Toddler A goes to daycare at a peanut free place. He's turning 1 and mom is trying to find him a good milk to drink that doesn't cause his excema to flare up. He seems to be allergic to all cow dairy and soy. So mom's been trying all different forms of "milk" and the only kind he'll drink is almond. Toddler B is severely allergic to nuts and will be starting at daycare next week. Signs are put up all around the center reminding parents about being a nut free place. Toddler A's mom is now in a bind. He can't/won't drink any other forms of milk.
If you were A's mom, wwyd?
It's just a hypothetical. I don't know A's mom personally. My friend knows her in passing.
Post by thedahliharpa on Jul 29, 2015 23:39:19 GMT -5
Kid A doesn't need any kind of milk. if his mom insists there are plenty of other hours of the day it can be served outside of school. Kid B needs to be safe.
Kid A doesn't need any kind of milk. if his mom insists there are plenty of other hours of the day it can be served outside of school. Kid B needs to be safe.
Exactly this. Kid A won't starve without milk. Kid B might die being exposed to nuts. Seems pretty simple to me. I'd be livid if someone put my child's life in danger since their little precious would only drink almond milk. Or only eat PBJ or whatever.
ETA - If she absolutely can't imagine him not drinking "milk" then she can investigate dairy/soy free formula. Or hemp milk, or maybe there are some other fake drinks marketed as "milks" out there.
I'd mix the almond with rice milk till he was fully switched to rice milk before starting. He would eventually switch to another milk, after mixing the ratios a bit.
I wouldn't just say he didn't need milk at all because my kids, Jane in particular, would be screaming at the top of her lungs refusing food all day if she didn't get any milk. Some kids need it more than others, is a comfort to them, etc. Obviously she needs to figure something out though because she can't send him with almond. Maybe she should find a place that isn't peanut free? I don't know. I'd figure with a little time he could switch rice milk. You just have to mix them in and slowly add more of the other one each time and eventually they'll be drinking the other kind and not care. I've done it with formula to almond, almond to regular, and each time had to do it that way.
If he already went to a nutfree place though, she probably shouldn't have even tried almond anyway. She should put him back on whatever he was before this, formula? And then slowly mix the formula with rice milk or whatever else is nut free.
Post by creamsiclechica on Jul 30, 2015 0:06:08 GMT -5
Firmly in the milk is completely unnecessary camp. And it's not even a choice or a question. Toddler B's health, safety, LIFE is paramount. It sort of pisses me off when people act like it's an inconvenience to their child's preference when it could mean serious injury or death to another.
I was gonna say drink something else but he's pretty young, M had bottles of milk during the day until she was like 2. I would probably find a new daycare if he has to have the almond milk.
If I were A's mom I would get to an allergist to be certain of a milk or soy IgE mediated allergy or perhaps intolerance instead of just being in the realm of "seems to be".
The school is nut free so if milk must be consumed during the day, a nut free version needs to be figured out. I mean didn't she know this before introducing almond milk? If he has to have it, then she needs to find a new day care. I mean this isn't even a choice.... It's the life of another kid for crying out loud. This is what scares me as a parent to a child with IgE mediated allergy and confirmed component testing to ara H2, an anaphylactic peanut protein. People even question this shit. No nuts! If a kid is anaphylactic to milk or eggs - no milk or eggs! It's not an inconvenience for us - It's life or death.
Nut free is nut free. The daycare will never allow almond milk even without Toddler B starting. Toddler A needs to find a new milk or new daycare that isn't nut free.
We are at a nut free daycare but some people are just idiots, at Valentine's Day some parents put peanut butter cups and peanut M&Ms in the cubbies in the hall.
We are at a nut free daycare but some people are just idiots, at Valentine's Day some parents put peanut butter cups and peanut M&Ms in the vivid in the hall.
regular M&Ms are a big time danger, too. Made in a shared line with the peanut M&Ms. Holidays stress me out SO much because so much candy and chocolate is not ok.
We are at a nut free daycare but some people are just idiots, at Valentine's Day some parents put peanut butter cups and peanut M&Ms in the cubbies in the hall.
This has happened at Halloween, Valentine's day, and Easter at our daycare. Reeses, Mr. Goodbar, etc. I now attend all events that involve parents sending food bc people either are totally oblivious or don't care. It sucks. I prefer to assume oblivious bc thinking they intentionally are putting my kid's life in danger makes me ragey.
Okay I see everyone's arguments but you are all missing a few points--- first of all it says it was a PEANUT free daycare.. It doesn't say NUT FREE. So maybe she was fine to try almond milk.
Secondly the people saying kid A needs to find a new daycare, kid B isn't a current student. He is becoming a student so is it fair to tell kid A to find a new school just so kid B can attend?
(Just playing devils advocate-- I do not have an official stance in the matter!)
Okay I see everyone's arguments but you are all missing a few points--- first of all it says it was a PEANUT free daycare.. It doesn't say NUT FREE. So maybe she was fine to try almond milk.
Secondly the people saying kid A needs to find a new daycare, kid B isn't a current student. He is becoming a student so is it fair to tell kid A to find a new school just so kid B can attend?
(Just playing devils advocate-- I do not have an official stance in the matter!)
Later on she said nut free ? Most places that are peanut free are nut free. This is because the majority of those with peanut allergy are allergic to tree nuts and there is a lot of cross contamination between peanuts and cashews, almonds, etc.
Okay I see everyone's arguments but you are all missing a few points--- first of all it says it was a PEANUT free daycare.. It doesn't say NUT FREE. So maybe she was fine to try almond milk.
Secondly the people saying kid A needs to find a new daycare, kid B isn't a current student. He is becoming a student so is it fair to tell kid A to find a new school just so kid B can attend?
(Just playing devils advocate-- I do not have an official stance in the matter!)
Later on she said nut free ? Most places that are peanut free are nut free. This is because the majority of those with peanut allergy are allergic to tree nuts and there is a lot of cross contamination between peanuts and cashews, almonds, etc.
Oh I took the later part to mean that now that student B is attending the rules are changing to be completely nut free (Like maybe they weren't taking it seriously before a kid with a serious allergy attended)
I don't think the kid should be allowed almond milk, I'm just trying to clarify some points.
I think mom A needs to keep the kid on whatever formula he was on and/or slowly mix it with rice/coconut/Etc milk
I disagree that toddler a needs to be tested for a true allergy. My DD is dairy and soy sensitive - eczema and gas are her two biggest symptoms and all our docs have said to avoid. Allergist didn't want to see us til she was 2 either.
BUT that doesn't mean A should have an accommodation that puts others at risk. A could transition to another milk substitute or just drink water during the school day. Mom of A needs to figure it out since life threatening allergy (or medical need) trumps all.
If the child has a contact allergy or the center is nut free (at one point in OP peanut free/once says nut free) no question that the almond milk can't come in. No question! If not, it's a bit more iffy for me. In my school we have, many different allergies and intolerances. We are extremely vigilant about keeping any contact allergens out of classrooms with allergic kids and procedures such as wiping when anyone enters the room (we aren't a nut free building). We work with parents/the nurse on a plan for each allergy kiddos room, but that plan does not always include banning the allergen. If it is an allergy that only impacts the child if they consume the item, the plan is often that alternate snacks are available, the child's allergy is listed in all sub plans so they don't accidentally get it if the teacher is out sick etc, and a seating plan at lunch that the parents prefer (we have an allergen free seating area in the cafeteria -some parents want to use it, but most parents without contact allergies prefer their kid to sit with their class). The child's safety has to be first. I'm just looking for info to see if keeping it out of the school all together is needed to do this.
Just for example, one year my room had peanut allergies, bannana allergies, kiwi allergy, gluten free kids, egg allergy, tree nut allergy, red dye intolerance, sunflower oil allergy, fructose sensitivity and dairy free students. We also had several kids who did not eat beef or pork for religious reasons. I tried, with the parents, to create a snack list of items all kids could have. Alternate snacks are fine, but we do community snack and I didn't want anyone left out. We came up with such a short list, everyone decided it was best just to prioritize the items that were safety risks.
Kid A doesn't need any kind of milk. if his mom insists there are plenty of other hours of the day it can be served outside of school. Kid B needs to be safe.
Exactly this. Kid A won't starve without milk. Kid B might die being exposed to nuts. Seems pretty simple to me. I'd be livid if someone put my child's life in danger since their little precious would only drink almond milk. Or only eat PBJ or whatever.
ETA - If she absolutely can't imagine him not drinking "milk" then she can investigate dairy/soy free formula. Or hemp milk, or maybe there are some other fake drinks marketed as "milks" out there.
While I agree that the almond milk can not come into the school and the mother needs to work at finding an alternative, I find it rude to refer to the other child as 'little precious'. This child also has allergy issues which are, fortunately, not life threatening. It sounds like the mom is trying. Nothing in the original post read to me like the other mom wants to put the other child at risk and I feel 'little precious' was uncalled for. Forgive me if your intention was not to be rude. I know dealing with allergies is frustrating and difficult.
Hopefully this discussion can help open up some suggestions.
I would say she needs to serve it at home and water at school (or a non nut milk) or formula Or find a different daycare
This.
Toddler B's life is more important than a cup of almond milk. Toddler A is not going to get too dehydrated and drinking almond milk during day car hours is not essential to living.
I disagree that toddler a needs to be tested for a true allergy. My DD is dairy and soy sensitive - eczema and gas are her two biggest symptoms and all our docs have said to avoid. Allergist didn't want to see us til she was 2 either.
BUT that doesn't mean A should have an accommodation that puts others at risk. A could transition to another milk substitute or just drink water during the school day. Mom of A needs to figure it out since life threatening allergy (or medical need) trumps all.
A sensitivity or intolerance is different clinically from an allergy. I can't stand the term "true allergy", sorry. It's my soap box issue because it makes people not be able to wrap their head around the fact when L is exposed to nuts he can die. It's one of the reasons his allergy gets dismissed even by some family members with intolerances like Celiac's. Someone either has IgE mediated food allergy or they don't. You are either allergic or you are not allergic. There is no other type of allergy.
I disagree that toddler a needs to be tested for a true allergy. My DD is dairy and soy sensitive - eczema and gas are her two biggest symptoms and all our docs have said to avoid. Allergist didn't want to see us til she was 2 either.
BUT that doesn't mean A should have an accommodation that puts others at risk. A could transition to another milk substitute or just drink water during the school day. Mom of A needs to figure it out since life threatening allergy (or medical need) trumps all.
A sensitivity or intolerance is different clinically from an allergy. I can't stand the term "true allergy", sorry. It's my soap box issue because it makes people not be able to wrap their head around the fact when L is exposed to nuts he can die. It's one of the reasons his allergy gets dismissed even by some family members with intolerances like Celiac's. Someone either has IgE mediated food allergy or they don't. You are either allergic or you are not allergic. There is no other type of allergy.
I'm surprised that your family with Celiac reacted that way! That is terrible.
My sister has severe Celiac, confirmed with endoscopy. Her blood test numbers were so high that they couldn't even be measured when she was diagnosed. A lot of people said to her, "hey no biggie! GF is all the rage now. You can find GF food at restaurants everywhere!" Except that so many people are GF for lifestyle reasons, not Celiac, that restaurants don't understand the severity of cross-contamination. Even just using glutenous (lol) hands to make a meal for her can make her sick. And if she doesn't lay off the gluten, she will get extremely sick now and eventually get cancer!
My point is that allergies are real, yo. No nuts means no nuts - no exceptions. And a gluten allergy, aka Celiac, is not the same at all as someone who avoids gluten or has a "gluten intolerance."
ruby412 DH's aunt has Celiac's. She always has nuts out on the tables at holidays and it makes me a nervous wreck because there are always around 80 people there and I'm scared he will be given something by someone who doesn't know us well.
Celiac's is serious, but it is not an allergy. A person can be wheat/rye/barley allergic, though. This means that there is an IgE response to the allergen which is very different from Celiac's, which is an auto immune disorder.
ruby412 DH's aunt has Celiac's. She always has nuts out on the tables at holidays and it makes me a nervous wreck because there are always around 80 people there and I'm scared he will be given something by someone who doesn't know us well.
Celiac's is serious, but it is not an allergy. A person can be wheat/rye/barley allergic, though. This means that there is an IgE response to the allergen which is very different from Celiac's, which is an auto immune disorder.
Oh my gosh, I'm not saying that if my sister eats gluten it will kill her (on the spot - eventually, it could.) I'm saying that it is something, like nut allergies, to be taken seriously. And I'm shocked that someone who has Celiac wouldn't be sensitive to that. Shame on your aunt.
Later on she said nut free ? Most places that are peanut free are nut free. This is because the majority of those with peanut allergy are allergic to tree nuts and there is a lot of cross contamination between peanuts and cashews, almonds, etc.
Oh I took the later part to mean that now that student B is attending the rules are changing to be completely nut free (Like maybe they weren't taking it seriously before a kid with a serious allergy attended)
I don't think the kid should be allowed almond milk, I'm just trying to clarify some points.
I think mom A needs to keep the kid on whatever formula he was on and/or slowly mix it with rice/coconut/Etc milk
That's exactly it. They've been "nut free" but never enforced it. Now that an allergic kid is starting, they're enforcing the rules.
Post by Faevantastic on Jul 30, 2015 10:11:48 GMT -5
Yeah, the obvious solution is to start introducing him an alternate type of milk that is not nut based.
E's daycare had a pretty loose rule about peanuts/nuts until our discovery of E's allergy. They sent out notices and put signs up everywhere immediately.
Pops to the daycare for taking this seriously for Kid B.
Exactly this. Kid A won't starve without milk. Kid B might die being exposed to nuts. Seems pretty simple to me. I'd be livid if someone put my child's life in danger since their little precious would only drink almond milk. Or only eat PBJ or whatever.
ETA - If she absolutely can't imagine him not drinking "milk" then she can investigate dairy/soy free formula. Or hemp milk, or maybe there are some other fake drinks marketed as "milks" out there.
While I agree that the almond milk can not come into the school and the mother needs to work at finding an alternative, I find it rude to refer to the other child as 'little precious'. This child also has allergy issues which are, fortunately, not life threatening. It sounds like the mom is trying. Nothing in the original post read to me like the other mom wants to put the other child at risk and I feel 'little precious' was uncalled for. Forgive me if your intention was not to be rude. I know dealing with allergies is frustrating and difficult.
Hopefully this discussion can help open up some suggestions.
I read the OP as Mom A was considering knowingly bringing nuts into a nut free daycare. I deal with this at least monthly and worry about it daily since lots of parents disregard the frequent nut free reminders and send PBJ anyway. If the daycare was just peanut free, I'd feel differently, but blatantly disregarding the rules is rude.
Outside of daycare with a no nuts policy, I sympathize with a mom trying to feed her kid. We all need to coexist and make accommodations as appropriate. I have no problem with her feeding the almond milk at her house, in the car, etc. Just with considering ignoring rules.
Kid A doesn't need any kind of milk. if his mom insists there are plenty of other hours of the day it can be served outside of school. Kid B needs to be safe.
I want you ladies to know that I'm very torn on responding to some of these comments because of how much I respect you all.
Again, I want to reiterate that I agree that A cannot bring almond milk to school. Maybe they can try goat? Or keep on the formula that works for them? There should be some kind of solution.
To those who are saying that the child doesn't need any milk, I am surprised. Not all children are eating a fully balanced diet at the age of one and do need a milk type product to bridge some gaps. thedahliharpa - I know you extended breastfeed as part of an attachment parenting philosophy but isn't it also due to the fact that the girls cannot have any of the milk substitutes? We also don't know how long this child will be at the daycare facility on a daily basis so they very well might need a milk substitute while in attendance.
We don't know enough about this situation to make some of the assumptions and judgements that are being made.
Even though we are no longer dealing with a peanut allergy for Madison, I am still one of the most vocal proponents of adherence to nut free policies because we do need to keep ALL kids safe. I've almost left my local group several times due to the ignorance displayed at the allergy discussions. Apparently they believe people should just home school their allergy kids. The ignorance makes my blood boil.
So I think the mom should keep him on whatever he was on before (unless she was nursing and already weaned? That could be a major issue) But I agree with you on how you're feeling here
I agree that baby A's needs are getting blown off in a way that is pretty flippant. This child also has medical needs in regards to feeding. I don't think anyone here would argue that a food that a child has a serious contact allergy to should be in their childcare setting. Of course kids safety is number 1. That said, an allergy does not always mean the allergen must be banned all together. There might be a safe way to get both kids what they need. Based on the post, we don't know if just having the milk in the facility would actually be a danger to anyone. If baby b has an allergy that only relates to ingesting the allergen, I see no reason why it can't be there for baby a. Staff would need to be well informed about who can have what/ monitor while eating/ drinking (ex: make sure there is no way baby b can't grab baby a's sippy of milk and drink it) but that is something staff should be able to do.
I agree that baby A's needs are getting blown off in a way that is pretty flippant. This child also has medical needs in regards to feeding. I don't think anyone here would argue that a food that a child has a serious contact allergy to should be in their childcare setting. Of course kids safety is number 1. That said, an allergy does not always mean the allergen must be banned all together. There might be a safe way to get both kids what they need. Based on the post, we don't know if just having the milk in the facility would actually be a danger to anyone. If baby b has an allergy that only relates to ingesting the allergen, I see no reason why it can't be there for baby a. Staff would need to be well informed about who can have what/ monitor while eating/ drinking (ex: make sure there is no way baby b can't grab baby a's sippy of milk and drink it) but that is something staff should be able to do.
With the way that babies spit up and drool on anything, I would not be comfortable with baby A having any nut milks during daycare hours.