I have had a young child with severe allergies to eggs, nuts, peanuts and dairy as well as a few other minor allergies. All of his triggers caused severe anaphylactic reaction. He began with my program at about 2.5. With parent approval, we had a constant conversation about keeping our food "Braiden-safe." I usually sat him between two of the most "responsible" children at the end of the table. I felt it important that he learn to live with his allergies, eat and socialize with the other children. All of my children have their own place settings, and we color coordinate all -- Some duplication occurs but I was sure to have his color NOT be duplicated and drummed into my own routine that if I see orange, I must stop and think. Additionally, I worked with Braiden that EVERY time I or anyone served him any food he was to ask "Is this Braiden safe?" before his even tasted it. If the other children didn't hear it, they were to ask. He's been away for the summer, and the other children are still asking me if its Braiden-safe. It worked. Braiden is off to kindergarten this year, and Mom and I are reasonably comfortable that he is prepared to keep himself safe.
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Sheryl Eichenlaub
Bethel Park PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-17-2018 06:36 AM
From: Elizabeth Kelly
Subject: FPIES Advice
Hello All,
I'm Lizzie and I teach infants and toddlers and I practice 3 year looping at a Reggio inspired school. I have been a looping infant-toddler teacher for 13 years and I have worked at my center for a total of 17 years.
My current class is at the end the infant year of our 3-year loop, but in August the class will transition with me to a young toddler classroom. We engage in family-style meals at our center around home-like tables (not kidney shaped ones).
Currently I have a child in my classroom with FPIES, a rare and serious allergy condition. Here is a link if you would like to know more about the condition: http://fpiesfoundation.org/about-fpies-3/. Essentially, we need to keep the child away from any of the six trigger foods that we know the child is allergic to AND ALSO any other food that the child has not yet tried. If the child consumes one of the trigger foods, we then must go to the emergency room. We have been developing our own safety protocols since the child was diagnosed, however, I am curious what other practitioners are doing in the field. So, I was wondering if anyone out there has practical advice for me about keeping a child with FPIES safe during meal times and clean up after meal times in a toddler classroom.
At this time I am thinking about:
- What is the safest seating option for this child?
- We currently have her in a high chair while the other children eat at the table (we still do have a couple of the smaller children in the class who also use high chairs)
- However, in August when we transition to the young toddler room we usually have all the children sit at the table. However, I tend to feel safest with this child remaining in a high chair to keep her safe, but since our center (and I) highly value family style eating I am concerned about her beginning to feel alienated over time eating in a high chair when everyone else eats at a table.
- I am grappling with my values about family style eating and her safety and I would appreciate hearing different perspectives on this…However, in my internal struggle safety is really foremost in my mind.
- For other toddler teachers who have navigated concerns with this diagnosis, what strategies do you use for post-meal clean up and maintaining the child's safety from accidental exposures to food?
- Do send the child to a structured activity/experience/or specific area?
- Do you send the child out of the room completely?
- Bank on the child being engaged in learning areas in the room?
- Other strategies
- Do you have other table safety strategies you might share?
- Are there other concerns, important lessons, or sage advice that you would like to share with me?
I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and comment! Many thanks!
Lizzie Kelly
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Elizabeth Kelly
Demonstration Teacher
University of Tennessee Early Learning Center for Research and Practice
Knoxville TN
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