Peanut Butter

[Guest]

Hello:

I'm new to forum and a relatively new Dad.
My wife and I needed to place our 1 1/2 year old in day care recently.
THe provider gave him peanut butter :confused: and he had an allergic reaction.
He is ok, but we can't reconcile the fact that it happened.

Our pediatrician said to wait until he is 3 yrs old before introducing, so we were following his advice. THe provider didn't call 911 because although his face and lips were swollen he was still breathing ok. We picked him up and took him to ER for treatment.

Being a 1st time parent I sometimes think I'm over reacting?
We are also struggling with whether to finding a new provider or not?

Thanks in advance for any insight, comments or suggestions

[MN Mom]

Unless your provider knew he was allergic, they had no way of knowing what would happen. My kids have been eating peanut butter since they could chew and swallow. Also...an allergic reaction rarely happens on the first introduction of the offending allergen. The body needs time to react and produce anti-bodies first. So, more than likely, your son has had peanut butter, or peanut processed food products before.

Unless you had told the provider to NOT give him foods processed with peanut products...they had no idea what would happen to your son. I'd try to work with them on his food needs. If they are unable and unwilling to work with you, that is when I would look for a new provider.

As a first time parent, things like this can be very scary. Just relax, calm down, and try to go with the flow. As much as we'd like to protect our little darlings 100% of the time...it's just not possible. Things will happen, kids get hurt, its part of the learning process for both parent and child! Hang in there! By child number 2, 3, or 4 little things will be less likely to phase you. =)

Good Luck! Keep us posted!

~Rachael

[fctjc1979]

I agree with MN mom. I wasn't entirely sure by your post, however, whether the provider called to let you know or if you noticed at normal pick up time. If she called you right away, she did alright. If she took no action and just waited for the normal pick up time, I would be concerned about the level of care your child is receiving.

[QualiTcare]

umm, i think it's INSANE that she gave him peanut butter.

yeah, my kids ate peanut butter before they were supposed to, but they were my kids.

the ONLY way i'd give someone else's kid peanut butter is if the mom/dad told me that they had been eating peanut butter for some time with no reaction.

she should've known better.

[Jakenite]

THank you for the replies.
We hadn't mentioned it as a known allergy since he's never had any signs prior. We were thinking since peanut butter is a life threating allergy for some children, why even risk it?
They did call us after they noticed the reaction. We didn't want to over react and called the pediatrician. They didn't seem too concerned, but the ER mentioned internal oragans also get swollen and he should have been seen ASAP. We were scared when we picked him up because his head looked like a balloon and his eyelids where slits.
We think the only exposure he has had would be airborne as we haven't actually given it to him orally.
You make a good point, kids get hurt, stung by bees, etc. and it could have happened sooner or later.

[MN Mom]

umm, i think it's INSANE that she gave him peanut butter.

yeah, my kids ate peanut butter before they were supposed to, but they were my kids.

the ONLY way i'd give someone else's kid peanut butter is if the mom/dad told me that they had been eating peanut butter for some time with no reaction.

she should've known better.

So, she should have had the foresight needed to KNOW this kid was going to have an allergic reaction? We are supposed to be mind-readers AND have the ability to see into the future too?? Wow...if I had those abilities I would NOT be in the business of childcare.....

Foods processed with peanuts are so common. PB sandwiches are a traditional food served to children for lunch. Its high in protein and complex carbohydrates, which makes it a great food to serve for those who use high amounts of energy (IE; children). I would never give a second thought to serving peanut butter to children UNLESS I was told otherwise by the parents.

For you to say the provider was insane for doing so is a pretty bold statement. If that is true..I, too, must be insane as well as a good chunk of the other providers on this forum.

[fctjc1979]

Jakenite, sorry, I misread your post. 1 and 1/2 IS too young for a daycare provider to give peanut butter without asking parental permission. I gave my daughter peanut butter the first and second time on days where I was driving down town near the hospital anyway. That way, if she had a reaction, we were already nearby. But I would never make that kind of decision for someone else's 1 and 1/2 year old.

[Pammie]

First of all, I'm glad that your son is okay, and personally, I don't think that you are overreacting at all.

Contrary to what a previous response stated, a child can react to a peanut allergy on their first exposure. Usually the reaction to the first exposure is milder compared to any subsequent exposure to peanuts. So in your child's case, should he be exposed to peanuts again, his reaction is most likely to be much more severe. Hopefully the ER and your pediatrician have explained all of this to you, and you now have knowledge to handle an allergic reaction complete with epi-pens for your son, at home and at your daycare.

Also, regardless to what a provider may give to their own children, giving peanut products to an 18 month old, in my opinion, should never happen. And your pediatrician's advice to wait until 3 years old, seems to be the current standard protocol - and your daycare provider should know this.

My own personal opinion is that I would actively search for new daycare. Your current provider had two serious lapses in judgment - first giving your child peanut butter without checking with you if he had had it before, and then not calling an ambulance (the reaction could have quickly escalated to a breathing emergency-and there is no way that she could have predicted that it wouldn't). Do you trust her judgment in the future?

My best wishes for you and your family,
Pammie
(I have 23 years in the daycare business, and have cared (and currently have in care )for children with allergies including those to peanuts)

[jen]

I don't think that the provider was "insane" however, personally, I don't serve peantbutter first, no matter how old a child is. I just ask if they've had it, if not I don't serve it.

I can't say I've ever had a child who hasn't had peanutbutter before the age of 3.

[DBug]

I'm thinking that looking for a new provider might be the best idea too. If a child had a reaction like this one (swelling up), no matter what the stimulus was (or what I thought it might be), I would call an ambulance. Yes, I live in Canada and don't have to fork out extra money for it, but I don't think that should be a consideration. The provider should have made sure the child was seen by a doctor regardless of what the parents said. Allergic reactions can progress so quickly, it's a gamble I wouldn't want to make. Good grief, my kids have been taught at school how to recognize anaphylactic shock -- it's something everyone should be constantly on guard for.

As well, I've always understood that the general rule is to not introduce nuts or nut products for the first two years of life, and the later the better. I am concerned that this provider was okay with giving peanut butter to a child that isn't even 2 yet.

[QualiTcare]

So, she should have had the foresight needed to KNOW this kid was going to have an allergic reaction? We are supposed to be mind-readers AND have the ability to see into the future too?? Wow...if I had those abilities I would NOT be in the business of childcare.....

Foods processed with peanuts are so common. PB sandwiches are a traditional food served to children for lunch. Its high in protein and complex carbohydrates, which makes it a great food to serve for those who use high amounts of energy (IE; children). I would never give a second thought to serving peanut butter to children UNLESS I was told otherwise by the parents.

For you to say the provider was insane for doing so is a pretty bold statement. If that is true..I, too, must be insane as well as a good chunk of the other providers on this forum.

no, she shouldn't have to KNOW this kid was going to have an allergic reaction.

but she should have the common sense to KNOW that you don't give kids (especially OTHER people's kids) peanut butter when they're a year and a half old!!

you're not supposed to give it to them until they're 3 or 4 or they could DIE in the NOT SO RARE event that they're allergic to peanut butter. a lot of places don't serve peanut butter at all, ever, just because the reactions are so severe and it's too risky.

and...he didn't say she fed him a food processed with peanut butter. he said peanut butter.

btw...i was talking to the OP in my response. i said i think it's insane that she gave him peanut butter.

[Unregistered]

How many daycare providers actually know you're not supposed to give children under 3 yrs peanut butter or peanut products? I sure didn't know that. Have several years experience and trainings and my children are served peanut butter products (unless we have an allergic child). Never have had a problem.
As for this provider not calling an ambulance, she said she called the parents. The parents called their pediatrician, who wasn't too concerned, so the provider thought it was ok. Why would she go against the parents and the pediatrician and call an ambulance? That's asking for trouble also. Basically, it sounds like she would have been in trouble whether or not she called an ambulance. If the parents didn't tell her to, and they must have not been too worried if they waited until pick-up time to even see for themselves if their child was ok. Now, I do think she was in the wrong for not calling the parents back when she noticed just HOW swollen this little child was getting. Head looked like a balloon, and eyelids were slits? I would have been busting my butt to call the parents back and let them know how swollen their child was. But honestly, if the provider was told it wasn't an emergency, and it was ok to wait til pick-up time, why would she call an ambulance without parental permission after they already told her their pediatrician said not to worry?
I think I would be asking the provider if any other children are allergic. If she has some who are and serves peanut butter anyway (even to the ones who are not allergic while the child who is allergic is present), I WOULD switch providers. Have there ever been any oher problems with this provider? At pick-up and drop off, does it look like the children are well cared for? What's the adult-child ratio? Is she on a food program? If she is, isn't she required to post her menus where parents can see? You could check it at the beginning of every month from now on to make sure she never has peanut products listed for any meals/snacks again, since she knows now that your child is allergic. If there have been any other big problems with her in the past, I would take my child out of there fast. If you've always been happy up til now, I'd give it another chance. Another daycare provider may not serve peanut products, but you never know what other problems there might be, no matter where you leave your child. That's the problem with having to trust strangers with your children...

[TGT09]

I don't think that the provider was "insane" however, personally, I don't serve peantbutter first, no matter how old a child is. I just ask if they've had it, if not I don't serve it.

I can't say I've ever had a child who hasn't had peanutbutter before the age of 3.

This is exactly what I do as well. I ask parents first to see if they've had PB and if not, then they don't get it for the first time at my house. TOO much of a liability.

I too do not follow the before 3 y.o. though, that is a seriously good source of protein but I can see where you as the parents are coming from. I'm sorry you had to go through this. As a first time parent, you are definitely going to freak out about more things than this, it's normal. :-) Just be happy that he was all right and chalk it up to a learning experience.

I agree with another PP that said, if you no longer trust your provider then you probably should start looking for a new one.

[nannyde]

NO I would NEVER give an 18 month old peanut butter. I never give nuts first in my home. I talk to parents extensively about any nut allergies in the family and develop a plan for introduction to nuts AFTER the age of two. I don't give a child ANY nuts until the parents have done in many many times at home.

I encourage parents who want to try introducing nuts to give them to their child DURING their well child visits at the Pediatrician. That way they are on site at a place that can quickly manage a child's reaction.

If a parent doesn't okay nuts and clarify that they have given the child the nuts MANY times I do not give them nuts. I feed the kids pure whole foods that do not have traces of nuts. NO processed food containing nut residue.

A nut allergy is VERY serious. I do not keep kids who have a nut allergy. I talk to the parents about this at our first interview. If a child develops a nut allergy they have to make other care arrangements. It's too dangerous to have them in my house and I'm VERY careful.

I would absolutely remove your child from care. Your provider doesn't understand the magnitude of what she has done and what she MUST do from this day forward to protect your child. If she did she wouldn't have done this in the first place.

Also.. peanut butter is a choke food you do NOT give to 18 month olds.

Definitely terminate and find a completely nut free facility or nut free home. It could save your childs life.

Nan

[momofboys]

Hello:

I'm new to forum and a relatively new Dad.
My wife and I needed to place our 1 1/2 year old in day care recently.
THe provider gave him peanut butter :confused: and he had an allergic reaction.
He is ok, but we can't reconcile the fact that it happened.

Our pediatrician said to wait until he is 3 yrs old before introducing, so we were following his advice. THe provider didn't call 911 because although his face and lips were swollen he was still breathing ok. We picked him up and took him to ER for treatment.

Being a 1st time parent I sometimes think I'm over reacting?
We are also struggling with whether to finding a new provider or not?

Thanks in advance for any insight, comments or suggestions

I do not think you are overreacting at all. Peanut allergies are on the rise & most pediatricians do not recommend trying peanut products until the age of 3. I think it was in very poor judgement for her to give a young child peanut butter without authorization from you, the parent. I care for a two year old & the mom has told me no peanut products until we try them at home to be sure he is not allergic. I think the public in general is not informed about allergies. They can be deadly. I am glad your child was okay. I think the best thing to do is provide your provider with some educational materials about allergies. My son has a peanut allergy (he's 8 1/2) & thankfully we have never had to use an Epipen (found out about the allergy as a result of testing for another food when he was quite young). IF you are happy about your provier aside from this incident I would not look for another. I would just try to educate her about what you now know. Does your child have other allergy issues? If so, your dr needs to write up a plan of action so you & the provider know how to properlty respond. Honestly, your provider should have called EMS if his face was swollen. Breathing difficulties could have come on quickly!