# Daycare - are you trying to kill my daughter? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706 "2009-02-13T17:09:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/81 "2009-02-14T21:45:35Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > What I mean is it may be time to do just that. While she should absolutely not be expected to take full responsibility for her food allergies, it would be very nice if she knew what was required and how to tell someone else about it. Four is not too young to teach her a silly song to help her remember, just in case the person around her next time she’s exposed is NOT fully trained in the use of an epi-pen. What if it’s at a friend’s house? Or there’s a substitute in day care? Or there’s no one but kids around? For example (I’m sure you can come up with a better one together: > > To the tune of, of course, “Found a Peanut” > “Found a peanut, ate a peanut and now I cannot breathe! > Stick the epi-pen into my thigh, and not up my nose, please!” > > (I don’t know what else is involved in epi-pen administration, but more verses can be added as needed.) > > Sounds silly, right? But if it’s silly it’s not too scary, yet it could still save her life. > > My daughter just turned four last week, and she’s very good about asking every person who gives her something to eat if it has gluten in it. If they say, “what’s that”? She can tell them it comes from wheat and makes her tummy hurt and she needs special crackers and bread. And I’ve watched her say, “No thank you, I’ll have a corn chip instead” when presented with foods that she can’t verify are gluten free. > > Four year olds need protection, but they’re not helpless babies, either. Oh, she knows how it works. They give you a demonstration one (no needle) for practice, and we go through it with her twice a year or so. We’ve just haven’t emphasized that if it ever happens for real, it’s going to be a huge freaking needle going about 1 cm into her thigh. And it is huge - I used an expired one on an orange just to see what it was like “for real”. Any adults who are responsible for her get a few practice stabs with the demo as well. It’s not hard - take it out of the tube, pull the cap off, smack the black end into the side of the thigh, count to 10. I guess my point is that the “training” isn’t as much how to use the pen, as when to use it, and what to do afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/82 "2009-02-14T23:04:13Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > I readily admit that the probability of me getting flamed for this post approaches one, but people are inordinately scared of peanut allergies, especially for children. The way the media reports it, you might guess that anthropomorphic four-foot tall peanuts stalk your children on the way to school with bats in-hand just waiting to take little Johnny out, but I’m more sanguine. I dunno. I never trusted that [Mr. Peanut character.](http://z.about.com/d/history1900s/1/0/F/Q/wwiip10.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CAT\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@CAT\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAT_1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/83 "2009-02-15T00:50:20Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > Just kind of a high-jack here. I raised a kid with severe allergies including the peanut\* one and dairy and a bunch of other things. If you don’t want your kid to be ostracized by the other parents and kids be a bit pro-active yourselves. We did not demand that all the parents make or bring treats that our daughter could have. We did ask that we be told when someone was having a birthday or other celebration and what they were bringing in to pass around and then sent along something similar for our kid so she was never left out. At large family gatherings we put a sticker on her that said: “Don’t Feed Me.” > > \*We did a hospital run after they made peanut butter in her kindergarden class. She didn’t touch or taste it but the fumes were enough to swell her eyes closed and make her start gasping for breath. That was a scarey one. > > \*\*We always supplied our own epi-pen and did not rely on day-care or school to have one. That way we were assured that it would be there if she needed it and it would not be out of date. You might want to think about that. This is very similar to how we have been treating out son’s peanut allergy. His school isn’t peanut free. He sat next to a kid eating a PBJ just last Thursday while I was visiting. I provided a box of snacks just for my son, in case the snack of the day has nuts. So far so good. They have checked with me a couple times, about things they aren’t sure of too. At his Valentine party on Thursday, I noticed that he got about 5 snacks in his bag that had peanuts in them. I just make sure and sort them all out before he gets anything. And he is pretty good at being very vocal if he even SMELLS peanuts! If he were only 2 or 3, I would worry a bit more. He is five and has known of his allergy for a couple years now. \*We also provided our own epi pen for the school. Back to the OP. I would be upset too, if they did say the room was peanut free. That should mean every day! Not, just when we aren’t having a party. Because everyone knows they are having a party of some sort every other week. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/84 "2009-02-15T00:54:33Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Oh **kanicbird** , you crack me right up. I always perk up with glee when I see that you’ve written something because I know you’re always good for a hoot. But you’ve outdone yourself this time. That’s just hilarious! > > You should change your name to komicbird! Well, at least he didn’t say that all she needs is an exorcism to get rid of her peanut allergy. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/85 "2009-02-15T01:03:54Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > What I mean is it may be time to do just that. While she should absolutely not be expected to take full responsibility for her food allergies, it would be very nice if she knew what was required and how to tell someone else about it. This actually isn’t a bad idea. As a sub, if someone started having a severe allergic reaction in my class, I would have no idea what to do. I’d hopefully think to call the nurse, assuming there is a phone in the room and that’s schools extensions are posted somewhere. We don’t get any training in situations like that. Teachers are supposed to leave the list of their students’ medical problems, but most don’t since they don’t want the kids getting a hold of it. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/86 "2009-02-15T01:50:18Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Oh, she knows how it works. They give you a demonstration one (no needle) for practice, and we go through it with her twice a year or so. We’ve just haven’t emphasized that if it ever happens for real, it’s going to be a huge freaking needle going about 1 cm into her thigh. And it is huge - I used an expired one on an orange just to see what it was like “for real”. We used expired Epis in class, and practiced on rubber arms. It’s an 18g needle - yes, it’s freaking huge. My instructor triggered one on a piece of cardboard, and the epinephrene went about 12 feet. > [@](#): > > I guess my point is that the “training” isn’t as much how to use the pen, as when to use it, and what to do afterwards. An Epi-Pen is not a cure-all. It’s merely a stop-gap until you can get her to the ER. A lot of people think you can pop yourself (or your child) with an Epi-Pen and go about your day. This is not true. If you end up using one, someone still needs to call 911, and you’ll end up visting the ER. ---
**Author:** ![Aithele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Aithele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aithele)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/87 "2009-02-15T02:19:27Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Yeah, we’re going to report them to the EEC next week. I’m not going to bother with the police station - if no crime has been committed, they won’t care. Perhaps I should have been more clear. If you aren’t sure with whom to file the complaint, you can go to the police station. They will make a report and pass it along to the licensing agency. Unless your local police department works much differently than mine. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/88 "2009-02-15T13:27:13Z")
In the fall I attended a fundraiser for a local family whose daughter died after eating a Subway sandwich that had been cross-contaminated with peanuts. The family was diligent about avoiding nuts and Subway was one of the “peanut free” restaurants that they trusted. However, this Subway was in a mall food court and the workers manned both the Subway booth and the neighboring cookie booth. The worker had picked up a peanut butter cookie and set the tongs on the wax paper that she later wrapped Emily’s sandwich in. This trace amount of peanuts set off an allergic reaction and Emily collapsed and died a few minutes later, just shy of graduating from 8th grade. [http://www.foodallergyangel.com/default.aspx](http://www.foodallergyangel.com/default.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/89 "2009-02-15T22:25:55Z")
I read yesterday in the _Star Tribune_ Northwest is changing their inflight snack from pretzels back to peanuts. Outrage ensues and mothers with nut allergic children take their business elsewhere. :rolleyes: I think another Bubonic Plague would really focus the nations perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/90 "2009-02-16T05:01:58Z")
I give it about ten years before peanuts and peanut products are taken off the market entirely. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/91 "2009-02-16T05:11:50Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I give it about ten years before peanuts and peanut products are taken off the market entirely. _From my cold, dead HANDS!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/92 "2009-02-16T05:46:49Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > _From my cold, dead HANDS!!!_ You’re allergic too? ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/93 "2009-02-16T06:54:58Z")
While I would totally respect a request not to include nuts in any birthday snacks I sent to school, I would be totally upset if my kid’s daycare tried to ban her from eating nuts - to teh point where I would need a REALLY good reason to keep her in the school. But then - nut allergies are totally unheard of here - to the best of my knowledge I have never seen / met / talked to anyone here with a nut allergy (not that this really means very much at all mind you) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/94 "2009-02-16T13:34:11Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I give it about ten years before peanuts and peanut products are taken off the market entirely. I find this unlikely. The incidence of serious reaction is actually still very low and too many people like peanuts and peanut butter too much. > [@bengangmo](#): > > While I would totally respect a request not to include nuts in any birthday snacks I sent to school, I would be totally upset if my kid’s daycare tried to ban her from eating nuts - to teh point where I would need a REALLY good reason to keep her in the school. > > But then - nut allergies are totally unheard of here - to the best of my knowledge I have never seen / met / talked to anyone here with a nut allergy (not that this really means very much at all mind you) The only reason it does not mean much is you don’t even say where “here” is. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/95 "2009-02-16T14:56:45Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > I read yesterday in the _Star Tribune_ Northwest is changing their inflight snack from pretzels back to peanuts. > > Outrage ensues and mothers with nut allergic children take their business elsewhere. > > :rolleyes: > > I think another Bubonic Plague would really focus the nations perspective. Got a cite for the outrage? And of course, I’m sure you respect the rights of someone to choose the airline they fly on for any damned reason they wish, including a desire to avoid anaphylactic shock when they’re 30000 feet in the air. > [@bengangmo](#): > > While I would totally respect a request not to include nuts in any birthday snacks I sent to school, I would be totally upset if my kid’s daycare tried to ban her from eating nuts - to teh point where I would need a REALLY good reason to keep her in the school. You mean “ban her from eating nuts **while she’s actually in daycare** ” right? Since that’s all a daycare can really do - I’ve never heard of one that tried to control what the kids eat while they’re at home. And if the daycare told you at the time you applied that your kid would be in a nut-free area, you’d make your decision whether or not to use that daycare then, and not try to subvert the rules on your own later, right? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/96 "2009-02-16T17:59:22Z")
My daughter’s daycare is amazing - at mealtime the kids all have personalized laminated placemats which list in big letters their names and the types of foods they cannot have (milk, soya, wheat, etc). I’ve watched them serving breakfast when dropping her off in the morning (the pushchair storage room is just off the cafeteria) and they do check carefully that the kids are in the right place and getting the right meals. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/97 "2009-02-16T21:39:02Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Got a cite for the outrage? And of course, I’m sure you respect the rights of someone to choose the airline they fly on for any damned reason they wish, including a desire to avoid anaphylactic shock when they’re 30000 feet in the air. [Margaret Gildner of St. Louis Park, whose 1-year-old son and 7-year-old niece are allergic to peanuts, said she and others are disheartened by the Feb. 1 policy change. “There’s no more flights on Northwest for us or any of our family members,” said Gildner, who in November booked a March trip to Florida on Northwest. With the peanut change, she’s cancelled that flight and rebooked on Sun Country, which doesn’t serve peanuts.]([http://www.startribune.com/local/north/39532317.html](http://www.startribune.com/local/north/39532317.html)) ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/98 "2009-02-17T01:54:10Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > You mean “ban her from eating nuts **while she’s actually in daycare** ” right? Since that’s all a daycare can really do - I’ve never heard of one that tried to control what the kids eat while they’re at home. And if the daycare told you at the time you applied that your kid would be in a nut-free area, you’d make your decision whether or not to use that daycare then, and not try to subvert the rules on your own later, right? Yes exactly right 🙂 Basically I would really be annoyed if the school told me she wasn’t allowed to have (at school) something that I consider to be a normal, everyday sandwich topping. I’m not talking mountains of potato chips, lakes of fizzy high energy drinks or really unhealthy choices like that. If I pack her a peanut brownie, walnut afghan or similiar why not? These are no worse for her than say, an anzac biscuit or angel cake. On reflection though - if the school **asked** me not to for the sake of a particular child’s health I may well comply ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/99 "2009-02-17T02:13:55Z")
Sounds like there’s a market for a hypoallergenic daycare - there should be enough affected kids to support a modest business model. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706/100 "2009-02-17T02:29:34Z")
Grr, most of the people posting here are not crazy “nuts” asking that peanuts or other nuts be banned from the universe entirely. Folks are only asking that if you say a room is nut free that the room is actually nut free. If your kid has a deadly allergy you should be able to leave them in a school/daycare with some established idea of the risk involved. If the school says the risk is “A” then the risk should be “A” and not “F”. FTR we never even banned peanut butter even in our own home. Damn I’m 54 and still eat PB&J sandwiches on a regular basis. We just made sure we didn’t put the knife in the PB before we put it in the jam and that we didn’t kiss the kidlet with any traces of PB left on skin, beard or whatever. Our kid had over the top reactions (last year a couple of docs wanted to write a research paper on her but that’s her story to tell) but we never, ever told others what they could or could not eat. The kid has traveled all over the world and survived. Take heart parental units of allergy kids. Life is good.🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daycare-are-you-trying-to-kill-my-daughter/485706.md?page=6)