First day of school—with food allergies

The first day of school isn’t just nerve-racking for kids—it can be tough on moms and dads too. After spending so many years looking after a child, packing their lunch and sending them off to be taught and supervised by adults you’ve never met before can be a lot to deal with. That first day of school anxiety is often even stronger for the parents of children with food allergies, who worry if their children will be protected from reactions in the classroom. “The idea of classrooms filled with children, foods and other potential allergy triggers can be scary for children with food allergies, and their parents,” says John Lee, MD, director of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Food Allergy Program. “But thankfully, food allergy awareness has come a long way in the past few years. With a little extra planning from mom, dad, an allergist and the school, there’s no reason for school to cause extra anxiety for any child with allergies.” To do so, Lee recommends the following: Get help figuring out your child’s needs Schedule time with your child’s pediatrician or allergist to create a written set of instructions on how to help your child avoid reactions at school. Once completed, the list should be shared with the school’s nurse and its administrators and circulated to all your child’s teachers. But, when creating these instructions, it’s important to remember that every school is different, and plans may need ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: All posts Asthma & allergies Diseases & conditions Food allergies Milk allergies Food Allergy Program going to school with food allergy John Lee Source Type: news