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Sending Your Allergic Baby Out Into the World |
 Your baby is ready for the big time - he’s sleeping through the night, weaned and potty trained. You’ve both survived early infancy. But before shipping your precious cargo off to preschool or day care, there are a few things you can do to ensure your food sensitive and allergic baby will be safe and ready for his new learning experience.
Ensuring your baby's safety begins by meeting with his pediatrician and/or allergist. The importance of frequent and open discussions between you and your baby’s doctors cannot be overstated. It is vital in assuring your baby’s safety at preschool, day care or anytime your baby is out "in the world". Ask your baby’s allergist to devise an action plan that you can provide to the preschool or day care in the event of an emergency.
Next, communication between you and the administration of the day care of preschool is critical. Be direct because you know exactly what your baby is allergic to. Inform your baby’s preschool or day care administrators, nurse and staff of everything your baby is allergic to so they will be fully informed. Give the staff nurse a copy of the allergy action plan your baby’s doctor developed and be sure she is fine with it. If for any reason she is not, discuss this with your baby’s physician so the plan can be modified. If your baby develops a new allergy or has a different reaction, the action plan must be updated; review and submit a new plan every year or more often if your infant's allergies change.
Provide the day care or preschool with your baby’s prescribed medications. Find out if the teachers and staff know how to administer your baby’s medications or if you will need to teach them how to use any specially prescribed appliance. Let them know you need to be informed of every set of circumstances having to do with food, candy items kept in the classroom, parties, field trips, etc. This way you and the staff can work together to put a plan in place which will prevent your allergic baby from coming in contact with those foods.
It should go without saying that children must eventually learn to be their own greatest advocates. In keeping with your baby’s developmental level, get him properly involved in his own care. Teach your young child from an early age how to say “no thank you” when offered food and understand the importance of not drinking from someone else’s beverage. Help your youngster to appreciate that there is no shame is letting others know what is going on with him. In this way, you and your young child can help establish a more protective environment while at day care of preschool. As your baby gets older, he can learn what to look for on food labels, how to select the best foods for his special dietary needs and how to keep up with his own prescriptions.
Going to preschool or day care can be a fun filled learning experience and time for intellectual and social growth for your little one. Be sure to cover all bases including the following steps.
- Meet with your baby’s allergist.
- Have thorough discussions with preschool or day care administrators and staff.
- If your child is old enough, make sure he understands the importance of compliance for better health and well being.
Doing these things will go a long way in ensuring your baby has a safe and enjoyable time as day care of preschool and will come home to you safe and sound without an unpleasant or possibly dangerous incidence of infant allergies while your little one is out in the world.
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