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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:DD is pooping blood I called the doctor and she said definitely someone fed her gluten/diary.

Darn it.

Should I talk to them in person or write an email? I'm so upset!

Talk to them. As rationally and reasonably as you can. Important to let them know how upset you are, but also important for it to be a two-way dialogue, not just you attacking them. These people take care of your child and you want them to do a good job, be loving, kind, etc. You need to develop a positive relationship with them, so that you can trust them and they can care about you and your child.

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thanks to the PP who explained about the issue.

DD is anemic - thalassemia - and it usually takes her 4 weeks to get over an exposure. Our main concern is that while she's getting over the inflammation she gets even more anemic and it's 4 weeks of horrible symptoms.

The school has everything, the list of safe and non safe items, her doctor's note, my note to the teachers and the stickers all over her lunchbox.

Anyway, PP's behavior only comes to prove how little the regular population knows about food allergies/sensitivity and how careful we must be to keep our children safe. While people are still ignorant about the dangers of food and cross contamination, nut free schools are no exaggeration IMO.

BTW, DD came home that day saying something like "yummy crackers mommy" and I didn't really understand what she meant since I packed her fresh fruit for snack that day, but know I'm wondering if she ate crackers from another child.

+1.

DD is pooping blood I called the doctor and she said definitely someone fed her gluten/diary.

Darn it.

Should I talk to them in person or write an email? I'm so upset!

We can never win, right? If we don't give enough details we get slammed if we do we get slammed anyway.

OP, please report back about your conversation with the preschool

Wow I don't have a child with allergies or any food issues and I still think the OP has every right to be upset. Now should she go in there and throw a fit without first talking with them and getting some more information no. Who knows kids at this age still put everything in their mouths and her daughter may very well have taken another child’s food without the teachers even knowing about it. still no need to crucifier for her being upset.

I love the people who act like it is no big deal and tell OP thinks like “on you are that parent.” Yes, it's not like a nut allergy where the kid could die on immediate exposure but still would you want to see your child horribly ill for a few days or weeks because of it? Seriously people on here throw a fit if you say you gave you’re kid formula or let them CIO yet they think it is no big deal that a poor kid ate gluten and had diarrhea all night. Have a little sensitivity people and put yourself in someone else shoes for once!

Anonymous wrote:Now why would you throw in your daughter's "yummy crackers" comment as an aside in your 2nd post. Seems this part is critical to the story.

+1 to this and the PP.

OP, this totally sucks and I'm sorry. Unfortunately, at this age in a preschool setting, I think it is difficult for teachers to monitor absolutely all food intake, since it basically means isolating your daughter during snacktime or watching her like a hawk. I would just mention this incident to her teachers, say your daughter was talking about eating a cracker and then got sick, and ask them if they think it's too much for them to handle at this age and whether you should postpone preschool or find a more allergy-friendly one.

My child has egg allergies (not severe) but when he has come home with suspect poop or rash, I don't see any problem with a gentle reminder to the teachers-- hey I think little Aiden may have some egg/gluten etc at some point yesterday. We don't know if it was school or he got into something at home but we thought it was a good opportunity to remind everyone about his diet. Does he like to share food with his friends? Etc.

My son has food allergies with sevre reactions. When he was little, slip ups happened more than once with other parents in the class and even teachers sometimes. Very frustrating to say the least.

I would definitely ask the teachers both about them giving her something and your daughter possibly sharing with another child.

I drilled into my son constantly you can only eat from me, Dad, and certain other adults who i knew would always be vigilant.


Good luck and hope she feels better.

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure she didn't grab another kid's food?

That was my first thought, too. Not that someone gave OP's kid food but that her kid somehow got ahold of something another kid was having.

Now why would you throw in your daughter's "yummy crackers" comment as an aside in your 2nd post. Seems this part is critical to the story.

And once again we get "the rest" of the story several posts later after the OP takes heat. Why didn't you include the tidbit about "yummy crackers" to begin with? That's a rather important detail, don' t you think?

6:59 here. Wanted to add that you should ignore the stupid posters on this thread! They are clearly uneducated and do not understand what a medical diet entails. Just because you don't go into anaphalatic shock and need an epi-pen, doesn't mean that oh it will pass. I know because my dad who has Celiac is currently losing his battle to cancer after many years of exposure to gluten. It messes up your entire system and there is no easy way to "reboot"!