My kid has so many allergies that I can't even try to control what people do. It makes no sense. My husband and I have zero allergies. We grew up abroad where people do not have allergies. We definitely do not "over-sterilize" anything. I never use disinfectant wipes or any strong detergent. My kids have always played outside. One proven contributor is the use of antibiotics in utero or in infancy. I would think wealthy Americans use go to the doctor more frequently and use more antibiotics and other prescription drugs than poorer Americans or people in less developed countries. I did have to use lots of antibiotics when I was pregnant with my and she has 30+ anaphylactic allergies. I wouldn't be surprised if the use of tylenol and ibuprofen was also a factor.

Op sorry people are horrid and heartless. Playgrounds are public spaces that belong to everyone but some people (adults and kids) get so territorial and violent over what they view as “their” space to do as they please.

You are merely asking people to think about how their snacks eaten in the play space could harm little kids who put everything in their mouths, while people are acting like you came to their house and demanded they throw out all their nut products.

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.

I imagine your lives are very difficult. But you know even if all of us agree to your request, cross our hearts and hope to die, it won’t change your lives. Nothing in this world is ever perfect - whether it’s the person who refuses to comply, because we know from the fact that our jails are full that some people will never comply, or the piece of trash that accidentally blew out of a neighbor’s trash can and contaminated the area. Your frustration is misplaced and you need to let it go.

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 they do- where do you live? My kids dont have allergies but eldest is in 7th and I have never, not once, been able to pack her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch or Nutella. She will yell at me and remind me if I forget. And I've lived in both the district and the midwest. In the Midwestern city the church in the north shore suburbs packed sunflower butter seed sandwiches to hand out to homeless ppl (it is more expensive but peanut allergies are very common) b/c too many people that they serve couldn't have peanut butter. Dont worry OP- these ppl are MAGA jerks, they should move to FL, even in Indiana/WI/Iowa you'll be able to find a nut free environment for your child pretty easily.

Are Bamba the official snack food of MAGA jerks? Just wondering.

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 they do- where do you live? My kids dont have allergies but eldest is in 7th and I have never, not once, been able to pack her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch or Nutella. She will yell at me and remind me if I forget. And I've lived in both the district and the midwest. In the Midwestern city the church in the north shore suburbs packed sunflower butter seed sandwiches to hand out to homeless ppl (it is more expensive but peanut allergies are very common) b/c too many people that they serve couldn't have peanut butter. Dont worry OP- these ppl are MAGA jerks, they should move to FL, even in Indiana/WI/Iowa you'll be able to find a nut free environment for your child pretty easily.

Honestly, I think this thread has been overtaken by foreign bots or right wing trolls. It's a very strange barrage of insults and visceral hate for kids with allergies. I've noticed an uptick in extremist takes written in similar style on other threads. Not sure what is going on but DCUM has definitely taken a turn.

Anonymous wrote:OP. You have to learn to be ruthless. As you can see, these people don’t care about your kid. They don’t care or she lives or dies. They only care about their child and their comfort.

So what do I do? Grab the snack and throw it out. I don’t care if I make an enemy out of every parent and nanny in the park. You will have to learn to aggressively put your child first because everyone around them won’t ever.

Let them be angry. My child’s right to life is more important than your kids snack.

That’s assault against a child. Hope you have a lot of money for legal bills.

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 they do- where do you live? My kids dont have allergies but eldest is in 7th and I have never, not once, been able to pack her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch or Nutella. She will yell at me and remind me if I forget. And I've lived in both the district and the midwest. In the Midwestern city the church in the north shore suburbs packed sunflower butter seed sandwiches to hand out to homeless ppl (it is more expensive but peanut allergies are very common) b/c too many people that they serve couldn't have peanut butter. Dont worry OP- these ppl are MAGA jerks, they should move to FL, even in Indiana/WI/Iowa you'll be able to find a nut free environment for your child pretty easily.

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line: nobody cares about your kid except you. Figure out how to live in a world full of peanuts.

+1
You deal with it, not us

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rich people's problems. We lived out of the country for 10 years before returning to DC and this is not a situation happening anywhere else but here, an allergy to a common food so severe a kid may die by merely touching the residue of it!! Maybe non-American kids are made of stronger stuff.

Same in the Midwest.

Huh, one of my college friends from Iowa in the 1980's had that kind of peanut allergy.

How do you explain that?

Anonymous wrote:Rich people's problems. We lived out of the country for 10 years before returning to DC and this is not a situation happening anywhere else but here, an allergy to a common food so severe a kid may die by merely touching the residue of it!! Maybe non-American kids are made of stronger stuff.

Same in the Midwest.

Rich people's problems. We lived out of the country for 10 years before returning to DC and this is not a situation happening anywhere else but here, an allergy to a common food so severe a kid may die by merely touching the residue of it!! Maybe non-American kids are made of stronger stuff.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is allergic to penicillin. We’re starting therapy when she’s 4. OP really needs to read these comments. There’s no need to live like an insane person policing every other person on earth. Get immunotherapy. I also really like the gloves suggestion! That’sa great idea I hope OP read. Just keep some single use latex gloves for playground visits.

I do think OP’s demands are unreasonable, but I also hate the constant-eating families. WHY does your child need to have a snack in their hands at all times? It’s gross and messy. I hate the unnecessary food debris in all kids spaces. I also hate that the snack kids ruin the vibe for everyone else. Once snack kid shows up, all the other kids who were previously happy playing just want snacks and the activity is ruined. Snack families are the worst.

You are the worst

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bottom line: nobody cares about your kid except you. Figure out how to live in a world full of peanuts.

I would have phrased it more gently, but pretty much this. You (and eventually your kid) have to figure out how to navigate this in a world that just isn't going to be as careful as you are.

I think it's the nut allergy parents that have really been coddled. My kid is nut and dairy allergic ( bad genes I guess! I have seasonal allergies and eczema, DH has asthma). Every kid centric place around my liberal town is nut free, but never dairy free. We just learned how to be flexible and over prepared. Can you imagine if I told my kids preschool that no kids could bring in dairy to the classroom because of my kids allergy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree. I have one child with anaphylactic allergies to peanuts and pistachios, and another without. We are always mindful to eat cleanly in public spaces so as not to pose a threat to others, or my own son.

It’s the plane that’s terrifying. Even with two Epipens. People eating nuts and no way for the plan to land in time.

I thought airplanes stopped passing out peanuts? I haven't received peanuts on an airplane in years.

I received them over the summer on an airline.