What would you think if your child's daycare wanted to outlaw peanut butter?

Question

Our center is considering eliminating "nut products" such as peanut butter, items with nut oils, and any items such as granola bars, candies with peanuts in them, or peanut butter crackers. We have already eliminated them from the snacks and foods that staff serve to children, but the administration is considering a policy that would forbid parents to send these items in their child's lunches. I think this crosses the line of responsibility. I believe it is the center's responsibility to take "reasonable" precautions to protect our children with special allergic conditions, which includes not serving potentially harmful foods and avoiding cross-contamination. However, I feel that it crosses the boundary when the center tells families what to serve to their own children. What do you think?

In addition, I work at the center (and my youngest child attends it). I know the policies inside and out, and we have a large staff. Our center caters to children with special needs (about 60% of our population is children with a disability). Children in our center are watched like hawks during eating times, since we do have some children with fatal allergies and/or other serious feeding issues. We usually have one-to-two care during eating times (1 teacher to 2 children). Sharing is not an option for our kids. Children with special feeding concerns such as a fatal allergic reaction to a food are separated from the other children who have the offensive food, and other extreme diets are accomodated as well. I feel that we do more than our share as a center to eliminate the possibility of contact with a substance that may be harmful to a child. It is our foremost consideration. I have great compassion for special allergies, but these children will have to adapt at some point....

Answer 1

I feel schools and daycares are really overstepping the bounds here. I feel for the kids who have allergies, But I think if my kid wants to eat peanut butter-thats his right. Since when did the rights of one group(kids with allergies) trump the rights of another(kids without) I know a woman who was asked not to feed her son ANY peanut products at home because when her little boy was sent to school..he MIGHT have the oil on him!

These kids have got to learn that in the real world people are going to eat peanuts. You cant cater to them their whole lives. They need to learn responsibility for themselves.

I DO have kids who have various allergies. My kids knew from early on what to avoid. Kids need to be taught what is ok for them to eat and not ok. IF the kid wont do it, then the PARENT should sit with the kid while it eats lunch to make sure nothing is shared. Most parents of kids with allergies would NOT go and sit with their child, but instead expect everyone else to change. How is that fair? Its not being a responsible parent. Which is sorely lacking today.

Answer 2

I work in a center where it's a "peanut free place". Peanut allergies are the #1 allergy in children. We had a child who broke out because he touched a doorknob that was touched by a parent who had handled peanuts. The center is looking out in the best interest of the center as a whole. If your child as allergic and broke out at the center, I bet you'd be ticked! I believe most centers are peanut free. If you're that upset, try looking at a center where the meals are provided. It's a controlled situation so parents don't have to worry about what's being given. If you would like an appropriate substitution, try sunflower butter.

Answer 3

They are looking out for the well being of the children that are allergic to these items, some kids have severe reactions when in contact with peanuts. Even though you have a large staff you cannot help if a child has peanut oil on there hands and touches one of the kids who are allergic. My sister works at a day care and they have never allowed any peanut product to enter through their doors. This keeps all children safe.

Answer 4

I have a severely milk allergic child, who is 2 and a half. Even being a stay at home mom, it is tough trying to explain to other kids such as cousins and friends that my guy can't even touch foods/drinks or ANYTHING that has milk, a milk product, or possible milk contamination. Although I am sure that most daycare canters are safe and trustworthy, I feel better staying at home with my child. Watching my child break out in hives and proceed to stop breathing is a scary sight even though I am a paramedic! (This is how we discovered we had an allergy at only 12 months old) I think that if you are offended by a center wanting to "outlaw" any item, you should seek alternative child care, and respect the parents that don't want to get a call from someone saying that their child is being rushed to the ER with symptoms of anaphylactic shock .... When it comes to child safety, nothing crosses the line.

Answer 5

If a center decides to not serve nut products, due to allergies, that is their decision. Just be be on the safe side, in case they don't know if someone has such an allergy. If a parent knows their child doesn't have this allergy, I don't see it as a problem.
But children may share food, which may explain why the administration doesn't want these items brought to the center.
I have sent my son to school with a snack, and I know he has shared it with another kid.

Answer 6

I think it does cross the line. However, if the reason for doing this is to protect a specific child with a specific allergy currently attending the center, then I think it is a reasonable request. Regardless of how supervised the kids are, the possibility that one of them will share a nut product with the child that has allergies still exists. So, depending on the reason for the policy it could be the administration crossing the line, or it could be an example of the administration taking that extra step to protect someones child.

Answer 7

There are some kids that are very allergic to peanut butter and can potentially die if they eat it. If your kid takes peanut butter to their day care and shares with his/her friend who is allergic, there is liability for the daycare if the child has a severe reaction.

You can serve your child whatever foods you want when they get home. But while they are under the legal custody of a daycare, the day care has to take precautions to protect their liability and they have a right to tell you not to send your child with potentially harm full foods, even something that seems so harmless as peanut butter, because you're paying them for their services and with that you agree to the policy.

If you don't agree with their policy then you should find a daycare that will let you send your kid with peanut butter. But this is a trend that will most likely continue because there have been major issues in daycare centers, and allergies to certain kinds of foods is one of them.

Answer 8

I guarantee that if your child had a severe allergy to anything, your tune would change. My 9 year old son has a peanut allergy. He has experienced 2 episodes at school, so far he has not had a severe, life threatening reaction, just hives, difficulty swallowing, and his eyes almost swollen shut. That was from just being touched by someone who must have had peanut butter for breakfast earlier that day. He has to have an epi-pen at school. A doctor would say that in both cases, that epi pen should have been used. By the way, we're in a town of about 800 people and at least 4 people I know here have a peanut allergy.

Answer 9

I completely agree with your outrage, but to play devils-advocate I think I can also understand their reasoning. Children will often share, or trade their food with other children which could accidentally lead to an allergic reaction. I really think the chances of this happening are pretty slim but with the chance of getting stuck in a costly lawsuit that is obviously not a chance that the Daycare is willing to take. I can tell you that if someone tried to take my 4 year old son's peanut-butter sandwich he would have a major fit.

Answer 10

Some kids have such bad reactions to the peanuts, or nuts that if they smell it they have a reaction and if your child had a peanut butter sandwich and got it on their hands and touched a door knob and the child that is allergic touchs the door know then again another reaction. I know this because it happened in my kids school.