Nut Allergy Question

[childcaremom]

I have a dcg (14 mos) who has been in my care for 4 months. Dcm told me this morning that she is getting tested for a peanut allergy soon as she had a reaction to peanuts a while ago. She didn't tell me about her having had a reaction previously . She also mentioned that she would be getting an epi pen for her if her results come back as being allergic.

I am a nut friendly house. My kids eat peanut butter at breakfast (during which time this dcg is here) but I don't serve it to dcks. I eat a lot of different nuts and use nut flours.

How safe is this for dcg? Imho, I don't think it's safe at all. I can't guarantee a safe, nut free environment for this child. I can't guarantee that the other dcks will come in without traces of peanut butter, etc and I'm not prepared to put that limit on the dcfs either. I certainly don't want the liability that comes with this type of allergy, either.

So, wwyd? Would you explain to mom that I can't guarantee a safe environment, epi pen or not?

[LadyPearl]

I have already had this discussion with dh. I would NOT accept a child with a nut allergy because I wouldn't be able to ensure their safety. Honestly, I would term for safety reasons if this child does in fact test positive for an allergy. I would not want to risk it.

[llpa]

I have one in my dc who has a peanut allergy. I went nut free. I have the epi pen but don't EVER want to use it My dc is not in my home so that makes it easier for me. But I love peanut butter and now avoid handling it for breakfast etc at home if I know he will be at dc that day. It freaks me out completely! If I was in home it would be much harder to protect that child from exposure. I do still have the worry that others will have traces of peanut butter on hands etc when they come in, so every child washes hands before they even start their day. If your children eat it for breakfast can they be at a separate table/area? That may work. If they eat at the counter for example, then it gets disinfected.
If dcg never sits there they shld be fine. But you will need to wash your hands well, too. AND a child w a severe peanut allergy sometimes will have issues if he/she even smells it. My dcb is not that severe. Good luck w this!

[Tdhmom]

My son is severely allergic if he ingests it. We've never been to Texas Roadhouse or anything to test that theory but family members have had a pb sandwich right before we've seen them, given him a kiss on the cheek and he got hives where she kissed him (I didn't know she had just had pb).
Our school went nut free, my home is nut free. It's a lifestyle change. If you don't feel comfortable then I would let mom know. Kindly let mom know. Don't hand over a term letter and not explain yourself. She'll be left feeling hopeless. It's scary to have to worry. I still get sick to my stomach if the school calls me. So if you don't feel that you can provide the safe environment that dcf needs then you should let dcm know that.
My sons last daycare provider (when he was 2 1/2, he's now almost 8) thought she could provide a safe envrionment, and she did for a long time and then one day her daughter got home from school and gave him a little bit of a pb cookie, I had to give him his epi pen in the car on the way to ER. He's never been back to a daycare since then. I've been home with him until he started school. So please if you don't feel like you can provide what she needs then you need to tell her.

[Leanna]

I have a child with a peanut allergy and when he was "diagnosed" we took the following precautions:

We do not serve peanut butter, peanut products, or products manufactured in a facility that also produces/processes peanuts/peanut products.

We do not allow any outside food or drinks. (Daily rule, but also no outside treats for parties, etc.)

DCK have their own color coded plates, bowls, cups, and silverware. This is to prevent any potential cross-contamination. (We also have separate serving dishes, etc.)

My own kids (teenagers) sometimes do eat PB but they must use a disposable knife to use it and the knife goes immediately into the trash. They must disinfect the area used when handing the PB and must eat it in the kitchen where DCKs are not allowed. They must immediately wash their hands and brush their teeth. The jar of PB is stored in a ziploc bag in a cupboard away from all other foods.

We use a separate, labeled jelly jar for daycare so no peanutbuttery knives contaminate it.

I don't eat anything containing nuts during the daycare week.

DCB does have an EpiPen (that I never want to use!) but isn't so severe that smelling peanuts causes a reaction. He could still go into anaphylaxis, however, and that is VERY scary and serious. If you don't feel like you can keep DCG safe you probably should term. I think your DCG's mom will appreciate that your priority is to keep her daughter safe! Good luck!

[childcaremom]

I def. won't continue watching her if she is allergic. But I am also really nervous about continuing care right now. She doesn't have an epi yet.... and I don't think EMS would get here quickly enough if she ended up in contact with it.... Yikes! She had hives and a swollen ear so I don't know how severe that is but it is scary to me.

Going to have to chat with mom tonight.

Thanks!

[SunnyDay]

If she has been in your home for awhile with no problem, I guess I wouldn't panic. My son has been diagnosed with a peanut allergy through allergy testing, but he has never eaten peanuts and has never had a reaction that I know of. He eats next to others who are eating peanut butter with no problem. I can see being more worried with someone elses child, though, that is a big responsibility. I would definitely talk it over with the parents and see what their comfort level is, but I wouldn't necessarily stop caring for the child.

[KDC]

My son is barely a 1 on the 'scale' (1-5) for peanut allergy. He is NOT allergic to any tree nuts, only peanuts. He has Honey Nut Cheerio's for breakfast every morning and is totally fine. He's had 1 reaction (which is how we found out about the peanut allergy in the first place, hives). We had a blood test done. We do have an epi pen and I haven't had to use it. My older DS LOVES peanut butter, he eats it all the time. He know's to clear his plate, grabs a clorox wipe and wipes down the surface he's just eaten on, then washes his hands and face. He gets that it will make his little brother sick, so he's super careful.

I do NOT serve it for daycare, it's a little more risky, as little ones mouth things and it's not safe.

I do not worry about things that were made on the same equipment (after research shows they do clean their equipment between peanut/vs non-peanut products and after 3 years of no further reaction I am fairly comfortable with where he's at. If it doesn't CONTAIN peanuts, I feel it's safe for him.

I guess it depends on the severity on what I'd be comfortable with. I have a nephew who has an anaphylactic allergy to dairy. This would make me uncomfortable (and I freak out when I host holiday's!) I do not feel I could keep him safe. He's been hospitalized many times and has had to have the epi pen used multiple times... eek! So it's all in what makes YOU comfortable.

[nanglgrl]

When I first started out one of my dck had a peanut allergy. I labeled the inside of every cupboard "peanut allergy!" and had a sign in the kitchen and never served peanut items to the kids. Then one day a child came in eating a baggie of dry cereal (I don't allow that now) and he took some and ate it. He said he didn't feel well and it all clicked for me, it was peanut butter cereal. I had been so cautious but still had to use that darn epipen. Thankfully his parents understood and he was fine. I haven't taken on another peanut allergy since because I thought I was being careful with the signs and not having and peanut items in our home but apparently I wasn't careful enough.

[childcaremom]

If she has been in your home for awhile with no problem, I guess I wouldn't panic. My son has been diagnosed with a peanut allergy through allergy testing, but he has never eaten peanuts and has never had a reaction that I know of. He eats next to others who are eating peanut butter with no problem. I can see being more worried with someone elses child, though, that is a big responsibility. I would definitely talk it over with the parents and see what their comfort level is, but I wouldn't necessarily stop caring for the child.

Yes, I will be talking to mom tonight. She seemed pretty casual about it so maybe I am overreacting.

[childcaremom]

When I first started out one of my dck had a peanut allergy. I labeled the inside of every cupboard "peanut allergy!" and had a sign in the kitchen and never served peanut items to the kids. Then one day a child came in eating a baggie of dry cereal (I don't allow that now) and he took some and ate it. He said he didn't feel well and it all clicked for me, it was peanut butter cereal. I had been so cautious but still had to use that darn epipen. Thankfully his parents understood and he was fine. I haven't taken on another peanut allergy since because I thought I was being careful with the signs and not having and peanut items in our home but apparently I wasn't careful enough.

And this is my big fear. I can be careful but it just takes one little thing, kwim? My kids love peanut butter and all of our schools are nut free so home is the one place they are allowed to eat it. I'm already careful b/c most of my dcks are under 2 and haven't had peanuts yet but it still makes me nervous about cross contamination.

I've lined up another provider who can provide a safe environment so I will chat with mom and see what she thinks.

[Starburst]

I have a dcg (14 mos) who has been in my care for 4 months. Dcm told me this morning that she is getting tested for a peanut allergy soon as she had a reaction to peanuts a while ago. She didn't tell me about her having had a reaction previously . She also mentioned that she would be getting an epi pen for her if her results come back as being allergic.

I am a nut friendly house. My kids eat peanut butter at breakfast (during which time this dcg is here) but I don't serve it to dcks. I eat a lot of different nuts and use nut flours.

How safe is this for dcg? Imho, I don't think it's safe at all. I can't guarantee a safe, nut free environment for this child. I can't guarantee that the other dcks will come in without traces of peanut butter, etc and I'm not prepared to put that limit on the dcfs either. I certainly don't want the liability that comes with this type of allergy, either.

The severity of allergies and intolerances varies from person to person. My brother is completely allergic to milk, he gets sick if he even has a cheese burger, he needed special formula as a baby (couldn't nurse either). I, on the other hand, have a slight intolerance for milk and I can drink a few glasses of milk without any problem as long as I have something to eat with it; we both also have asthma- which many people with asthma are prone to food allergies and intolerances.

The little boy (3) I babysit is allergic to milk and nuts, his mom is trying to help lessen his milk allergy by having him a little bit of milk regularly (with a doctor's guidance) but she is more cautious with his nut allergy because he gets a reaction if someone has eaten nuts and touches/gets near him (they found out about it when they went out with their family and everyone was eating an appetizer with a peanut glaze and everyone holding and kissing him after). I also heard of an incident where they visited his old babysitter who was with her friend; and apparently the friend thought it would be a good idea to give him (a 2 year old child {at the time} she had just met) a snickers bar without asking the parents and he had a reaction to go to the ER. I was with them at a drs appointment the mom wanted to get an epipen but the dr said that because of his size {small}, he would be better of with just Benadryl for now. But the mom told me from the beginning to make sure when I watch him to avoid eating peanuts before watching him and said that if people eat peanuts before being around him they need to take a shower, brush their teeth and change their clothes completely to make sure he doesn't have a reaction. I have known someone who said they started feeling sick when someone near them was eating corn nuts, not even touching them just the smell alone.

I would be careful about what you tell the mom because it could be seen as discriminating for a special need, which can cause a whole ADA debate- I would check with licensing (if you are licensed/registered).

[melilley]

I always tell parents at interview that I am not a peanut free household/dc. I am not comfortable with nut allergies at all.

[Blackcat31]

I would be careful about what you tell the mom because it could be seen as discriminating for a special need, which can cause a whole ADA debate- I would check with licensing (if you are licensed/registered).

OP is in Canada, ADA would not apply to her.

Also, if I remember correctly (and unless the law has recently changed) peanut allergies, no matter how severe are not counted as a disability and are not covered under the ADA.

For Canadian providers, there are several government plans that could apply but the broadest one is the Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act. (AODA)

See the Ontario government site for more information: http://www.aoda.ca/

It does not, as far as I know cover any food allergies.

[childcaremom]

I am legally unlicensed. I don't take any children on with serious allergies so this is really nerve-wracking for me.

I just talked to mom and told her my concerns and that I would accept her back into care when she knows with 100% certainty that she isn't allergic.

Mom figures it is a topographical thing but I reiterated that I cannot provide a safe environment and that it puts her at huge risk (and me!). She was understanding of that.

She is going home to talk to dad and let me know what they decide.