Do you find this strange?

ToastieSimons · September 2011

We went to DS's 2nd ST appointment (it was pretty much a reevaluation of his skills since he was on the wait list so long) and she wanted to do some oral motor skills work. (He has his therapy at the local SpEd school)

One of the practices is to put peanut butter on the roof of the mouth to get them used to extending and manipulating their tongue to remove it.

She didn't want to use peanut butter in a child this young because she had no idea if we had introduced it or not.

So weird thing 1. There are signs ALL over the school, 2 between the PT/OT and ST doors that say "Peanut Free Zone". There are a few severely allergic children in the school and they have asked that it be peanut free. So the fact that she would bring peanut butter into a school that clearly states it's a peanut free zone is baffling. I understand it was in the therapy room.

2. Since she didn't want to use peanut butter I figured she would pull out Sun Butter or something less allergic.

She pulled out a container of Betty Crocker icing. She wanted to give my 15 month old a tablespoon of icing on the roof of his mouth.

MaxandRuby · September 2011

First, I would remind her of the peanut free zone and allergy stuff and tell her to use Sunbutter in the future. Second, while I get she is using icing as a substitute for the PB, I would think she would and could find some OTHER alternative then icing.

kar5162 · September 2011

Weird, very weird. I mean, I guess I can see how both textures could work, but yes, Sunbutter and icing? Weird.

2lovelyboys · September 2011

Ditto Auntie!

MirandaHobbes · September 2011

Ditto above- not weird, not a big deal. My son got fruit snacks regularly from his ST as a reward when he was learning PECs. I was sortof surprised but in the big scheme of things, who cares? If it works, it works. If she starts giving him the whole tub to snack on, then I might be concerned.

ToastieSimons · September 2011

-auntie-:

Not at all. This is pretty much standard practices.

You're overthinking this. And a little bit judgey.

1. The peanut-free zone thing is typically overdone in schools. It's a very, very rare kid who is so allergic to peanuts that a dust spill would cause harm. Given that peanut butter does not produce dust and that it would be used under her direct supervsion there is no risk to a child who has allergy issues.

2. The frosting is a standard oral motor tool. It has the proper consistency for LOs and serves to make the hard work she is asking of them a little less onerous.

If you have an objection, speak up. But understand that a substitution may not be as effective or as pleasant for your child.

I guess I also forgot to mention that all his paperwork say he is allergic to corn syrup.

ridesbuttons · September 2011

I don't find it that unusual. My SLP suggested peanut butter for this purpose as well. Icing seems like a decent substitutue for stickiness and most kids aren't likely to reject it.

Peanut free is tricky. If the peanut butter is in the therapy room only and under the control of the SLP, then I find no problem with it at all. I'm sure many kids have peanut butter included in their breakfast. It is comparable to that scenario.

Peanut free zones can lull people into a sense of complacency which can be dangerous.

If your 15 month old has had birthday cake, then he's had a tablespoon of icing in his mouth already. No big deal.

ETA: the corn syrup allergy was omitted from your OP as well and the SLP might not know that dextrose is likely sourced from corn. If you don't like her sticky food suggestions, bring in something that you think will.

smiling76 · September 2011

-auntie-:

Not at all. This is pretty much standard practices.

You're overthinking this. And a little bit judgey.

1. The peanut-free zone thing is typically overdone in schools. It's a very, very rare kid who is so allergic to peanuts that a dust spill would cause harm. Given that peanut butter does not produce dust and that it would be used under her direct supervsion there is no risk to a child who has allergy issues.

2. The frosting is a standard oral motor tool. It has the proper consistency for LOs and serves to make the hard work she is asking of them a little less onerous.

If you have an objection, speak up. But understand that a substitution may not be as effective or as pleasant for your child.

Ok--I'm new here so don't want to rock the boat...but your comment about peanut free zones being overdone.....maybe I would have thought that a long time ago--but as a mom to a child that has a peanut allergy--it's one of the scariest things ever. And further, we can't be there with our children at school--so to know that one element that could cause their death is watched, makes us feel a tad bit safer.

Kids don't NEED peanut butter--I think they can go a few hours a day without having it around. The child in the room next to my son's is so severely allergic that ANY amount of peanut dust, residue, etc will cause an anaphylactic reaction. Sunbutter is so much better for the kids---truthfully---way less fat and junk in it--and tastes good. Not sure why more don't go that route.

The thing about frosting is that could have milk or wheat--and so many are allergic to that too. It's tough really.....but hopefully they talk to the parents before going forward with using ANY food.

MaxandRuby · September 2011

Personally I don't see anything judgey about this post.

I think bringing PB into a place that has PB free zone signs everywhere shows that this person isn't paying attention to the policies this particular school has in place. My son has a nut allergy. While it isn't as severe as someone who has had PB breathing near him and him having a reaction, he is allergic none the less. All it takes is one little bit ingested and we have problems. I'd prefer not to be called and being told that his EpiPen was used and 911 called thank you very much. How would you like to be the person that caused a reaction like?

As for the icing, well, my kids don't get icing on a regular basis at all and neither of them were all that interested in cake (frosted or not) for their birthday or anytime. So, in fact, neither of my children have ever had 1 Tbsp of icing in their life ever.I would not object to it being used as a PB alternative for a test though (unless, of course, there were allergies associated with the ingredients of icing). I get that icing would be used as something with a similar consistency but isn't there something else out there that would work as a PB alternative that isn't icing? I obviously do not know what this would be.

Florak8 · September 2011

If you are concerned, speak up while it is happening and ask to bring some sunbutter or whatever you choose in and do that assessment at the next meeting. Or ask, "How does bringing peanut butter in to the building mesh with the peanut-free zone?" Do you feel that allergic children were endangered by this ST? If so, you need to alert administration at the school immediately so the area can be thoroughly cleaned.

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