"Allergy" Overload!

[Lyss]

I feel like lately ALL the DCKs I have (or have interviewed with) have something "wrong" with them or some sort of allergy, especially food allergies.

Currently I have DCKs with milk allergies, gluten free, nut allergies, bee allergies, and chicken allergies :confused: DD is literally the only one without some sort of allergy. But the thing that really drives me crazy is that of course none of them have actually been medically diagnosed or could provide a DR's note. DCPs have just decided they have them and provide alternatives (usually after demanding I provide them doesn't fly).

DD and one PT DCG are the only kids that gets "regular" milk, the others have soy, almond, or lactose free (all parent provided). One (16mo) they never even tried milk, they just assumed because mom has a stomach ache when she drinks it that DCG would too (she ate dairy/milk when breastfeeding and DCG didn't have an issue)

I've had to give each of these "milk allergies" regular cows milk on multiple occasions and there has never been any issues. I make sure to tell DCPs when I do (usually before because they've forgotten the alternative) and always watch for signs, but nothing. I've also had the gluten, nut, and dairy free kids (all different kids) show up with things on the "do not serve" list like wheat bread, PB&J, or a cheese burrito :confused:

I guess what set this vent/rant off was this morning one of my DCMs brought chocolate soy milk (I told her no way am I serving that) and has decided that DCB is also allergic to wheat bread ("just wheat bread, not gluten") so she doesn't want him eating bread unless it's white

Does anyone else see this rise or have issues with "allergies"? Is everyone a hypochondriac these days? ::

[Evansmom]

We have real anaphylactic allergies in my family and in my daycare. It scares me when you say you "had to" serve these children their stated allergens. Even without a doctor's note confirming the allergy this is very very dangerous. Food allergies are nothing to mess around with. We all carry epi-pens and benedryl at all times.

Even if someone had a mild reaction to an allergen last time does not mean they will have that same mild reaction at the next exposure. I'm sure you don't want to deal with a child's throat closing at daycare. And not all EMS carry child dosage epi-pens.

If someone served my son his allergens just because they didn't believe me I'd be livid.

[Heidi]

We have real anaphylactic allergies in my family and in my daycare. It scares me when you say you "had to" serve these children their stated allergens. Even without a doctor's note confirming the allergy this is very very dangerous. Food allergies are nothing to mess around with. We all carry epi-pens and benedryl at all times.

Even if someone had a mild reaction to an allergen last time does not mean they will have that same mild reaction at the next exposure. I'm sure you don't want to deal with a child's throat closing at daycare. And not all EMS carry child dosage epi-pens.

If someone served my son his allergens just because they didn't believe me I'd be livid.

I totally get what you're saying, my BFF has an auto-immune disorder that causes her to have severe allergies to literally hundreds of things. At 39, she struggles daily with it, and alot of people think she's a hypochondriac. She's been to countless specialists, but nothing can be done. Now, that being said...she's been to countless specialists.

The kiddos in Lyss' care haven't even been diagnosed with allergies, and if they are so allergic, they're parents shouldn't/wouldn't forget their special milk, etc.

As for OP, how can you be allergic to whole wheat but not refined wheat?

[Unregistered]

I feel like lately ALL the DCKs I have (or have interviewed with) have something "wrong" with them or some sort of allergy, especially food allergies.

Currently I have DCKs with milk allergies, gluten free, nut allergies, bee allergies, and chicken allergies :confused: DD is literally the only one without some sort of allergy. But the thing that really drives me crazy is that of course none of them have actually been medically diagnosed or could provide a DR's note. DCPs have just decided they have them and provide alternatives (usually after demanding I provide them doesn't fly).

DD and one PT DCG are the only kids that gets "regular" milk, the others have soy, almond, or lactose free (all parent provided). One (16mo) they never even tried milk, they just assumed because mom has a stomach ache when she drinks it that DCG would too (she ate dairy/milk when breastfeeding and DCG didn't have an issue)

I've had to give each of these "milk allergies" regular cows milk on multiple occasions and there has never been any issues. I make sure to tell DCPs when I do (usually before because they've forgotten the alternative) and always watch for signs, but nothing. I've also had the gluten, nut, and dairy free kids (all different kids) show up with things on the "do not serve" list like wheat bread, PB&J, or a cheese burrito :confused:

I guess what set this vent/rant off was this morning one of my DCMs brought chocolate soy milk (I told her no way am I serving that) and has decided that DCB is also allergic to wheat bread ("just wheat bread, not gluten") so she doesn't want him eating bread unless it's white

Does anyone else see this rise or have issues with "allergies"? Is everyone a hypochondriac these days? ::

That sounds super frustrating but honestly I can't eat anyother type of bread then plain ol white bread...the more of the "good wheat" processed out of it the better for my tummy. It is a celiac thing. I have actual allergies diagnosed by an allergist and am an epipen carrier.
I'd insist on a Dr note. Allergies are scary.

[Starburst]

I sometimes watch a 2 year old boy with a peanut allegery and a milk allergy but his parents are slowly trying to desensitize him to the milk allergy by giving him dairy regularly (they aren't doing anything about the peanut allergy because it is more severe) but those are real allegeries that are diagoned by doctors.

In a child development health/safety/nutrition class I took last semester one girl said that at the center she worked at many of the parents would say that their kids had a certain allegeries but had no documentation or proof of it, she said she thinks its like a "trend", like parents think it's cool that their kids are allergic to certain foods. Or maybe they think the provider will give them healthier food if they say their kid is allergic to certain foods? IDK, I think if it came to food I actually had to provide and buy a special type of food for I would ask for a doctor's note- espesually if I was on food program and they only allow certain foods.

[TheGoodLife]

Are you licensed? You could say your licensor informed you that you have to have a drs. note, for safety regulations...

[Unregistered]

I totally get what you're saying, my BFF has an auto-immune disorder that causes her to have severe allergies to literally hundreds of things. At 39, she struggles daily with it, and alot of people think she's a hypochondriac. She's been to countless specialists, but nothing can be done. Now, that being said...she's been to countless specialists.

The kiddos in Lyss' care haven't even been diagnosed with allergies, and if they are so allergic, they're parents shouldn't/wouldn't forget their special milk, etc.

As for OP, how can you be allergic to whole wheat but not refined wheat?

At that point with extream processing most of the natural stuff (protein allergin) is gone.

[Lyss]

I have to have a DRs note in order to serve food not on the food program or alternatives. I also required it to weed out the dislikes from real allergies.

I'm not at all trying to say that all people with allergies are being overdramatic. I have had children with very serious allergies, that carried epi pens and wore allergy alert bracelets, and I realize they can be deadly!!

I guess I should have added more emphasis on how much the parents don't adhere to their own "do not feed" lists and the lack of diagnosis part. Like I said none of these parents have had a DR verify the allergy. Not to say they have not been to the DR, but rather ALL of them have told me their DR has said he sees no signs or they shouldn't have anything to worry about, they just disagree.

[Evansmom]

My son has a 0 on his RAST but clearly reacts to his allergens. Our allergist said that RAST and skin testing has about a 50% false results rate so this means there are exactly no tests on the market that are reliable. Our allergist says reaction trumps testing every time so a child still can be anaphylactic even without a doctors note. Even if their reaction the first time was mild it does not mean the reaction will stay mild.

Please be careful with food allergies. I'm not saying that some parents don't overstate their children's allergies however that does not give any care giver the right to serve a food to a child that the parent says not to. That's reckless behavior.

[Blackcat31]

Please be careful with food allergies. I'm not saying that some parents don't overstate their children's allergies however that does not give any care giver the right to serve a food to a child that the parent says not to. That's reckless behavior.

Then the parent should be bringing the food.

I agree that allergies can be deadly but no way am I making and preparing special foods based on the parent's word.

I'd serve special food IF the parent supplied the food.

Sorry but here it is a Doctor's note or a parent supplied lunch. That is the ONLY two options I offer.

[Luvnmykidz]

my kids have allergies...

I have three kiddos of my own and all 3 have been diagnosed with food allergies at some time in their life. I say that because my 10 yr old DD was allergic to dairy, milk, and citrus but eventually outgrew all by last year. She was followed by allergy/asthma dr. and had a live feed to verify the bloodwork was accurate that she was no longer allergic. My 6 yr old DD is autistic and allergic to eggs, nuts. Shes followed by asthma/allergy and a ton of others. She has an immune system issue as well, but her lungs collapsed due to allergies and vaccinations. My 3 yr old DS is allergic to eggs, nuts, dairy, and soy. Also followed by asthma/allergy dr. We keep epi-pen jr and benadryl on hand and are very cautious with the egg and nut. It really depends on the number the allergy bloodwork is as to how severe it is. His soy and dairy are very low, so he can tolerate a small amount of soy or dairy but too much causes him to have stomach issues. I dont have any allergies but my ex-dh had citrus and dairy, go figure . I would request a dr.'s note for the kids in your care. I have seen many parents that assume because a food makes them feel a certain way then the kid will be the same but its not true. Also I can imagine how annoying it is to have to deal with made up allergies, when the parents dont really follow what they say

[Lyss]

My son has a 0 on his RAST but clearly reacts to his allergens. Our allergist said that RAST and skin testing has about a 50% false results rate so this means there are exactly no tests on the market that are reliable. Our allergist says reaction trumps testing every time so a child still can be anaphylactic even without a doctors note. Even if their reaction the first time was mild it does not mean the reaction will stay mild.

Please be careful with food allergies. I'm not saying that some parents don't overstate their children's allergies however that does not give any care giver the right to serve a food to a child that the parent says not to. That's reckless behavior.

I'm not being reckless with the children in my care. I've taken all these allergies seriously at first, but I can not provide individual meals for each kid and when they repeatedly show up with foods that they aren't supposed to be eating (milkshakes, cheese burritos, PBJ, trail mix, whole wheat toast... all from DCPs which I never saw a reaction from), DCPs can't provide a DR note, and they don't seem concerned enough to bring the alternatives it just shows to me that it's obviously not a serious allergy, if one at all.

[Lyss]

Then the parent should be bringing the food.

I agree that allergies can be deadly but no way am I making and preparing special foods based on the parent's word.

I'd serve special food IF the parent supplied the food.

Sorry but here it is a Doctor's note or a parent supplied lunch. That is the ONLY two options I offer.

Ditto

[Blackcat31]

I'm not being reckless with the children in my care. I've taken all these allergies seriously at first, but when the they repeatedly shows up with foods that they aren't supposed to be eating (milkshakes, cheese burritos, PBJ, trail mix, whole wheat toast... all from DCPs which I never saw a reaction from), DCPs can't provide a DR note, and they don't seem concerned enough to bring the alternatives it just shows to me that it's obviously not a serious allergy, if one at all.

I currently have a child with a dairy allergy.

But for some reason the allergy is only at my house because twice now in the last two weeks, I have run into them at Dairy Queen and witnessed with my own eyes the child eating ice cream.

[Evansmom]

I'm not being reckless with the children in my care. I've taken all these allergies seriously at first, but I can not provide individual meals for each kid and when they repeatedly show up with foods that they aren't supposed to be eating (milkshakes, cheese burritos, PBJ, trail mix, whole wheat toast... all from DCPs which I never saw a reaction from), DCPs can't provide a DR note, and they don't seem concerned enough to bring the alternatives it just shows to me that it's obviously not a serious allergy, if one at all.

So wait, you are saying that the DCPs say their child has an allergy to a food. Then the DCKs show up at daycare with a food from home given to them by DCP that contains the allergen the child is supposed to be allergic to? The food that the DCP requests you not serve their child at daycare?
I'm not being snarky at all, just trying to understand.