Peanut Allergy Considerations...

There was a child that came to the kids room at my gym. This mom was so terrified to leave him in the kids room because he had a peanut allergy. She explained that he was so severe that if he had skin contact with a nut protein he would go into anaphylactic shock.

She went on to explain that if another child had PB&J or Reese's peanut butter cup, etc, played with a toy and then her son played with the toy her son would have an allergic reaction.

She only came twice I think because we used hand sanitizer and she informed us that it would not dissolve the protein :-(.

This poor woman. I always reflect back on her when considering kids and food allergies.

I think parents know best, so if you could contact the parent and maybe come up with a plan for her child?

First, I think it is amazing that you are thinking of this child and doing everything to include him or her. I think that is really sweet.

I do cake decorating as a side business. I have to turn away most orders for peanut allergies. When I explain to new clients, that I am not technically a nut free facility (my daughter eats peanut butter and we snack on nuts), most choose another option for their child, even though I offer to sanitize everything. The possibility of cross contamination in my kitchen could be an issue for someone with a severe allergy. Just something to consider. I would check with the parent, if possible.

You can also buy the child with an allergy a prepackaged item as a treat. We've done that, too. One of the kids in DD's class can't have eggs so he gets a sealed (small) package of Oreos anytime there's a treat.

We had a birthday and a child came with a peanut allergy.

I went to the trouble of finding foods of every type (snacks, cakes, etc.) fine for this child - and in the end, the mom came with her own food for them.

I was relieved. Because as others have mentioned, something you use could have come in contact with a nut. I was hyper vigilant (not wanting any kind of disaster for this poor kid) - but I liked her approach.

She said they were used to it, and child would not be upset in least. Would rather be safe than just have what everyone else did.

Maybe talk to the mom. I think it's great (really considerate) that you are going to these lengths - but for their particular child, may not be safe enough for their standards.

Good luck :)

My daughter's class had a severe peanut allergy this year and so I always baked from scratch when I sent something in. I didn't have any problems…or I guess I should say the student didn't have any problems!

Most of your basics will be fine, but I would check the label on the cocoa to be sure. Dye is probably fine too, but again check the label.

Most sprinkles are manufactured in a facility with peanuts so stay away from those, although I did find some at Target that were big cube shapes made by Wilton and they were fine. Also, avoid M&Ms too.

It's thoughtful of you to check. I would err on the side of safety here and not assume your cupcakes are OK despite the lack of nuts.

There's a blog called "The Nut-Free Mom" that has a post titled "Please don't bake for my allergic child" that gives some good examples of why having nut-free ingredients is well-meant but isn't enough. Seek that out and it'll explain why you can't be sure your treats won't cause a reaction even if every ingredient is nut-free and every pan has been scoured.

Ask the teacher to tell the parents of the allergic child that there will be a treat that day and ask THEM to send in a chosen treat just for their child. That's what the blogger recommends, for the parents to provide their own child's item, and I saw it in my kid's classroom when she was younger. The allergic kids brought their own goodies when their parents knew it was a day when treats were being brought in. The kids with allergies do understand -- they learn pretty young these days to eat only what they bring themselves, so there shouldn't be hurt feelings.

My grandson is peanut allergic. well all nuts allergic. he is not allowed to eat anything that anyone brings into the school unless it is wrapped from a store and has the ingredients list on it.

Can you guarantee that none of your ingredients came into any contact with nuts. were they in a cabinet where peanuts may or may not have been stored? were they on a shelf that peanut butter may have spilled out of? Did you use a spoon or cake pan or dish that you previously made peanutbutter cookies, pecan pie, almond biscotti?

It is super scary to be the child who has this allergy. My grandson has had to be taken to the hospital twice for allergic reactions. his throat closes up he breaks out in hives its awful. epi pens help but it is still so so scary. so no homemade goodies for him.

Most schools do not allow home made goodies you should check.

I don't have peanut allergy, but have tree nut allergies. I am fine with things processed in facilities that have nuts. However, I have found out I am allergic to real vanilla as well, as in anything like french vanilla ice cream that has vanilla bean in it. Allergies can be tricky, so you do have to be careful.

I couldn't even bake peanut free stuff as they said that included what I use to bake it with- pan, etc..

Look at the labels to see if it says "made in a facility that processes peanuts" or something similar.

What guidance has the school or teacher given you? Usually they have very specific guidelines from the child's doctor. Sometimes that means you can't even prepare the foods in your kitchen if you also have peanuts at home, sometimes it means you can provide foods from your home, sometimes it means you can only provide purchased foods from a certified nut-free facility.

you are a sweetheart.
can you contact the mom and ask her directly? it may be that her kid just needs to have a packaged certified allergen-free treat.
my younger has developed a host of allergies to some fruit and nuts, but so far not life-threatening. he feels the tingle and stops eating it. but we're lucky- he's an adult now and the allergies have developed slowly. some kids are so violently allergic that i don't know how their parents cope, as you never know what contact anyone out in the world has had with allergens.
without knowing the degree of this child's problem, it's hard to say. i'm betting the mom would appreciate a quick conversation about it.
khairete
S.