Peanut Allergy

[Tdhmom]

ITA & I am a mom who has a son who has a peanut allergy. It is really important that the child can be safe. And I would applaud a provider who outright is honest & says she/he can't accommodate that. Better safe than sorry!

Agree completely! When our son was first diagnosed we were pretty lax about it. But that in home daycare ended up giving him a pb cookie (completely on accident!!!) and I had to give him his epipen in the car on the way to er. My entire mind set has changed and I'm super paranoid about EVERYTHING!!! If my dcparents bring anything in and don't have a package with it for me to check I don't serve it.
It's too risky! His airway is the size of his pinky and could close so quickly by having just the tiniest bit of pb. His school works with us so well otherwise I would be homeschooling.

[Evansmom]

I can understand that with a center, but not a home daycare. I kind of doubt that it would apply to an in home caregiver. ADA requires "reasonable accommodation", and in my opinion, it is unreasonable for me to have to rid my home of nuts to take in a child that I don't want. I am not interpreting the law here, it COULD apply to in-home caregivers, but I couldn't see how, considering that it is sort of dictating to me how my entire family must eat even outside of daycare hours.

Just passing along info from the other thread. BC had originally thought the same as what you say but then after reading more into it, and the fact the ADA does specify private daycare centers she re-thought and said maybe we are required to provide reasonable accommodation. (BC chime in here, I apologize if I'm putting words in your mouth).

Now what reasonable accommodation is to the ADA and legally is something that I do not know the definition of. But I highly doubt it would mean ridding your entire house of all nut products and disallowing your entire family from eating foods you enjoy. I do think however it may mean making sure nuts aren't served during daycare hours and that nut residue is cleaned from surfaces before daycare hours. Which can be accomplished with a little cleaner and a cloth or paper towel. So that sounds reasonable to me. If the ADA defines a food allergy as a disability why is this any different than a child who needs OT at daycare? If it's a disability we are supposed to reasonably accommodate it.

And I have a son with an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. We are very very strict with him and we homeshool so I am saying this as a parent of a food allergy child and as a provider. I am not relaxed about my son's food allergy, we take it very seriously. But I do think it can be accommodated in a home daycare and since food allergies are on the rise and since 6% of children have a food allergy I think it would be good to learn how to handle this.

[Blackcat31]

Just passing along info from the other thread. BC had originally thought the same as what you say but then after reading more into it, and the fact the ADA does specify private daycare centers she re-thought and said maybe we are required to provide reasonable accommodation. (BC chime in here, I apologize if I'm putting words in your mouth).

Now what reasonable accommodation is to the ADA and legally is something that I do not know the definition of. But I highly doubt it would mean ridding your entire house of all nut products and disallowing your entire family from eating foods you enjoy. I do think however it may mean making sure nuts aren't served during daycare hours and that nut residue is cleaned from surfaces before daycare hours. Which can be accomplished with a little cleaner and a cloth or paper towel. So that sounds reasonable to me. If the ADA defines a food allergy as a disability why is this any different than a child who needs OT at daycare? If it's a disability we are supposed to reasonably accommodate it.

And I have a son with an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts. We are very very strict with him and we homeshool so I am saying this as a parent of a food allergy child and as a provider. I am not relaxed about my son's food allergy, we take it very seriously. But I do think it can be accommodated in a home daycare and since food allergies are on the rise and since 6% of children have a food allergy I think it would be good to learn how to handle this.

Yes, you are correct.... the link listed in the other thread DOES include private in home child cares.

I don't know the laws completely but I think ALL family in home child cares MUST make reasonable accommodations and if they don't COULD be sued by the parent for not following ADA rules.

I think there are a lot of different variables and scenarios though that make the difference. I think it has to do with the child's 504 plan etc.

The other thread had some really good links in it with a lot more info.

[Evansmom]

Yes, you are correct.... the link listed in the other thread DOES include private in home child cares.

I don't know the laws completely but I think ALL family in home child cares MUST make reasonable accommodations and if they don't COULD be sued by the parent for not following ADA rules.

I think there are a lot of different variables and scenarios though that make the difference. I think it has to do with the child's 504 plan etc.

The other thread had some really good links in it with a lot more info.

Thanks BC!

[llpa]

Yikes! I rent a small space for my dc and my dcb has a peanut allergy. And the epi-pen is here. It is much easier for me here. I can't imagine making my home nut free. But like BC said above, you may have to. During the week, I do not handle or ingest anything that contains nuts at home just in case!!