Food Allergy Alert Daycare and School Handout

Food Allergy Alert Daycare/School Handout

Here is a handout that I made for Daycare, Sub folder, and Specials Teachers to compliment FARE's Emergency Food Allergy, and Anaphylaxis Plan. 

I made one for my daughter for daycare and pre-school and had it posted in the snack cabinet. For elementary school it may be helpful to have in the sub folders, and for specials teachers. 

To print double click, or right click on image, save image to your device, and then print:

                                        

The Best Way To Celebrate a School Birthday is Food Free!

The Best Way To Celebrate a School Birthday is Food Free!

This year my daughter has a safe snack box for parties, but they are also celebrating birthdays with bookmarks, silly straws, pencils, books, and more. She loves being included, and I am enjoying her delight on days when a birthday is celebrated at school, and she is included! 

Allergy Shots for Kids with Environmental Allergies, and Asthma

We are going to start allergy shots in a couple of weeks for my daughter. After much research we are going for the traditional allergy shots for her seasonal pollen allergies, dustmite allergy, and pet allergies. We hope that they will help her daily hay fever symptoms, asthma, slow down her development of new allergies, and lessen her fruit and veggie oral allergy/ food pollen syndrome.

Because of the severity of her allergies, she will have 4 extra months added on to the 4-5 months of weekly shots as they will be diluted even more than usual, and building up slowly to her maintenance dose.

I am on a search for any books or websites geared towards kids to help them cope with the fear, and pain of the shots.

So far, I have found zero books for kids... But I was pointed to Buzzy, a frozen buzzing bee! It looks cute, and we will give it a try. And Shot Blocker, which looks super simple, and inexpensive. We will try that out as well. Also recommended was EMLA numbing cream, and hydrocortisone anti itch cream.

I was also told there are studies showing that eating something sweet, and keeping warm can help ease the pain... We will give that a go as well.

http://buzzy4shots.com/what-is-buzzy/

Maybe this buzzing bee can help? Any experiences using this that you can share?

Shot Blocker was recommended by an allergist that I admire:
http://www.buyshotblocker.com/

So far our arsenal of products for combating the fear discomfort, and pain include:

Buzzy 

Shot Blocker

EMLA cream- numbing cream

Hydrocortisone- anti itch cream

Lollipops

Warm clothing



I will continue to search for products, and books etc. to help her cope! Please share any tips, or resources that you may have!

Happy New Year!

Grateful for all of the support groups that help me navigate food allergies!

Allergies, Asthma, and Getting Ready for School, or: We are Always Late

Rush, rush, rush!  

If you are disorganized like me, then you too probably run a bit late in the morning. Add on a must take list of medications for allergies and asthma, and it is a recipe for chronic scurrying, and tardiness.

Many a time while trying to feed my kids, get them dressed, and out the door on time, I forget my daughter's medications until we are walking out the door. I know that inhalers can not be rushed, the breathing needs to be done right, a good rinsing needs to happen afterword, and if needed, a nebulizer breathing treatment takes a good 20 minutes. This is not something that should be left until the last minute as we are scrambling to be on time for school. Plus this is not something that can be overlooked, even for one day. The worst call is one from the nurse's office asking you to please bring in the daily antihistamine, or inhaler that was forgotten before school as your child is itching and sneezing like crazy, or coughing non stop.

Just the other day, both kids were fed, dressed, hats and coats ready to go on, and my son decided that he was not happy with his outfit for the day, and "re-dressed" himself.  As I was rushing through my daughter's medications, pill, pill, inhaler, inhaler, nasal spray, etc. I turned to see his hamper running across the floor, with his two bare legs going as fast as they could go. "Mommy! I get dressed all by myself!" he squealed with glee as he ran in circles around the living room. I swear I have a sense of humor, but at the time, it was NOT funny.

I scrambled to finish my daughter's medications, caught the little stinker, and threw some clothes on him, just in time, to be 5 minutes late. On the way home I thought about how if I had not left my daughter's medications to the last minute (again), I could have laughed and enjoyed the moment, but as we were pushing the tardy cut off as it was, with yet another inhaler to give, I was not amused. Not even one bit.

So, I am going to make a change. New Years resolution: Medications first thing in the morning, and no more rushing around like a headless turkey right before we walk out the door for school.

The Non Food Allergic Sibling

But Mo-om, I'm Allerbic to gween beans!

 

My son is now three, the age that we have been told that it is OK to try out our daughter's most severe allergens with him. Our plan is to feed him peanuts and tree-nuts outside of our home (as our daughter is severely allergic)  in a setting close to the ER, or at the allergist's office. While I am waiting to get the courage up to test out the peanuts, and tree-nuts with my youngest child, I am learning that the younger siblings of children with severe food allergies quickly learn to make the most of their sibling's allergies.

Recently my three year old son has been using his sister's allergies to his advantage. The other day he grabbed a whole bag of cookies off of the counter, put a serious look on his face, and announced "I eat all cookies for my Sissy, she's allerbic to cookies!", "Don't be sad Mommy, I keep her safe!" I was floored! I had no idea that at the age of three, he would be capable of using his sister's allergies to his advantage. It hit me that I need to get ahead of this fast! But what to do? How do I educate him about his sister's food allergies without scaring him. How do I help him understand that they are not to be trivialized, or be used to ones advantage. How can teach him about the importance of including everyone in family treats?

In another example of how he has used his sister's allergies to his advantage, he announced at dinner that he was not going to eat his green beans, as he was allergic to them. After pushing them around his plate for some time, he was coaxed into trying one, which he promptly spat out, and whined "But Mo-om, I'm allerbic to gween beans!"  This is not a new adventure for me trying to figure out if a complaint about a food is a real allergic reaction, or just a dislike of the food's flavor, or a texture issue, but it is new in that he is not really concerned that he may be allergic, as my daughter was, he just doesn't want to eat his green beans!

Figuring out how to explain allergies, their seriousness, and the difference between not wanting to eat something, and being allergic to it can be trying. How do I explain to a three year old that something may make your mouth feel hot, or "spicy", and while that is uncomfortable, it is not necessarily an allergic reaction?  How can I make sure he understands the seriousness of a real allergy vs. a preference in taste/foods without worrying him?  A food may taste bad to you, make your tongue burn, have a funny texture, make you gag, or seem to get stuck in your throat, but that does not necessarily mean you are allergic to it. This seems simple to do, but seeing his sister with hives on her face from a previously loved food, and a worried watchful mom hovering at mealtimes must be a bit confusing to a three year old. But he is sure making the most of it!

If you have any tips, please share!!!

Reads You Need for Allergies and Asthma!

My Favorite Books for Parents, Caregivers and Schools:

 

Reading will ease your fears and lessen your anxiety, and help you navigate the world of allergies.



Many parents of food allergic kids have little time for reading. At a recent meeting for my local food allergy support group I was surprised to find that most of the parents had never read a book on food allergies.  Many parents cited lack of time, and also the fear that a book may make the worry and anxiety that surround dealing with food allergies worse. I realized that I too had not picked up a book on food allergies until a few years ago. I had gone for years without ever reading in depth about the food allergies and asthma that I was dealing with on a daily basis as I too thought that I did not have the time, and worried that it may increase my fear surrounding my child's  allergies and asthma.

After reading my first book on food allergies, and asthma, my fear decreased, and I found that I was much more confident in dealing with my child's food allergies and asthma both at home, and with her school. I was able to make small changes to keep her healthier, and safer both at home, and at school. It also allowed me to better understand, and discuss treatments with my daughter's allergist, and pediatrician.
You may also have questions and fears such as:
Will the smell of a food that my child is allergic to cause an allergic reaction?
What is an airborne food allergic reaction?
What accommodations are necessary to keep my child safe at school?
What testing does my child need for asthma and allergies?
What medications for asthma and food allergies should I ask my child's doctor about?

The books I have listed will help dispel your food allergy fears, and give you confidence in dealing with your child's food allergies, and asthma! I have read all of them, and each is fantastic!

  "Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies"  by allergy expert Scott H. Sicherer. Gives great examples of many types of food allergies, and is a comprehensive guide for a parent, or caregiver dealing with multiple food allergies. Easy to understand, yet detailed. Learn about the different types of testing available, signs and symptoms of food allergies, and read about other families' experiences in figuring out just what their child is reacting to.

 "Food Allergies: A Complete Guide for Eating When Your Life Depends on It"  

The newest book by Scott H. Sicherer. He is a pediatric food allergy specialist. His books are very comprehensive. They will help you to understand food allergies, the different types of food allergy testing, what kinds of food allergy reactions your child may have, when to worry, and what you do not need to worry about, and more.

"Asthma Allergies Children: A Parent's Guide". 
by Dr Paul Ehrlich, and Dr Larry Chiaramonte (pediatric food allergy specialists) and Henry Ehlrich (a great advocate for kids with food allergies. He is on the front lines of the newest research on treatments for food allergy and asthma) 
When your child is at a higher risk for severe reactions due to having both asthma, and allergies, you need this book! It will help you navigate and understand both at the same time.
They also have an awesome website: Asthma Allergies Children: A Parent's (web) Guide:
http://www.asthmaallergieschildren.com/ 

"Food Allergies for Dummies"  by Dr. Robert Wood (pediatric food allergy specialist) Lots of great information, and easy to understand!

"Asthma For Dummies" by  William E. Berger, MD. Easy to understand, great for reducing anxiety, and figuring out the best way to treat your child's asthma.  It covers allergy shots, types of medications, explaining the different types of asthma and avoiding asthma triggers.

For Caregivers and Schools:

"The Peanut Allergy Answer Book" - Great information on peanut allergies for parents and schools alike! Use this book to help create food allergy awareness and safety in your school and at home.

 "The Food Allergy Book: What School Employees Need to Know"
It can be found at the NEA Health Information Network http://www.neahin.org/educator-resources/foodallergybook.html . The counselor said that the teachers love this book, and often say, "Well the purple book says..."

Food Allergies & Schools: Pocket Guide for Educators (Allergy Free Table Series) Julie Trone  

 Food Allergies & Grandchildren: Pocket Guide for Grandparents by Julie Trone            
Great short guide for Grandparents and caregivers!