Hello - Our daughter has severe egg and nut allergies. I’m thinking ahead to the issue of preschool - looking for advice as to how you deal with this situation? Our daughter will be ready to start in the fall, and I know she will love it, and I don’t want to keep her from it either, but I am terrified at the thought of snack time alone - the thought of other kids eating harmful food around her is just terrifying, it’s hard enough getting family and friends to understand how serious this is. I guess i’m just looking for any advice on how other Moms have dealt with this, what you have found that preschools do in order to protect your child from food allergies, etc. Thanks!
Food allergies can be quite concerning and it will just have to be your comfort level that determines whether you will be sending your child to a particular school. Part of that assessment will be how they handle her allergies. You can take classes at the park district or library classes with other kids where you know they will not be serving snacks - at least for the next year or two. She doesn’t necessarily have to go to preschool. Is she aware that she CANNOT eat any other kinds of foods without permission? If you trust that she wouldn’t sneak other foods, then consider preschool. Then, make sure to always have an epi-pen at that school, make sure all the teachers are aware of her allergies, and how she will react to an allergen and the correct emergency response to take. You can always have an “extra” snack at school for those times that the children get a special treat, so that she is not left out.
Regarding the nut allergy - is she allergic just when she ingests the nut or is it so severe that she physically cannot be NEAR nuts? Can she eat snacks that are “made in a facility that processes nut products?” These are things the teachers will want to know. Nut allergies have become so common that a lot of schools ban them for snacks and discourage home-made treats too.
I’m sure that your daughter will learn to say “no” to snacks that she hasn’t been given permission (by you) to have. That can be hard for a young child. Once you trust that she won’t try to sneak a bite and you find a school that amply addresses your concerns , then you can consider sending her to preschool. Good luck to you.
Amanda, I own a foreign language school that works with many of the local preschools and daycare centers. While I am sure you are scared, I can tell you that every school we contract with has specific rules and regulations regarding children and food allergies. They are used to dealing with it and are very cautious. I would say the schools would understand it better than friends and family because they deal with it every day. I agree with the other poster that you should include that category in your interview of every school.
Do you have a certain area in mind? I can definitely recommend some of the schools that I know to be extra good at this issue. Let me know if you want some names. Good luck. Paula [email protected] or 847.997.6438
You will need to understand the school’s policies and how they are enforced. Our preschool is completely nut-free and my son’s classmates have multiple allergies. The teachers and aides are trained to use epi-pens, which are in the classroom. There’s an allergies list posted on the wall of the classroom. Snacks from outside have to be storebought and in the package with ingredients list.
And I don’t even have a child with a food allergy - this is just what I’ve noticed from having a kid in the classroom. Our preschool is NAEYC-accredited, if that helps.
My son attended Bright Horizon daycare in Wheaton and they had many precautions in place for kids with food alergies. They even had stickers on the door that said “No Nut Zone” The school did provide a snack for the kids, always nut free, but I don’t know about eggs. I also know that certain kids did have epi-pens at the school, they were kept at the school in case of emergency. You probably already are, but you might need to get used to always providing/sending your daughters snack. Good luck in your search.
Real quick-
-The smaller the school, the better
-Write it on ALL paperwork, all the time and in big block letters and highlight it
-Make sure it is on the outside of whatever folders/info the teachers and admin have on her so it is always the first thing they see if they are reaching for info on her
-Discuss it w/everyone- teachers, staff, admin, parents, etc. and offer educational materials/flyers to other parents, etc. Do the legwork w/a smile and they will be glad for you to do it.
-Most schools have peanut free zones. Make sure they have big signs posted on the door of school and classroom doors (provided by you if necessary)
-pack her own snacks and lunches. Forbid her to take treats or snacks, etc from anyone. Educate her.
-Make sure they have up-to-date emergency #s, an epi-pen jr, and benadryl on hand, and know exactly what symptoms to look for and what to do
-take a deep deep breath and realize that she has to go out into the world and there is only so much you can do 
hugs,
Manda
ETA- they also have little bracelets/necklaces and things (I would opt for bracelet, b/c necklaces unless they are breakaway can get caught on playground… that tell allergies and other med info. You can probably find a cute one for her online if you google it, or they sell them at Walgreens that you can print up yourself and pop the info into a small charm thing.
At our preschool the parents of children with allergies, brought their own snack. Snacks with nuts were not allowed in class. Our kids went to Prairie Path Preschool in Wheaton.
I can understand your fear. My son was allergic to eggs. While not deathly allergic, it still caused some significant health issues for us. And it was incredibly upsetting how many people violated his diet restrictions.
His preschool, which was fully aware of his allergies, gave him seven pieces of French toast one morning, and called me in a panic to ask if they should rush him to the hospital. (He was not exhibiting symptoms yet.) They also gave him EGG NOODLES a few days later because “they don’t really have egg in them, do they?”
Never assume something will be obvious.
Never assume that others have common sense.
Our preschool posted a schedule of snacks and meals that were to be served each week, which I reviewed. I highlighted dangerous foods, and brought alternatives. Be warned though, they often make last minute changes to the schedule. (When they served him French Toast, that was a substitution for hot cereal that was made that morning, and I was never informed about it. A worker that came in late discovered my son eating it and called me.)
At the elementary school, he was given cakes and cookies a couple times a month. They “forgot.” They also expressed to my husband on one occasion that they gave him cookies because “they know the poor kid doesn’t get them at home.” (Which wasn’t true, by the way. I had egg-free recipes that I made for him, plus store brought brands that didn’t have eggs.) Neighbors used to sneak him cake and cookies too, for the same reason. And they had been told of his allergies. It was very frustrating.
It helped when I would supply the school with safe alternatives for him. I’d give his teacher alternative snacks, not only for snack time, but also for birthday celebrations. Those were the biggest problems! Someone would bring in cake or cupcakes, and they would automatically distribute them to everyone!
Another irritation is that the school staff didn’t know what contained egg. Mayonnaise, salad dressing, French toast, and any other food or condiment that isn’t readily known for containing egg can be a huge problem. I gave lists of common foods that contain egg, and had them post it on the wall. Any time I saw a new staff member, I automatically reviewed the list with them.
I highly recommend you pack your own meals, and keep the staff constantly informed about the allergies, and provide them with stockpiles of snacks and such to give as alternatives.
It helped a lot when my son started to know which foods were acceptable and which were not. He often brought home cookies and treats he got at school, to double check with us before he ate them. Sometimes, however, the temptation for a birthday cake was too great, and he ate it anyway.
My advice to you would be to not trust that the diet will be followed. Whenever possible, provide your own food. And provide plenty of alternative snacks for the unexpected school celebrations. Never let the supply run out, and monitor the supply yourself to be sure it doesn’t run low. Keep the school informed, and keep on them. Get tshirts and buttons that declare your child’s nut and egg allergy:
http://shop.cafepress.com/allergy
http://www.allergicchild.com/allergy_related_products.htm
http://foodallergies.about.com/od/livingwithfoodallergies/qt/allergyclothing.htm
http://www.miztees.com/a/allergy.htm
Be very wary around ALL holidays. Reward your daughter significantly for bringing you suspect snacks that are given to her.
Meet with the principal or other school official and ask for their assistance in protecting your child. They may have dealt with this before and might have good ideas for you. Find out who will be responsible for informing substitute teachers about your child’s allergies. Check locally or online and see if there are support groups for parents of allergic kids, and look for ideas and support there.
Good luck!
I am sure I am repeating info, but at our son’s preschool there are no snacks allowed that contain certain ingredients. Do not think that the teachers will not help you out in this situation. Make sure you educate them on what is bad and good for your daughter. Her experience will be just fine. This is the year to do it because then there is Kinder…1st…and so on! Good Luck!
I worked at 2 different preschools before staying a home with my children…and they handled food allergies very seriously. I think you should talk with the preschool and if they don’t have a plan of what they do…look for another school. A good preschool has a policy of how to handle food allergies. I’m sure you will fine a good school.
Hi Amanda! I can completely relate to your fears. My daughter is severely allergic to dairy and eggs. She is 2 1/2 and currently attending a montessori school for 2 days/week for 2 hrs each day. I was so weary about where I could take her for the social interaction with other children (without me) that she so much craves at this age. I talked to the principal and the staff and they are wonderful. I leave a box of crackers at her school as a back up snack. They will usually have fresh fruit for snack but if they have something else then they give her the crackers. Also, whenever they have a “special snack” brought to class they always ask me to look at the ingredients to verify if she can/can’t have it. If she can’t then they save it for a day when she is not there. They very much discourage unhealthy snacks like cookies and cakes so it has been easier for me. When it is a child’s b-day they can bring in a fresh fruit to share with the class which it great. I always keep in touch with the teachers and keep them updated.
When we go to parties and stuff I talk to the other kids about not giving her food because it will make her sick. It may not be a bad idea to talk to the kids in her class about allergy awareness. There are alot of great childrens books dealing with allergies that approach the situation in a good manner.
As for preschool for us in the fall I haven’t made any decisions on where she will go because we may be moving out of our area. I plan on visiting many school, asking them about their allergy policies and also to make sure that there are other families at that same school with a child with food allergies that I can speak to. Parent referral are very important in this situation!
I wish you all the best:)
I work currently at an elementary school. I have worked at 2 elementary schools in the Plainfield area. I have seen the kids with the severe peanut allergies. The schools I have worked in were prepared for the severe food allergies. There are certain teachers who have knowledge of the allergies and those teachers are given the peanut allergy kids. One of the schools that I worked at- A mother was very concerned for her kindergartner and his allergy. She came in to talk to the class to let the kids know how dangerous it was for him to even be near someone eating peanut products. Notes go home to all parents saying there is a peanut allergy. There usually is sign put up saying this a peanut-free room. The mother I dealt with had bought some signs that said Peanut-free zone. We made a table in the lunch room that was peanut free and put the signs out. The lunchroom supervisors would check the lunches of anyone who wanted to sit at the table. The mother came in to the lunchroom when he was in first grade to help the first couple weeks just during her sons luchhour. When she saw how cautious everyone was- she stopped coming and always thanked us for taking care of her son. I would just talk to the school and let them know your concern and find out what precautions that have in place. Hope this helps.
Hi Amanda:
My son is in 3-year old preschool and one of his classmates has severe peanut allergies. The school made all parents in the class aware of the allergy and the classroom is peanut free. The school and all of the preschool parents have taken the allergy very seriously. Obviously, the school you choose for your daughter will surely be dependent on the school’s position regarding this situation.
Best of luck!
Margaret
My two attend Fox Valley Montessori in Aurora and it is completely nut free and they are really on top of it! This is their first week there and I’ve been to a few preschools since my oldest is six and they are the most aware and concerned school I’ve seen.
Go to foodallergy.org and print out an allergy action plan. Have your Dr. sign it. Talk to the preschool director and see what measures they take to keep your child safe. I can’t imagine that in today’s day & age that a preschool wouldn’t be prepared for these issues. If you feel that they are uncooperative, then you should find a new preschool. Otherwise, there’s a program that you can elect to have sent to the school on the food allergy website that will educate them on the issues.
My 8-yr old son has a severe nut allergy also and I have found that the administrators are very aware of the risks and are willing to work with me on all of the issues. I do take responsibility for alot (providing snacks, extra wipes, etc.). And I feel that the more willing you are to do your part, the more understanding the school staff are.
Good luck!
We have two students at school with peanut allergies (I’m a teacher), one of whom has an airborne nut allergy. At lunch time, they sit with their friends that don’t have peanut butter sandwhiches at a table next to the other kids.
As for snacks/the other kids… the other kids are very understanding of this.
As for pre-school, it is my understanding that they take extreme precautions in regards to this.
I’m a teacher whose kids have fatal nut allergies; they can’t even smell nuts without a reaction, or touch a kid who’s touched nuts.
I say talk to the teacher(s) and explain the seriousness. I guarentee yours is not the only child they’ve had with severe allergies. But as a teacher I appreciate talking to the parent.
Does she have an epi pen? Does she wear it or keep it in a bag with her picture on it and instructions and stuff? Be sure to mention that.
*Note the people who work at the preschool will know how to use an epi pen but it’s always good to have the instructions there and emergency numbers just in case.
Really I wouldn’t worry too much; teachers are so used to these issues now. At my school every single lunch period before anyone starts eating we ask the kids if anyone brought nuts (even though we’re nut-free) and if anyone brought htem we call their parents to remind them we’re nut-free, and the kid with the nuts must eat them at a separate table.
Amanda,
My son has allergies to wheat, eggs, milk, barley, tree nuts, and peanuts. He even has reactions if he comes into skin contact with these allergens. Ex: If I touch bread and don’t was my hands before touching him. He’ll get hives. If we kiss him after eating something, he gets hives. I was terrified to send him to preschool, or even a babysitter. I enrolled him in Fox Valley Park District preschool at the Eola Comm Center and there are 3 kids in his class that have to have Epi Pens for allergies! Three out of 14. His teachers have been excellent in dealing with the issue. Because parents rotate bringing snack, I simply bring his own snack each day because he has so many allergies. He can have their juice if they bring it. His allergies were identified before he was 1 year so he’s very used to eating different things from everyone. We tell him the bad foods will “hurt his belly” and he’s very aware of that now–and will tell people it will hurt my belly if it is not one of his safe foods. The teachers sit by him during snack time and they have them all wash hands after eating to make sure the allergens aren’t carried to any toys, tables, paintbrushes, etc. Parents can’t bring snacks with peanuts or snacks that were processed in a peanut plant. At orientation they talked about it and gave copies of labels to show examples. So we are a peanut free classroom.
He can’t play with Play-dough brand playdough since it is made w/ wheat flour, so I found some Rose Art brand for everyone and they use that. The teachers wouldn’t even have the Playdough brand out by chance he get into it.They were that concerned. He’s not ever had an outbreak there and he’s been there since August. I had always been afraid to put him in daycare and last year he had to be in a home for 9 months. The sitter was extremely cautions and followed the handwashing after eating thing, and the kids didn’t have food or drink to carry around (they only ate at the highchair or table) and he had no problems there either.
I have found in this area that preschools are generally great about dealing with the issues. Just tell them exactly what they can/cannot do and they usually strictly adhere to that. At least this preschool does. During crafts where they use food to glue onto things, they always accommodate him and the other 2, and then follow the handwashing after. Ex: they were gluing little choc. chip cookies onto a cookie jar cutout and since he can’t touch them, he glued brown foam circles on to look like cookies.
It can be challenging, but they have adjusted to it in their daily classroom just like we have with our daily life. People always say it has to be so hard, but really it’s just avoiding those foods and finding things he can eat, and washing hands a lot!
Hope this info helps!
Kim
My daughter attends preschool with some kids with severe allergies as well. To help with snack time, one of the moms of kids with allergies made a list of the snacks that are safe. She put brand name and everything. The other moms who are affected also looked it over. We are very fortunate to have a list like this. My kids have no allergies so I was clueless about ideas. This list is amazing. We go to the store and I know which brands and what flavors the little ones can have. Our preschool has kids bring in snack a couple of times a year. The list helps everyone be careful for the kids and still have fun snacks.
Speak to her teacher. Maybe she can seat your daughter in front where the teacher can keep an eye on her.