ADVICE Regarding Peanut Allergies

[Rudy0003]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum. I am a daycare provider (out of my home) for 3 little boys. One of the boys was just diagnosed with a peanut allergy last Friday and I am nervous about it. I normally provide all meals and snacks for the children but am concerned about his peanut allergy.

I asked his mom if she could start bringing his snacks and lunch every day now that he has this allergy and she seemed irritated by it. She said it would be a hassle because she doesn't have time and doesn't cook. I couldn't believe how little she seemed to care about her son! You'd think she would want to protect him!

Anyway, I am insisting she bring ALL his food from now on. Is this ok? I have 3 children of my own who are in school all day so my house is NOT a peanut free zone and it won't be.

Questions:
1. Is it ok to ask her to bring all of his food?
2. Should I have her sign some type of agreement that she will bring it?
3. Should I have her sign anything (to cover my butt) in case something happens?

Thanks!!!

Jennifer

[momofboys]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum. I am a daycare provider (out of my home) for 3 little boys. One of the boys was just diagnosed with a peanut allergy last Friday and I am nervous about it. I normally provide all meals and snacks for the children but am concerned about his peanut allergy.

I asked his mom if she could start bringing his snacks and lunch every day now that he has this allergy and she seemed irritated by it. She said it would be a hassle because she doesn't have time and doesn't cook. I couldn't believe how little she seemed to care about her son! You'd think she would want to protect him!

Anyway, I am insisting she bring ALL his food from now on. Is this ok? I have 3 children of my own who are in school all day so my house is NOT a peanut free zone and it won't be.

Questions:
1. Is it ok to ask her to bring all of his food?
2. Should I have her sign some type of agreement that she will bring it?
3. Should I have her sign anything (to cover my butt) in case something happens?

Thanks!!!

Jennifer

As the mom of a child (SA) who does have a peanut allergy I am surprised that the mom's attitude is so nochalant. I would insist she bring her own food but you do need to be concerned about people in your house who consume peanut products. I would make sure SHE gives you the protocol that the dr has written up for how to react in case the child has a problem. My son needs written directions signed by the dr at school every year. You also need to have an Epipen at your home & be shown how to use it in case there is a problem or he has a reaction.

[Ariana]

I assume the child has an epi pen? Do you know how to use it? This is the most important thing you need to know. Either get the mom to show you or attend a class.

It's actually pretty easy to eliminate peanuts from your home and buy foods without peanuts. Even if she's providing the food you won't be able to serve peanuts or things with peanuts to the other kids. Peanut allergies are very serious and even smelling it can cause a reaction. It wouldn't be worth the hassle to me so I'd just eliminate it altogether. For example if you fed your child peanut butter toast in the morning you'd have to make sure he brushed his teeth and washed his hands thoroughly before touching anything in your house. You'd also have to wash everything on the table that the PB touched etc. You have t be very careful as the oil is very toxic.

[countrymom]

first, you need to find out what kind of allergy it is. Is it a peanut or tree nut allergie. What happens if he eats it, touches it, smells it.
Its not hard to have a peanut free zone. Just don't serve anything with peanuts or touch it. Its even rare we eat anything with peanuts here (and we have no one allergic, just my choice) are you giving her a discount because she's bringing her own food.

[Rudy0003]

Thanks. Should I have them sign a release of liability in case something happens?

Do daycare providers normally have these for accidents or allergies, etc..???

[BigMama]

One of my DCB's was diagnosed with a peanut allergy this past fall. I did the following to accommodate him:
-We no longer serve peanut or peanut products. Instead of peanut butter we serve sunflower butter.
-I had DCB's mom bring in a plate, bowl, cup, and utensils that are strictly for DCB. This is to help ensure that there is no cross-contamination.
-We already have a "no outside food" rule but I put a "peanut-free zone" on my door to remind everyone that they cannot bring nut products inside and that if their child had peanuts before daycare they must immediately wash their hands and brush their teeth.
-My own children still eat peanut butter outside of daycare hours. We keep the peanut butter in a separate cupboard. We use disposable knives when serving it so they can immediately be tossed away. Any surface that peanuts/peanut butter were served on are immediately disinfected.
-We have a separate jelly jar for daycare so there is no cross-contamination.
-DCB does have an EpiPen at daycare at all times. His mother and I also have an emergency plan written out so we are in agreement about what I will do if he does have an allergic reaction.
-I check and double check all labels. If I am not sure I check with his mom and/or don't serve the food. When I first heard that he was allergic to peanuts I thought it would be extremely difficult to go nut-free. With all of the awareness, information, and products available now, it hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be.
Because your DCB is so newly diagnosed, his mom may not be aware of how serious peanut allergies can be. I would definitely sit down with her and discuss a plan. Part of the plan should include a note from the doctor indicating how an allergic reaction should be handled.

[MsMe]

I haven't read all of the responces yet (I will later) but I want to reply very quicky..

My youngest brother has a PB allergy and I have one DCB who also has a sensitivity.


If you are not willingto go PB FREE in your home then I you need to terminate services. PB allergies are not always just from ingesting peanuts, touching and even smelling pb can cause a DEADLY reaction.

[Ariana]

Thanks. Should I have them sign a release of liability in case something happens?

Do daycare providers normally have these for accidents or allergies, etc..???

I'm not 100% sure but even if she were to sign something you could still be held liable if you were aware of his allergy and he was exposed to the substance. Maybe someone else can comment on this.....

I don't have any parents sign this for allergy or accident reasons. I'm not sure how valid they are in court.

[REWALKER04]

I agree you will probably have to go peanut free in your house because of it. And if its not that sensitive of an allergy that the parent doesnt think you need to do that then I think you should give her a discount if she is providing all of her own food!

[momma2girls]

I would insist on her bringing everything for the child. It is such a HUGE risk these days. There are some that are deathly allergic to anything touching, breathing in, etc. with peanuts!! If you look at labels of every snack, many, many are labeled made on lines with peanut products. The co. has to protect themselves. It is not fun, when you are actually looking at labels on everything!!

[MsMe]

Thanks. Should I have them sign a release of liability in case something happens?

Do daycare providers normally have these for accidents or allergies, etc..???

Please realize that an "accident' regarding a peanut allergy = DEATH in many cases.

If you are not going to take ALL nessicary steps to make your daycare a safe place for him then PLEASE PLEASE do not risk his life.

*I am in no way say you HAVE to make any changes you don't want to to. If you want to keep PB in your program it is completly up to you, I just don't recomend that you possibly risk the life of your DCB. A PB free program is not for everyone.

[Meeko]

Ask the mom how severe the allergy is. I once had a child who was allergic to peanuts, but only if he ingested them. The child next to him could eat peanut butter and it wouldn't cause a reaction.

He once reached out and took a bite off another child's plate (he was 18 months old!) His outer mouth area got red and splotchy, but that was all. But it scared me. What if he had been deathly allergic? Kids are quick and he grabbed the food before I could stop him.

I was more than willing to serve him something different....but to be honest, I would not take a child who had a severe allergy. I could not guarantee that other kids wouldn't come with peanut butter on their clothes, in their mouth etc. and I couldn't count on the parents to tell me if they had just had any nuts.

Too much of a risk for me to be willing to take.

[momma2girls]

Ask the mom how severe the allergy is. I once had a child who was allergic to peanuts, but only if he ingested them. The child next to him could eat peanut butter and it wouldn't cause a reaction.

He once reached out and took a bite off another child's plate (he was 18 months old!) His outer mouth area got red and splotchy, but that was all. But it scared me. What if he had been deathly allergic? Kids are quick and he grabbed the food before I could stop him.

I was more than willing to serve him something different....but to be honest, I would not take a child who had a severe allergy. I could not guarantee that other kids wouldn't come with peanut butter on their clothes, in their mouth etc. and I couldn't count on the parents to tell me if they had just had any nuts.

Too much of a risk for me to be willing to take.

I feel the same way and I am a nurse. I have peanut butter in the house, and who knows what others could come in with, have it on their breath, etc. way too much liability for me- I once has someone call me on a fructose allergy- this little girl couldn't have any fructose at all. I told her I was so sorry, but I couldn't take on that huge liability.

[Daycaremomof2]

My policies state that any children with a food allergy must bring their own food, no exceptions.

You don't want to be the one making that 911 call- don't let the mom bully you into it, because I promise you if something happens, you will be the first one to be blamed.

[saved4always]

My daughter who is 9 years old has a peanut allergy. The first time she had a peanut butter cracker that my friend gave her. She had a few hives on the trunk of her body. Each time she has had something with peanuts in it, she has a worse reaction. The last one was a few years ago when she had one bite of a cookie with peanut butter in it. Her lips swelled, she has trouble breathing, she vomited, and she got hives all over her body. We ended up at the hospital where they gave her epinephrin. Luckily, she only seems to be affected if she eats a food that actually contains peanuts or peanut butter as an ingredient. She doesn't react to foods that have been produced in a facility that processes peanut product.

A peanut allergy is very serious. My daughter has an epipen here at home as well as at school. They have to take the epipen on field trips. There is a form I have to fill out for the school each year on which pediatrician details what the school should do in case my daughter has a peanut reaction. If the doctor prescribed an epipen, the parents should bring you one, too, in case he has a reaction. And, if you use it, you are supposed to take the child to the ER as a precaution. I would also not even serve peanut products like peanut butter if I were you. It does not take a large amount of peanuts to have a reaction. I do not serve any peanut products to my dck's even thought my daughter is at school when they are here. I do not even want to take the chance that they may smear peanut butter on something my daughter touches and then puts her hand to her mouth. Once you see the reaction that happens when a child has as a result of eating peanuts, you'll do anything to prevent it happening again.

Oh...and I would tell the other parents about the allergy, too. I once had an older dcg give my daughter a piece of candy that had peanuts in it. This was right after I found out she was allergic...luckily, my daughter did not eat it.