Peanut Butter Rules

[Anonymous]

This was inspired by the other thread asking about peanut butter before daycare.

I recently met two friends and their children at the park for a picnic. We are decently close and have spent many playground play dates together. One mom brought PB&J sandwiches for her two preschoolers. Honestly, I was somewhat shocked since I thought it was a universal ‘no-no’ to consume peanuts in public. It was a pretty day so there were lots of people there and like most kids, our kids would go from eating to the playground and back throughout the course of the lunch. I am beginning to think this friendship should fade since she is so blasé about such a dangerous food. Would you have asked her to put away the sandwich? We had extra cheese and crackers and veggies that her kids could have had (and we offered), but she said they love their PB&Js. Would you take peanut butter to a park?

[Anonymous]

Yes. And yes.

[Anonymous]

Of course it’s ok to eat a peanut butter sandwich at the park. To end a friendship over this is really weird. Tons of kids are also allergic to gluten, tree nuts, etc. so none of that at the playground either? Presumably the kid isn’t opening up the sandwich and finger painting the playground equipment with it.

[Anonymous]

I would take peanut butter to a park and my kid eats it on a bench and we wipe her hands and mouth and she runs off to play. Not sure if it matters but she's severely underweight (off the charts), and her eating plan specifically requires her to eat peanut butter.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely ok to bring peanut butter to a park.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t have even noticed.

[Anonymous]

The considerate thing is not to bring PB to a park. Even trace amounts can cause a reaction in those very sensitive. Surely a kid can go one lunch without PB - substituting something else, so as not to take the chance.

[Anonymous]

OP back: the other thread had people saying that they don’t allow their kids to eat PB in the morning before daycare since it could transfer from clothes or hands. There was no hand wiping going on here and 3 year olds aren’t dainty eaters. Would you bring an extra shirt if they got dirty with it to ensure you didn’t cross contaminate? Unlike pine nuts or gluten, a kid can become dangerously sick though simple contact.

[Anonymous]

I would, and I have. My kid is not allowed to run around with food--she has to sit and eat, and then I wipe her hands and face. She's not carrying a PB&J on the equipment.

And if you would end a friendship over this...well, your "friend" will have a narrow escape.

[Anonymous]

Omg, you people are insane.

[Anonymous]

So let me get this straight, no peanut butter in the AM before daycare/school. No peanut butter at school. No peanut butter at the park. So, when can you eat peanut butter? At night? That is non-sense. Wash/wipe down your hands and that is just fine.

[Anonymous]

Some kids have allergies. My friend's kids are severely allergic to shell fish and gluten. She does not expect anyone to stop consuming those allergens in public. Instead, she educates her children about what they can and cannot eat.

[Anonymous]

I have a peanut allergic child and yes, I think it's ok to bring a PBJ sandwich to a park.

Just follow some commen sense and it's all fine.

As the parent of a child with the allergy, I do not suffer any illusions that everyone else in the world is thinking about this and using every possible precaution. That is just delusional and also, not fair. That's why my kid has an epi-pen. On the slim chance that an exposure like this would cause a problem, I have a way to deal with it.

[Anonymous]

I would just wipe my child's hands/face with a wipe after eating (and would do this for anything probably not just PB). I wouldn't let my kid hand his sandwich to someone else without finding out if it was okay, of course, but otherwise, it's a public playground.

Ending a friendship over this is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg, you people are insane.

This. OP, please phase out the friendship. The other mother has no need for a "friend" like you.