Child going to school with peanut allergy?

Question

My 3 year old is in a preschool that has a "no peanut" policy. She has a LIFE THREATENING allergy to peanuts (she can not touch, ingest, or even breathe peanut dust from peanut packaging or she may go into anaphylactic shock).

When I send her to Kindergarten next year, peanuts are allowed at that school. Are there any parents that have dealt with this dilemma, and how have you handled it? At such a young age, she doesn't know how to avoid foods that contain peanuts, and can not give her self a shot of epinephrine. Also, kids sharing food... What if a friend gives her something that could potentially harm her? Needless to say I am worried.

Also, for those so adamantly against banning peanuts, if your child had a life threatening allergy would you be so fervent? What are your reasons?

Answer 1

My son just started Kindergarten and I was told that he could not bring any peanut product to school because there is a child in his class with a peanut allergy.  I would talk to the school and just inform them of her allergy and they will handle it.  

Answer 2

My nephews went to a "no peanut" elementary school because a child in the school had a life threatening allergy to them as well.  They casually mentioned it one day in conversation, and they honestly didn't care that they couldn't have peanuts at school.  I bet if you talked with the principal before you enroll her that the principal will seriously consider placing a ban on them while your daughter is there.  Schools don't want to have to deal with life threatening ANYTHING if they can help it.  Should the school decide NOT to create a policy for her, I'm positive her classroom teacher would (at the very least).  The younger grade teachers (and assistants) are also generally really great at making sure kids with food allergies are well taken care of.  At my school in the kinder/preschool kitchen, there's a laminated list of kids and their allergies posted on their fridge for quick reference.  As a teacher, I definitely wouldn't want to goof up and give a child something that could kill her, so I would be diligent myself.  I can't imagine teachers who would behave differently.  I'm sure things will be fine.  Just make it a point to speak with the principal before you enroll her so that you can make sure all precautions that are possible for the school will be taken.  :)

Answer 3

Our school has a no-peanuts rule in the classroom.  With or without an allergy, it's a good way to keep the room peanut free - - they may have company one day.  In the lunch room, there are peanut free tables.  I really like the way our school does it.  It's a win-win situation for kids who really love peanut butter, and also for those who can't be near it.  

Some schools don't have the default practice of no peanuts in the classroom but your classroom WILL.  Your child's teacher will be vigilant with this rule, and will send home at least one note to parents in the beginning of the year.  That, along with her monitoring your daughter's snacks, and the snacks of others, will ensure her good health.  Parents who forget about the rule will get a follow up note.  

You should know that most parents aren't immediately aware that touching or inhaling peanuts is equally as dangerous as eating them.  This is why some parents are opposed to banning peanuts.  They don't get that it goes beyond eating and call it overkill.  Make a suggestion to your child's teacher to include this in the note.  If they understand it they'll be more apt to comply happily.

Very few parents have a blatent disregard for the health of a classmate.  If you're unfortunate enough to have one of those parents, they'll be dealt with by the teacher.  It'll be so swiftly, you probably won't even know about it!  Teachers are good advocates when we moms aren't there.

I too have a special needs child where food plays a major role in her health.  I was SICK when Gina first started school.  It was like a bereavement leave!  But the teachers take it very seriously.  She'll be fine!  Remind her to check with her teacher every time there's a change to her snack, or a birthday party or something with school.  She's 3 so you'll need to review this with her regularly.  But she'll do great.

- - - -

Oh my gosh, what a nice thing to say!  Thank you.  I thought of something else too.  I felt a LOT better after I met with the school.  I entered that meeting assuming it was going to be about what's easiest for them, and how to best dodge accountability.  But I left feeling confident that Gina's health and best interest was everybody's priority.

Answer 4

My son has a life-threatening milk allergy.  By the time he was three, he knew well that he was not to put anything in his mouth unless dad or I had checked it first.  Even if an aunt, cousin or friend gave him the food.  Even if he asked 'Is this safe for me?' to the aunt, cousin or friend.  Until we can teach him (and we haven't trusted him with this, yet - he's 8yo), the only people who know what is safe for him to eat is Dad or Mom.  

You are right - this is life-threatening.  You should be treating 'food' as something as dangerous as running in the street for her.  

It stinks that we have to do that, but as parents of food-allergic children, there's no way around it.  My son knows that the wrong food can make him not breathe and be dead.  (Just like going into the street and being hit by a car can make him dead, too)

With peanut allergies, you have the additional problem of inhaling the toxic fumes.  

You need to start by meeting with the school nurse & your child's teacher & discussing the school's food policies with them.  Be sure to be ready to compromise to find a solution that works for everyone.  But, don't be willing to compromise your child's safety.  They have a difficult task to face, working with *all of* the families in the school & in your child's class.  If necessary, for your child's safety, move on from the nurse & teacher to the principal and school board.

What worked for us, with the milk allergy was having a separate 'milk-free' table in the lunch room.  My son sits there.  And, any of his friends who bring juice or water sit there, too.  We're confident enough in his ability to keep himself safe that we don't worry about foods that include milk or milk ingredients.  

Could your daughter eat her lunch in the classroom with a friend?

At the beginning of the school year, I send out a letter to all of his classmates parents, asking them to let me know when they are bringing a treat in for birthdays or parties.  If they let me know what they're bringing, I can send him with a comparable safe substitute, so that he can join in.  In case they don't let us know in advance, the teacher has a stash of safe treats for him in her desk.  

The school nurse keeps his epipen in her office, along with some benadryl.  His doctor has given them a set of instructions to follow if they see any symptoms of allergic reaction.  Our school district does food allergen training as part of the lead up to the school year, every year, too - including all of the teachers in all of the schools.  

I try really hard to keep this *our problem*, not burden other families with my son's medical issues.  Most of them appreciate this & go out of their way to help us, in return.  Some don't.  And, that's OK - I want my son to learn to get along in the real world, including people who aren't sympathetic to his problem.  

Additionally, even for the parents & teachers who are excited about working with us, I honestly don't trust them to be as diligent with his health as dad & I are.  I've had parents ask me to give them a list of ingredients that he can't have & I've done so, but also told them that I will still need to read the ingredients, myself, before he can eat anything.  It's just not as important to them as it is to me.  I don't blame them for that.  It's just my son's life - I can't be lax in this.  

Answer 5

I think you may feel more comfortable after talking to your daughter's school.  Go in for a visit, speak to the principal, and see what policy they follow.  Peanut allergies are by no means a new condition and schools have been working with parents and students for years.  My own kids are now 29, 26, 23, and 11.  I am an active parent volunteer in our school district and there has been a firmly followed allergy policy since my older kids were in elementary school.  Some school districts are nut free zones, but it is hard to regulate, so most schools I am aware of have nut free classrooms as well as nut free tables in the lunch room.  The most serious case I am personally aware of is with a little girl who has life-threatening allergies to tree nuts.  At our school, pictures of all the children with allergies are posted in the office plus each teacher has a list.  In the case of this little girl, when she was in elementary school, all the volunteers as well as school personnel were made aware of who she was and where the epi pens were.  Her parents began working with her as soon as her allergy was detected at age 3 and soon she knew how to say, "No thank you" to every food item that was offered to her by anyone other than her parents.  I have been a licensed child care provider in my home for 20 years.  I have had several children with allergies, some severe.  Nearly all have been able to have a good handle on how important it was not to eat certain foods or watch out for bees or whatever their allergy was by the time they were 4-5 years old.  They knew what it meant to avoid this thing because you will get sick.  If you speak matter-of-factly with your daughter about how important it is for her to not eat anything other than what mommy or daddy gives her, I think you'll be surprised at how fast she'll pick that up.  It is certainly understandable to be worried.  None of my children had this type of medical concern, but I know several families who have dealt with allergies in school.

Answer 6

Definitely talk to the school right away. I've never heard of a school which didn't put a policy into place to protect an allergic child.

But I agree with whoever said that you need to teach her not to eat food you haven't cleared. Not just for school - it only takes a second for the other child on the climbing frame at the playground to give her a sweetie out of her pocket - you may not always be close enough to stop it. Her reaction HAS to be that she doesn't take any food at all from others. Three is old enough to learn that.

Answer 7

did you talk to the school about your child's allergies? Most schools will band peanut products if a child is allergic and goes to their school.

I would assume the staff know how to give the epi-pen.

You will have to teach your child not to share food with other kids and if she is offered to say "no thank you I might be allergic". You will need to talk to the teacher, Principal and nurse at the school to see what can be done to avoid a dangerous situation.

Answer 8

First, you will have to make sure that her teacher and the school nurse are aware of her allergy.  My son had a child with a peanut allergy in his kindergarten class and when every they did anything involving food, the child's mother was invited to the class, so she could make sure everything was safe.  As far as lunch, our school has a "peanut free" lunch table where kids with peanut allergies sit to eat.  The table is kept clean and other kids can only sit there if there are not peanut product in their lunch.  Talk to someone at the school and see what their policy is.  You can also make sure that the nurse has an epinephrine shot on hand in case of an emergency.

Answer 9

I'd contact the kindergarten classroom.

At my daughter's elementary school, they allowed peanuts, HOWEVER, if your child had ANY type of allergy to peanuts(slight or very big)you could tell the teacher and the teacher would make it a peanut free room, which is what I'd suggest with you.

It's very easy and also, I bet your daughter won't be the only one with a peanut allergy.

My daughter is lactose intollerant and when she was in elementary school, I told the teachers to make sure not to give her any thing with dairy products in them. And they respected that and they will respect your daughter's peanut allergy!

Good luck!

Answer 10

my son's school has a peanut free area in the cafeteria that the tables are cleaned with a special cleaner and only those with the allergy or peanut free can sit there.  

Answer 11

Ensure that the Epipen is available at your school with quick and easy access and all that have access to your child know how to use it. Perhaps you may wish to ensure a few Epipens are placed there in different locations. (Classroom, lunchroom, etc)

Put your concerns in writing to school administration now and ask them how they will handle this potentially life threatening situation while accommodating your child.

If they know now before enrollment , the specter of liability on them increases tenfold.

Ensure you put all of these concerns in writing to provide to school administration. A small blurb from the physician would not hurt either.  

Do not rest until you have satisfactory answers from school administration in writing. Make a lot of noise. So what if they perceive you to be a pain? You are simply looking out for the health, safety, and welfare of your child. No one could fault you for that!

Good Luck!

Answer 12

I haven't dealt with this but if you alert the school before she attends, they will certainly do something about it. I remember in my middle school they had  a "Peanut Free Lunch Room". You could also alert the parents of her friends so they could tell their own children to watch out for peanuts around your daughter.

Talk to the school principle and see what can be done. They may even put a no peanut policy in place!

Good luck and I hope everything works out!

Answer 13

Well, my friend in elementary school would be unable to breath because of peanuts, but in the classes she was in, they said that it wasn't allowed. there was also a no-peanut table. talk to the principal, he or she can do something to help.