Reply to Son has multiple food allergies: daycare vs in home care vs nanny

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[quote=Anonymous]Hello, my daughter, who is now 3, was diagnosed with eczema and food allergies at 5 months. We've done all the tests over the past three years with some great allergists at Children's National (skin every 6 months, IgE blood draws yearly, and food challenges) -- all positive and likely none of the allergies to be outgrown. She's allergic to all dairy, eggs, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, and mustard - and her allergic reactions can occur with ingestion or by mere contact. She always carries and epi-pen, has an ample supply of benadryl at preschool, and we obviously bring our own food to school.

Our daughter started daycare at 9 months and although nothing is as safe as your own house, she has thrived under the care of some very loving and allergy aware teachers. Since she could talk, she has asked if things have dairy in them (she pretend reads labels to look for her no-no foods) and she tells her teachers when she feels itchy and needs some benadryl. Her teachers at her school are fantastic -- they know the warning signs for her allergic reactions, treat her proactively and carefully, and roll with the quirky punches that comes with having a child with multiple allergies and all the related issues that come with it (eczema, etc). Does it make me nervous when I come in during snack and my daughter is sitting in between two sweet, but sloppy kids eating yogurt and drinking milk? Yes, but you can't keep your kids in a bubble  - the world if full of peanuts and cheese! -- and as a result of my daughter & her teachers being vocal and educating the kids about food allergies, her classmates are more aware and mindful of being safe so everyone can have fun and learn. I love it when I see one of her fellow 3-year old friends say, 'hold on, I'll hug you after i wash my hands. I had cheese.'

It is certainly scary having a child with food allergies, but it's definitely doable to have your child actively engaging with other children in a safe and inclusive preschool/daycare environment -- you just need to find the right place that understands allergies, but isn't fearful of the child or how to safely include them into the daily school activities. My daughter loves going to school and we don't let her allergies restrict her need to be a kid and learn and play with other kids her age.

Good luck! [/quote]

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