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Food Allergy
blue33
member
About to start daycare...and SCARED
blue33
member
in Food Allergy
So, my little guy is 8 months, and my mom has kept him in her home from the time I went back to work until now. She is now having to have some minor surgery, and I have to put my son into day care for 3 days a week due to conflicts in my and DH's work schedules and budget. I am SOOO NERVOUS. I talked to the director at the facility we chose, which was highly recommended by several of our friends and family members, and she assured me that they have experience with children with allergies, and that several kids have epi pens on file, but that they have never had to use them. She gave me a copy of their menu, but due to my son's age and allergy (nuts, milk, and eggs), I will be bringing his food for lunch and snack. I did a tour of the classrooms, and the teachers were very nice, although, I noticed that one of the teachers was eating cookies at her desk, and I mentioned to the director the fact that my son is so sensitive, he can't have eggs eaten around him, so no mayo, or anything like that should be eaten around him. She said, when he starts, his teacher will be told of his allergy, and he will wear a red allergy alert band, so that anyone can see that he is not to be touched by anyone who has handled the things he is allergic to. She seemed to be very sincere, and I pray that she is, but I am so nervous. I know that being around other children will help him learn social skills, but I am so afraid he will get sick from someone being careless. I wish I hit the lotto and had the financial resources to hire an in-home care provider, but after my extended leave during my very difficult, high risk pregnancy that landed me in the hospital for over 4 months, I have to face reality.
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Re: About to start daycare...and SCARED
I'm sorry.. i know it sucks and it's super stressful! i can't even imagine. We tried putting our son in Day care and after touring 2 we said hell no!!!!!! so if you are comfortable with that one, go for it. At least there is more than one eye watching your son. We are literally broke paying our nanny and wish we could do a day care but there are none around me that are so allergy friendly. None of them spoke to me with compassion and understanding and i just didn't feel right. So pretty much my entire check goes to my nanny and i'm just working for our insurance and end of year bonus. When baby #2 comes, i might have to quit.
At least your day care has experience with an epi pen. Have they watched the video? if not, i would ask the manager if they could please watch the epi pen video. also if you could have a meeting with everyone -a simple 10 minute meeting just to explain the symptoms (coughing, rash...) and this way you personally express how scared you are and that you are putting your childs life in their hands.
good luck and i'm sure it will go smooth. If you feel like it's not going as planned after couple of days -take her out. but i'm sure it will be fine.
I completely understand. When we found out the extent of my daughter's allergies, I thought there was no way we could put her in daycare. Our daycare is peanut/nut free and everyone there is very well of her allergies. They are written on a paper that is hung in the classroom and every teacher knows about her. (She has been there since 3 months old, so they learned about all of her allergies as we did).
I gave my daycare one of my training epi-pens so they can all practice. My daughter is fed all of her meals (breakfast, lunch and snack) in a high chair that is away from all of the other kids. Everyone must wash their hands when they get to daycare and wash them after every meal. My daughter isn't taken out of the highchair until after the hands are washed and the floors are mopped.
Putting your child in a daycare is a risk, but for some people, that is the only option. We looked into a nanny, but we can't afford the $500/week it was going to cost us. On top of $1,500 a month in formula and medicines, it just wouldn't work. I am sorry you have to go through this. I know how bad it sucks!
Take a deep breath and exhale! This will be ok, just take it one step at a time.
I was totally freaking when we found out about DD's allergies (peanut/tree nut) and daycare. I still freak out at least once every week depending one what I see a teacher bring in for breakfast.
Something that reassured me when we found out (DD has gone to this daycare since she was 17 months old) was that a child in the 3 year old room is super sensitive to peanut/nuts. She has never had a bite yet and is so high on the chart she goes straight into ana should she come in contact the slightest. They haven't had any issues with her since she has been there so that helped calm me down a little - knowing they have cared for this child's more severe reaction so well.
That said - I am constantly looking at what other kids bring for breakfast (that is the only food that is supplied by parents) and what the teacher's bring because I am paranoid!
The Day Care I worked at made any one who was giving an epi pen to a child to be MAT trained so they knew exactly how to use it.
My DD is a teen so she carries her epi pen with her at all times, so there isnt the fear at a day care for me just the fear of a phone call from school.
If you feel comfortable then send your LO, how ever at any day care teachers shouldnt be snacking on foods in the class room unless its the day care provided snack. They should be eating their snacks in the break room then washing their hands before the enter the class room. Thats what we had to do at ours Just my vent and rant on the matter.
GL