Preschool/daycare with IgE allergies

[changingseasons]

I know a lot of the moms that hang out here are SAHMs, so I'm looking to hear from some of the moms out there that WOHM and use daycare (or preschool) for their LOs. Specifically toddlers, who don't always understand their restrictions and are easily tempted when seeing others eat something that looks delicious, or that don't understand why someone can't give them a kiss or hold their hand after drinking some milk or something.

There might come a point in the near future where I will have to go back to work and put DD into some sort of care. I really can't afford a nice fancy preschool program, so it would most likely be a Head Start program or something.

I guess my big concern is this- how do you keep your allergic child away from other kid's food without having them completely segregated? DD's list of allergies is so long, that there is NO way to have a classroom avoid her allergens. And my concern is that she would just end up getting medicated (benadryl, or worse epipen) every day. I'm not ok with that. I'm also afraid that if I am working, I'll end up getting calls multiple times a week to come pick her up because she has hives or something, and how does someone keep a new job like that?!

I just don't know how to make this work.

(For those that don't know us, DD has a huge list of IgE allergies, as well as other food intolerances. She has about 10 safe foods. She's contact allergic to a number of things, and about 90% of the time that we even play with other kids [no food involved] she ends up getting hives.)

[JaneS]

That's tough one CS, maybe find a home situation with less kids and a caregiver that would be more available and understanding?

[changingseasons]

Ack. Having her in someone else's home makes me even more nervous, because then there's bound to be food (&cc) all over the place!!

[Sandrine]

As a childcare provider and mom to a little girl with allergies, I for sure make sure that things are super clean and food only goes in the kitchen and diningroom. I do take care of another little one, who's parent has celiac, by the mom's demand, I don't give him any gluten or wheat. I have another one who's allergic to milk, she comes only in the morning and i will give her a sippy of water and everyone else around her too. We also wash our hands OFTEN and especially after meals as I don't want any of the kids to have a reaction.

I think you could find, with lots of reseach and loads of questions, a childcare provider that will be able to do all she can to help you keep your dd safe.

Good luck in your search! Wish I was closer and have openings for your dd.

[spedteacher30]

As an infant and toddler, my son was in a center with very strict food policies. We provided all food, and the kids were all in their own highchair/booster seat. DS sat in a booster with a feeding tray and other kids had boosters that were on the table. the provider sat next to him and kept him from reaching other kids' foods.

since then, he has always been in nut-free places (his ana reaction) and has outgrown most of his other allergies. Now, though, he's so picky that he won't eat anything but his favorite 10 foods anyway.

I actually think you will be surprised--most of the centers around here are far stricter than we are in our home. I had to argue with the center he is in now that his soy allergy really was manageable--they were too freaked out to listen to me, even with a note from his allergist.

If you are in a place with USDA food program, they will provide appropriate substitutions by law if you get your doctor to fill out the required paperwork.

[mamafish9]

CS, I can't fathom how you'd make it work, honestly .

Have you considered something like qualifying her for SSI, so you could stay home and take care of her? I think you can pretty much argue she isn't safe in any public facility unattended by you at this point. You may need to try placing her in a Head Start program for a week, document the hives every day, and then get a doctor to sign off on that being unsafe, or something like that. I'd talk to local social services people to find out what the path might look like in your town. But I think you could make the case that she has an "unspecified immune disorder", including severe contact IgE allergies, that make it impossible for even a very careful and organized preschool program to keep her from having potentially life threatening reactions on an almost daily basis.

ETA: Or maybe offer in-home childcare yourself, specializing in kids with allergies? You can't be the only person with these challenges, although yours are extreme. You could offer a very safe house for toddlers with peanut allergy, etc.

[stephienoodle]

Originally Posted by mamafish9

Have you considered something like qualifying her for SSI, so you could stay home and take care of her? I think you can pretty much argue she isn't safe in any public facility unattended by you at this point.

I think you'd have a good case. You'd need to get the ball rolling before you'd need the income, though. It can take a while to get SSI and other benefits started.

[changingseasons]

Thanks for all the ideas. The only experience I have with this stuff is working for a head start program (I was their system admin, and occasionally visited the centers to work on computers and stuff), and I know that all the kids eat family style. Obviously, I could bring her own food, but it still seems tricky when all the kids are serving themselves and responsible to clean up after themselves.

Originally Posted by mamafish9

Have you considered something like qualifying her for SSI, so you could stay home and take care of her? I think you can pretty much argue she isn't safe in any public facility unattended by you at this point.

ETA: Or maybe offer in-home childcare yourself, specializing in kids with allergies? You can't be the only person with these challenges, although yours are extreme. You could offer a very safe house for toddlers with peanut allergy, etc.

Huh. SSI would have never crossed my mind. I will look into it. I'm conflicted about the idea of her being on it.... I'm not exactly sure why.

I have thought about doing childcare, but right now it would be really hard since we're doing all this remodeling on our house, we don't have a fenced yard, etc.

[purplepaperclip]

My dd started in center based care at 2. The teachers and directors take food allergies very seriously. Since she was/is unable to protect herself at this age, they protect her. A teacher or director always sits next to her at lunch in the lunch room and she eats snack at a seperate table in the classroom. We have only had to use her epipen once in the 9 months she has been attending so far. *knock on wood* The staff has been outstanding about educating themselves and providing a safe, loving place for our daughter. Imo the right center makes all the difference in the world!
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