For those parents who have children with multiple food allergys in particular, how do you go with day care?
DS is returning to his old care centre but to a new class. His centre is meant to be fully catered for, however Im not feeling confident that they know what they are doing this year. (Last year was less of an issue).
Do you simply provide your own meals for the centre? If your centre is catered, do they offer any reduction in fees for not catering for your child?
Mine has a list of children clearly indicated in the kitchen and rooms of those children with allergies. My son is on them as he's intolerant to sesame (eczema is caused by it. We also went without egg and dairy to check if they were triggers for his eczema for a while.) and other children with several allergies are also listed. The kitchen clearly indicates which meals are for those children by a different coloured plate to the main group of children without allergies. The only children that I know aren't catered for are for a family which are vegan as that is a bit too hard for the centre.
If the main meal isn't suitable for children with the allergies to have they provide a similar meal without the allergy ingredients for those children.
Might be an idea to see how the new class shows who has food allergies for the staff and ask how the kitchen does provide for those with allergies.
There might be issues with taking your own food in. I worked in a place once where two kids had severe allergies, so there was a strict policy of no home foods, so that we could be sure there were absolutely no traces of eggs or nuts. So check that out. But if not, and you want to take your own food in, then that's a good idea.
The centre has to display a menu - if you want your child to eat their food, check it out, and if there's anything that looks offensive, ask them "What will my child be having instead of Arrowroot biscuits?" (as an example) That should be a pretty good but subtle clue that he shouldn't be having whatver is planned.
Communicate, as much as you can, it's the way to keep on top of it. If it is a fully catered place, then they'll have a cook on staff. Make friends with that cook. They're the ones that run the place
Im not feeling very reassured at all from talking to the centre staff.
I was told by the admin (as I couldnt talk to the manager) to bring our own food for the next day he was in as she couldnt be sure that it would be sorted by then. He is nut, wheat, soy free plus fructose intolerant with restricted Egg exposure. Id rather not have to take our own food in tbh and its just one more thing to add to the list to get out the door, however after talking to staff Im just not confident that they know what they are doing. Or that they can communicate effectively within their own staff to know what is going on.
The centre currently doesnt have a "cook" I spoke to the girl who was replacing her and she didnt know that gluten free encompasses wheat free but not the other way around. That's concerning.
Its also concerning that I have spoken in length to both the manger and his old room leader about this and they are both aware of the type of reaction he will have, however speaking with the new room leader she has no idea. Nor was she aware of any of his other underlying medical conditions. Honestly I feel like pulling him from the centre but I dont really have any other options care wise. They were so good last year
ETA: Oh and the mistake that they made was giving WHEAT-bix to the WHEAT free child
I think you need to give a very detailed list of what is and isn't acceptable. Sorted in such a way that it is easy to find.
And listed by food rather than hazard (i.e. no wheat, no rye, no barley, no soy sauce, no .....)
And also give them a quick reference - "if hungry give yoghurt" or whatever it is you do at home.
If you make a list of examples of things he can have then they will get the idea - although bringing your own food for the first little while does make sense.
Can he have lunch in the old room for the first week, given that you are more confident in that carer's ability to deal with any reactions?
It isnt possible to list it in food source rather than hazard because brands differ, for instance one brand of gluten free wraps are okay, the rest arent. Brands also constantly change their ingredients without warning. It really is a case of reading the labels and knowing what your looking for and doing. They werent even able to follow the no wheat direction by giving him wheat-bix and that really is the easiest of the requirements to follow.
Unfortunately since speaking with the centre again, they havent given any answers for my concerns. Apart from apologising for the actual incident they continue to shift the blame and accept no responsibility for what happened otherwise and what has happened afterwards from this. I am told they will not reduce fees as it is my choice to provide food that he can safely consume and that I know he can safely consume. There were a lot of other unreassuring things said and after everything that has happened I dont feel he is safe there and will be looking to remove him as soon as I can. I never in a million years saw this coming.
Childcare & Allergies/intolerances
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