I'm not sure if this is the right board- but none of the others seem to fit either...
Our son was diagnosed with allergies to dairy, wheat, peanuts and eggs at 10 months old. Our doctors were hopeful that he'd outgrow most/all of them. Over the summer we added bananad and laytex to his list of allergies since his eczema flared up in direct correlation to both of those.
We just saw the allergist for his follow up (14 months old now) and he's still testing as severely allergic to the weat, dairy, peanuts and egg. We get an epi pen this week and will make an appointment to see a nutritionist asap.
If there are other mom's out there with food allergy kiddos- any ideas you have for how to cope with all of this? i can deal with it all pretty ok at home, but I hate that I can't take my son to a birthday party or dinner at a friend's without having to pack his own meals. Thinking about the holidays coming up just feels overwhelming because all of the food at every party is a potential threat. I hate that I feel compelled to watch like a hawk any time we're around other kids to make sure he doesn't chew on a toy that some kiddo with a cheesy puff mouth just slobbered on. I'm terrified of him starting his new 'school' next week where the toddlers eat at a table together even though I know that he needs that interaction for his devlopment. And I'm out of ideas on what on earth to feed my kid so that he gets the calories he needs to grow (we're not even on the growth charts any more).
sorry if this has turned into more of a vent. I'm just out of ideas and out of energy trying to figure this out on our own.
Re: any severe food allergy families over here?
First of all, I promise - in some areas, this does get better. You will learn more foods that he can eat, how to deal with eating at other's houses, etc. The severe allergy is still scary, but it becomes easier to cope with.
My DS is allergic to wheat, peanuts and tree nuts along with a few other random foods. Since your son just recently turned 1 and you've only been dealing with this since he was 10 months old, you are still relatively new to figuring out foods, I would imagine. I made a blog post with a ton of food ideas that are wheat free and peanut free (and many of them are also dairy, egg, soy free- although I didn't notate that). https://www.themagicofmama.com/2010/08/gluten-freewheat-free-favorites.html Maybe it would give you some new ideas.
We have a supply of cupcakes in the freezer that I take out and bring with us if we are going to a birthday party (since he is now at an age when he realizes that he wants to eat the cake like everyone else). My staple food to bring with us is a cheese quesadilla made on a white corn tortilla. I know you can't do cheese - but maybe a soy cheese instead?
The bread we buy (Udi's brand) is dairy free along with being wheat and treenut free and we make mock-PB&J sandwiches with soynut butter and jelly. He loves them and they travel really well.
I know if's difficult to always bring food with you, but it becomes more routine over time and I don't really even think twice about it anymore. Plus, I've staked out a few places where I can buy fast food that he can eat (like an Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich without the bun - just the meat) so that I can grab it on the road if we are out and about.
If you have any questions please let me know!
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It's exhausting to try to control your child's environment everywhere he goes. And yet it's what you have to do to keep him safe, so it feels like you're stuck.
FWIW, many of those allergies *can* be outgrown... I used to be allergic practically to everything! Peanuts, however, are way less common to grow out of.
I have to worry about what both of my kids eat, Cole because of allergies, and Dean because of his genetic disorder (and related metabolism issues). It's exhausting to be so mindful of food all the time. But I've just accepted that we are going to bring food everywhere and not expect that the rest of the world "gets it." They just don't.
It's exhausting I have to admit, but it does become "an old hat" after some time. We've been doing a special diet (no gluten, no dairy) for about a year and a half and it does get better.
My son is 5, so we're definitely in the b-day party/get together predicaments pretty often. Just tomorrow his Kindergarten will celebrate October birthdays by serving all kids cupcakes. A year ago this would be hell for me, but now I know exactly where to go for delicious vegan/gluten free cupcakes. I'll just give it to the teacher tomorrow to give to him at the party. Same thing happenned with a gingerbread scavenger hunt last week....they got gingerbread cookies at the end of the hunt.....these things happen A LOT once your child starts school. Social gatherings are almost a daily thing. By trial and error, you have to find at least ONE treat that he will enjoy at parties and as far as the rest of the food.....yes, we have to pack everything. Some of the moms in our group are getting really good now, so when they are having their kids' birthday parties, they make sure they do a lot of fruit plates and veggie plates....that way my son can have something of the "party food" as well, but mostly it's my responsibility entirely for everything to go smoothly food-wise. It's hard, sigh.
I also make both his lunch and snack for school. Before the LAUSD goes through its motions and grants us special meals at the cafeteria, I pack his lunch according to what they have on the calendar. I don't want him to feel excluded, so I do my best to mimick the food they're serving. This is actually a much better scenario for me, because at least I know what my child is eating and it's not all processed crap. When the kids have their fries full of oil and chicken nuggets, at least I know I baked my own fries for him and the nuggets have organic chicken in them, KWIM? If you put a positive spin on it, it's much easier to go along with the whole thing....though it's time consuming.
As far as him dealing with it emotionally, he's 5 now, and he knows that certain things "will give him a tummy ache and are not good for his body", therefore he doesn't eat them. With smaller children it's harder, as they don't know any better (my son also had accidents when he was smaller...another child offered him a cracker and he happily took it), these days he won't do it. He knows he can't have it and he's pretty good about it.
Of course there are times when he wishes he could eat something he sees another kid eat. But these times are less now, because I've learned my lesson and I usually tend to have a treat or two on me just in case. If he gets sad, I give him his favorite, and he's happy again. I think most times it's harder on me than on him....I get sad because I want him to experience things/food the way other people do, but it is what it is.
Good luck!
thanks all for the suggestions!
we've just started a new daycare that has been super accomodating of his allergies. I'm planning a trip to whole foods this weekend. I'm sure as we get more used to operating like this it will get easier. Plus once I know some of the safe foods I won't have to make every grocery trip into a 2 hour food label reading expidition.
I will definately check the blog above and the bakery in StL.