What should I do about this huge mistake my son's preschool made??

Question

Today was my son's first day of preschool. He has a serious allergy to dairy. I put that info all in his registration papers, and I also talked to the director and explained it to her. Well, when I picked him up he was sitting there with all of the other kids at lunch drinking a cup of milk!!!!! I just could not believe that! I took the cup of milk to the director, and said He is not suppose to drink milk, why was he given milk?? She just stood there, looking confused. No apology, or oh my god, or anything!!!! I really do not think I will take him back. That was such a careless mistake!! Luckily he does not have life threatening reactions, but still, what if he did???

Answer 1

do not take your son back there. If they are that careless with your sons allergy's, imagine what Else they could be careless with. You should also make an official complant..

Answer 2

I would not take him back. Allergies as you may already know can be very serious and often times worsen with each exposure. Mistakes do happen, but this is very important and I can't believe the director just stood there looking confused. I am not normally the kind of person to make a big fuss about things, but I think if I was in this situation I would do everything in my power to make sure a higher authority at the preschool new or even call the office that does state inspections.

Answer 3

You are doing the right thing about not taking him back. I'd also see if you could sue. You put it in registration AND told the director. Now when you sue the director could say "Well he accepted it". Your response should be: "But I'M the parent and he has a deadly allergy!" Tell all of your friends not to send their kids there. If you paid for this preschool make sure you get a full refund. My daughter is allergic to cherries and I'm extra carefull to see she doesn't eat them. For the next pre-school you send him to make sure you stress it about the milk. Also, remind your son he can't drink milk, this isn't his fault because they could have forced it to him. I'd ask him they forced him to drink it. And also call or email the head of the whole preschool and tell them that you expect an apology since you put it on the registration and told the director personally. This is a very bad thing. Never take him back.

Answer 4

Not acceptable, pull him now. I am a preschool teacher, I'm also a parent of children with food allergies. Most places will have a list in the classroom, better places will have a list with photos in case of staff changes. They should also list the severity of the the allergy and an agreement should be worked out as to if they will provide snacks/meals or you will, in a center where kids bring their own it's not an issue.....in a center where they provide, they might accomodate, or they might ask you to provide your own to ensure safety. Allergies like dairy and soy are really hard to avoid, milk and soy are in everything, so it would be better to bring your own.

I worked for a small child care center that was basically a remodeled walk out basement. I quit the day after the director fed a lactose intolerant child macaroni and cheese made with whole milk and velveeta cheese. She said the lactose intolerance was all in his mother's head. That is not acceptable, not at all.

It should have been noted, and everyone made aware before he started the program, which obviously they did not do. I would pull him, they don't seem to have it together. Look for another program. Depending on how much of a stink you want to make, you could also contact child care licensing in your state and make a report. They are very lucky he didn't have a severe reaction, and food allergies can change in severity over time....so who is to say that what causes a runny nose and itchy eyes today won't cause anaphylaxis two months from now? Makes me shudder to think.

Answer 5

you need to make sure if you take him back that the teachers are aware of his allergy. There should be a paper posted stating your sons name and his allergy. You are right just because it isn't life threatening doesn't mean it shouldn't be taken seriously. Preschools have gotten sued over similar issues depending on the reactions. I would make sure to have a sit down with the teachers and the director and make it clear that he can't have the milk or any dairy products (they don't always realize that includes icecream,cheese, yogurt and stuff like that). Make sure the sign is posted. If they can't take you serious about it and make sure it doesn't happen again and applogize for the mistake then i would move on to a new preschool.

Answer 6

Wow, I would definately pull him out and put him in another preschool. When you do, let them know EXACTLY why you're withdrawing him. Also, let the new preschool know why he was pulled from the other one, so that they can be on alert regarding him and his allergies. My kids have been in three different preschools, and all of them have been REALLY careful about kids with allergies. It's important to tell not only the director, but the teacher (and I mean EVERY teacher your son would come into contact with who may serve him milk). Write a note and tape it to his cubby at first, or pin it on his shirt.

Also, teach your son to speak up for himself. My older son has food allergies, and from the time he was about two years old, he's known what he's allergic to, so that if he's not with us and someone offers it to him, he can tell them "No, I can't eat that, I'm allergic to it."

Ideally, you wouldn't have to depend on your preschooler, the school would not even try to offer him food he's not supposed to eat. However, it's just a good idea to teach the one person (him) who is ALWAYS there when your son is offered dairy products to know to turn it down.

But I definately wouldn't send him back. Just the fact that the director kind of sat there without apologizing or even expressing concern is a bad bad bad bad sign.

Answer 7

Do not take him back there. I used to work in a daycare and when a new child was enrolled, the director would give the teachers all the details on him or her, especially concerning allergies whether they were in their class or not. We also had a list of all the children enrolled with food/medical/environmental allergies posted in each room saying what exactly they are allergic to and the type of reaction they may have when exposed. I understand that mistakes can be made but for the director not to even apologize is unacceptable.

Answer 8

Sounds like a lack of communication between the director and the teacher. First days at schools are confusing for everyone. You really should have gone to the director and find out why the teacher was NOT informed about this because it's NOT the teachers fault.
Give the school a few days for everything to calm down and then things will be fine.

Answer 9

I would have to agree with you on not taking him back. I take my daughter to registration tomorrow for preschool and would be mortified if after all the precautions I have taken, walking into get her and seeing something like that! I could not imagine a preschool being so careless! And to not even apologize speaks volumes about the kind of people that are employed there. Luckly it wasn't a life threating situation, but it could have been. You might consider making a formal report or something. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 10

I used to be a preschool teacher and we were always very careful about that kind of stuff. I wouldn't take my child back if it was me and I used to be a teacher. There is just no excuse for that.

The only thing I think you could have done is to speak directly to the teacher about his allergy since she is the one who will be with him all day. The director is just a middle man.

Answer 11

If I were you, I wouldn't take him back there. I would however, right to the main office for the preschool. Let them know what happened. Tell them you feel like they were careless with your son. And I would also tell them, you don't plan on your son returning to the center, because of the carelessness.