[Soccer Mum]

Just wondering with regards to kids with Nut allergies... is it OK to give DD peanut paste for breakfast before childcare, or is that likely to cause problems for a kid with a nut allergy, say if she drops a tiny bit on her sleve or something? I dont know if any kids at her childcare do have a nut allergy, but they have a nut free policy.
Thanks

[mmk]

Some kids have airborne allergies, so even if it was still on her breath it would be enough to give them a reaction. Other kids have touch allergies, so if they were to touch her sleeve or if it rubbed onto something and they touched it they would react. Other kids have to eat the food to react to it.

I'd personally ask at the centre what degree of nut allergies they have. Where DS used to go they had a sign up when there was nut anaphylactic children there, so in that case I would completely avoid it for breakfast. If there's only children with mild allergies that need to eat the food to react, then you should be ok. I'd be inclined to give her breakfast in her pj's though, just in case.

For us, it was easier just to leave peanut butter for the weekends or after day care...

[Soccer Mum]

Thanks, I might ask them. Its one of the few things DD likes at the moment so I guess I should find out.

[Julie3Girls]

If there is a child with a severe allergy, yes, a smear of it on your daughter's clothes or hands could cause a problem. Just being on her breathe could be a problem.

We had a child with a severe allergy at our preschool, and were asked if the children were having peanut butter for breakfast, to do it before getting dressed for preschool, and to clean teeth. To not give it to them to eat in the car on the way to preschool.

[-al-]

Lots of people do it, but it is not really ok, unless you are particularly careful about the clean up and change of clothes. Many centres have a hand washing policy on arrival, for germs but more for allergens.

[Avogadro]

Did you know that there is a no-nut peanut butter (okay, its not called that but that's what we call it in our house LOL)

Its made from sunflowers and you buy it in the health food section of the supermarket. My kids definitely prefer the real thing but are happy enough to have the no-nut version on toast or sandwiches for school.

[30bt]

there is no reason why you can't give your child peanut butter before school, if they have a drink and wash their hands there is no way even the most allergic child will react. Anyone who says their kid will really needs to go and see an immunologist at a children's hospital and have their child looked at by a paediatric immunologist.

Some people will react if a packet of peanuts was opened in a small enclosed space and the protein flies into the air but not if your kid breaths on them after having peanut butter for breakfast!!!!

[BornToLove]

We give DD peanut butter for breakfast all the time. It’s always before getting dressed and we clean her hands, face and brush her teeth before sending her. This was the recommendation from the centre at orientation regarding nut products for breakfast.


The center is nut-free but we were told no kids in her room have known allergies. If there was a child with nut allergies we would probably give her something else.

[seepi]

There is one child with severe nut allergies in DS's room at daycare, and signs all over the place in his room about it, and even on the door on the way in, so we are pretty careful. But if they haven't said anything, I wouldn't worry too much about toast for breakfast at home.