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I ask if you have done anything other than the stickers? Like actually inform the staff that she is THAT sensitive? Stickers on a lunchbox are really not enough. Other kids cannot read, remember?

OP seems a bit dramatic, so I am sure EVERYONE was well informed.

+1