https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:55:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177558 Wed, 13 May 2015 21:16:53 +0000 jedeve 2177558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: I've heard you SHOULD eat allergic foods while pregnant to reduce risk of developing an allergy. </p> <p>@Baby Boy Mom: I think you're right, it has to do with the food supply/genetics/gut. I read something about since we are generally cleaner, our immune system can go into a mode of attacking things it shouldn't, like gluten. Lord only knows if that is true, but it was an interesting idea. I wish we knew. </p> <p>Right now it seems so scary for LO to worry about this his whole life. But I remember they are making leaps forward every day. Who knows,<br /> in twenty years someone might get diagnosed with a nut allergy and parents go, "oh huge bummer! We have to do six weeks of therapy now. Did you know that people used to actually die from that? Seems so crazy cause it's totally manageable now." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177534 Wed, 13 May 2015 20:47:44 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2177534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have so much to say on this topic but I'll keep it short. My almost four year old has almost outgrown his egg white allergy. We've essentially been doing exposure therapy with our doc's blessing and it has been a long journey but happy to be where we are. My two year old is currently soy/dairy/wheat free. In addition to the physical reactions- predominantly vomiting and rashes- we have behavioral symptoms directly related so I am led to believe this is going to be a long-term issue.<br /> I am absolutely of the mind that it has to do with changes in our gut- so much of our immune system is- the question is why. There is also obviously a genetic component. The big thing for me personally is the change in our food system since the 90s. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177524 Wed, 13 May 2015 20:30:28 +0000 yin 2177524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: Great point! We administered an EpiPen when my LO went into anaphylactic shock, and 20 minutes later he showed symptoms again that landed us in the hospital. I had a second EpiPen on hand, but I didn't know that I could have given him a second dose right away. I learned about this after the incident and wish I had known sooner. Our allergist had never mentioned it before, and at the next appointment I confirmed that you can give multiple doses of epinephrine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177512 Wed, 13 May 2015 20:19:43 +0000 charlotte 2177512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: your comment "even doctors aren't always up to date" reminded me.... always keep your epi pen twin pack together! You may need both doses. Our regular ped told me to split them up and keep one in diaper bag and one at home. NO!!!! We actually didn't know any better and did what he said for a few months until the allergist said um no, you need to carry both, that's why they come as a twin pack!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177507 Wed, 13 May 2015 20:10:55 +0000 yin 2177507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Great analogy with razor blades. It would be nice if people could be more understanding and ask how they can help instead of place blame on us as parents or our children. There is no need to make negative comments. Also I did all of the "right" things too, and I'm tired of having to prove myself to everyone. </p> <p>@brownie: Thank you for being that mom who is so considerate of food allergies! Free of the top 8 is very challenging. It's so nice that you can bond with your step mom and educate her about food allergies and then bake together too. Amazing! </p> <p>@DesertDreams88: I haven't heard of avoiding the top 8 during pregnancy. Given LO1's history, I was advised to take vitamin d3 when I was pregnant with LO2. Some studies have shown that it may decrease the chance of food allergies. I took it everyday, even before the recommendation from the allergist (read about a link of decreasing the chances of GD and it didn't work for me), and LO2 has more food allergies than I can keep up with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177488 Wed, 13 May 2015 19:59:29 +0000 yin 2177488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meesker: Take food introduction slowly. I know it can be scary. You know your child best, and it's okay to delay a food to stay on the safer side. You can also give it to her prior to a doctor's appointment so that the doctor can monitor any signs of a reaction.</p> <p>@charlotte: Great point with allergies, eczema, and asthma! Both of my kids had really bad eczema as babies, and I took that as a sign of a possible food allergy. We asked the on call pediatrician if there was a connection with the foods I was eating while breastfeeding and our LO's eczema, and he said no. The next visit I saw our regular doctor, and she agreed with me that it could be a food allergy. Even doctors aren't always up to date with information regarding food allergies. </p> <p>@Mrs. High Heels: Thank you so much for sharing your LO's experience with her allergies. I will never forget how valuable your blog entry was for me as I was going through the same thing with my LO for the first time. I recognized the same symptoms that you had mentioned, and I knew to administer the EpiPen immediately.</p> <p>@teamjse: Finding a safe restaurant to dine at is the hardest and a constant struggle for us too. <a href="http://www.allergyeats.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.allergyeats.com/</a> is a pretty good site to browse through and read about other people's experience. Cross contamination is every parent's worst nightmare. Seeing our kids suffer is the worse, and I wish I could take away their pain. </p> <p>Make sure to have a good line of communication with your LO's teachers. Create a Food Allergy Action Plan and walk them through the process. I have had a good experience this year, and luckily LO hasn't had any reactions at school. </p> <p><a href="https://www.foodallergy.org/faap" rel="nofollow">https://www.foodallergy.org/faap</a></p> <p>@Kimberlybee: Happy to hear that your LO can eat egg yolk. Some labs will perform blood tests for the egg yolk and egg white separately, and I didn't know this until LO was 2. Unfortunately he is allergic to both, but on the bright side he may have outgrown it this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177449 Wed, 13 May 2015 19:28:54 +0000 yin 2177449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anonysquire: I agree! HB has been a great community to help me find others who are going through the same struggles. I'll admit that LO2 has given me the biggest challenge with his allergies, and somehow I make 3 safe meals a day to accommodate his allergies. It's too difficult to make separate meals so we eat according to his diet most of the time.</p> <p>@Freckles: Thanks for your support. :heart: </p> <p>@2PeasinaPod: I've had so many family members and friends who just don't understand and think it's not serious. Then I have family members who have witnessed LO1 go through anaphylactic shock twice and still don't take the necessary precautions to keep him safe. :bummed: </p> <p>@Rocker2014: It's great to hear that awareness is greater now. The Internet and social media definitely help. Most of my resources have been online, and I am so thankful for the community of parents who keep us informed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177423 Wed, 13 May 2015 18:57:02 +0000 DesertDreams88 2177423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thread crashing here... What was your doctor's position on consuming the Big 8 during pregnancy, especially if there is family history of allergy? For example, DH has a currently-moderate peanut allergy (can be around but not consume), BIL1 has no allergy, but BIL2 is severely allergic... His allergist said that his next time will be his last time :bummed: . So my SIL is hyper vigilant and did not consume most of the Big 8, bc the allergist told her its a no no, will cause allergies, and even that fetuses can have allergic reactions in the womb! These recommendations seem outdated, but her pregnancies were only 3 &amp; 5 years ago, and she insists that the new recommendations are bogus, according to her allergist, the "top in the state."</p> <p>My OB and DH's allergists say it is no big deal at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177261 Wed, 13 May 2015 16:22:07 +0000 jedeve 2177261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: I agree, the blaming thing makes me really sad. We did everything exactly "right" with LO. I ate nut products while pregnant (they think that helps), EBF, exposed LO early and he is still allergic. And immediately everyone asked me if t was something I did while I was pregnant. :crying: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177145 Wed, 13 May 2015 14:52:18 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2177145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: @yin: I've read some articles/studies recently that propose that the increase in food allergies (as well as the increase in auto-immune diseases and hormone issues like PCOS) is related to the changes in our gut bacteria. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177098 Wed, 13 May 2015 14:15:13 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2177098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: I know! I was so upset, but then the teacher was crying and felt terrible. Sigh. It was on every form, and I had told the teachers and director about her allergy from the very beginning, so it really was inexcusable that it happened. After the incident though, they did put safeguards in place to ensure it wouldn't happen again in the future. Hopefully it'll help future attendees, but we pulled N out shortly after and are much happier at our new school.</p> <p>@yin: Those statistics are mind-boggling, but I really think it has a lot to do with how our food is grown now... and all the cross-pollinating that's taken place in the last few decades. </p> <p>Some good facts on peanut allergies: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC154188/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC154188/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177096 Wed, 13 May 2015 14:13:32 +0000 T-Mom 2177096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: yeah, unfortunately my state, TX, is not one of those states. :-( There was supposed to be a bill introduced on this matter to the state senate recently, but I don't know what the result was. My school nurse says that they have looked into epi pens for the school district, but right now they are not allowed to have it unless prescribed by a doctor, and the school district did away with doctor supervision a few years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2177081 Wed, 13 May 2015 14:00:32 +0000 yin 2177081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Right now we don't know why there is such a staggering increase of food allergies. I wish there were more answers sometimes because it's easier for others to try to place a blame (either on parents or children) than to to accept and find ways to help those with food allergies.</p> <p>@mrs.shinerbock: Great fact about the requirement to list the major food allergens on food labels! I wish more food labels would specifically list the allergens following the ingredient list (ex. Allergen Info: contains peanuts, tree nuts, and milk). It can be easy to get lost in the long list of ingredients and overlook an allergen. </p> <p>@T-Mom: That's great to hear that your DD's school developed an Individual Health Care Plan to keep her safe. I love when schools are supportive in protecting our children. Did you know that a lot of states have passed legislation that requires schools to keep an Epi-Pen on hand and gives them the permission to administer? </p> <p>My LO is a great example of my own misunderstanding of food allergies. He only had a small reaction to peanuts when he was a year old (redness around the mouth and itchiness). A year and a half later he went into anaphylactic shock after consuming a tiny amount of peanut. It was a wake up call to us that these reactions are really unpredictable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176921 Wed, 13 May 2015 12:26:08 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2176921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@teamjse: OK, thank you for the clarification. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176906 Wed, 13 May 2015 12:19:13 +0000 teamjse 2176906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.shinerbock: It really depends on the individual person with the allergy, but yes an allergic reaction can be trigger airborne. It can be the smell, or dust particles, it can especially be dangerous with someone with airborne reactions. We have done peanut component testing for our son, but they can't say for sure how he'll react, just that he shows the worst case if he was ever expose. We're just not taking our chances to find out via a plane ride. My neighbor's granddaughter had an anaphylaxis reaction just smelling peanut butter cookies being baked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176871 Wed, 13 May 2015 12:00:43 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2176871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@teamjse: Please forgive my ignorance, but even as the mom of a kid with food allergies, I don't understand the airplane thing. Is the issue with nuts on planes that the dust in the packet gets in the air and is recirculated? Or am I missing something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176799 Wed, 13 May 2015 11:23:51 +0000 teamjse 2176799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: We have pretty much held off traveling because of ds's peanut allergy. I follow quite a few FB allergy sites and there's been hit/miss reviews on airlines. Since they're there's really no official policy for accommodations to food allergies on planes, it really depends on the crew of the flight to make the announcement or not. Here is a great site for resources on traveling with nut allergy.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nonuttraveler.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.nonuttraveler.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176702 Wed, 13 May 2015 10:36:07 +0000 brownie 2176702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My little guy is intolerant to soy protein. So far little girl hasn't shown any issues (yay for yellow poop) but I am soy and dairy free anyway. My son also has a different allergy each time we do allergy testing. So right now he is peanut free since it came up on his last test. </p> <p>I am that mom who always overthinks food for my kids and the class. I make top 8 allergen free cookies and cupcakes (side story: I made top 8 allergen free cupcakes on purpose for my sons birthday. My cousins girlfriend is vegan but I didn't know and so she didn't eat my safe cupcakes. Makes me sad because I know she doesn't often get to indulge). This week for school snack I am making and bringing hummus quesadillas (no cheese that's just the name) and salsa for the kids (no wheat or gluten issues at school).</p> <p>My step mom spent two weeks with us after baby girls birth and I got to teach her about her gluten and tree nut (excluding coconut) allergies. We made cupcakes and cookies that she could eat and I introduced her to sunbutter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176632 Wed, 13 May 2015 09:56:19 +0000 jedeve 2176632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest is allergic to peanuts and all tree nuts except almonds, and he is allergic to dairy as well. We've never had to deal with anaphylaxis (yet!) He broke out in hives and vomited after having a bite of PBJ when he was one (fun fact, we are still trying to get our insurance to cover the ER visit well over a year later. The hospital and the insurance messed up the billing and it's such a cluster.) LO doesn't have lactose intolerance, but his dairy allergy is atypical - he throws up, but not immediately after eating. He threw up for six months before we figured out the diagnosis. He was eating such little dairy and no milk that we didn't think it was that. He has had one accidental exposure around Christmad and he vomited. We haven't tried re-exposing him yet, but probably will in a few months. </p> <p>After the peanut reaction, he tested negative for all other tree nuts. But he has since had reactions to walnuts and cashews, and then tested positive to the nuts except almonds. LO2 had the bloodwork and tested negative, but I'm nervous since lo1 had false negatives. </p> <p>The analogy I always think of when people complain about things having to be allergy free is razors. You wouldn't let a kid being a razor to school in their lunch box, or be okay with restaurants serving razors in food and not telling you. Sure, some kids might be fine - maybe they know how to play with a razor, maybe they would just give it to a grown up, but the fact that it could hurt some kids means we don't leave razors around. So yeah, I'm sorry that some people want to send their kid to school with peanuts as a snack, but that could seriously endanger mine. </p> <p>LO knows he can't eat dairy (although he thinks it's because adults eat dairy and kids don't. Not that we tell him that, but I've heard him say it.) He is just now figuring out nuts. We find peanut shells in our yard sometimes because squirrels bring them in. It sucks. </p> <p>The thing that ticks me off is when people get on a high horse about how kids today just aren't as tough and if we all grew up on farms and ate organic we wouldn't have these problems. I'm sorry, but my kid is one of the toughest people I know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176396 Wed, 13 May 2015 06:10:33 +0000 Adira 2176396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: Good note about the allergies, eczema, and asthma going hand-in-hand. My eldest has all three! Although his eczema hasn't been as bad since he's been dairy-free. My youngest (5 months) also has eczema, so I'm sure allergies and asthma are in his future too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176275 Tue, 12 May 2015 21:39:03 +0000 charlotte 2176275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: the teacher gave it to her!!!? Oh my gosh. I would be livid. That is one of my biggest fears. My son is starting a toddler school program in the fall and I was very relieved when they told us at the orientation that they don't allow nuts and suggest parents bringing snack read closely to make sure snacks aren't produced in a facility with nuts. Not everyone thinks to go to that level of safety and so I was very thankful. </p> <p>That brings to mind another random thought - my husband was on a flight recently where they announced that a passenger had a severe peanut allergy and they would appreciate it if anyone with nut products would be kind enough to keep them stowed on the flight. It seems like maybe, slowly, some people are starting to be more sensitive to people with severe food allergies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176127 Tue, 12 May 2015 18:09:30 +0000 Kimberlybee 2176127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone! Happy Allergy awareness week. I have a 2 year old who is allergic to avocados and eggs. We found out about the avocados early on at around 6 months old when I fed her mashed up avocados. She broke out in hives all over about 45 minutes later but luckily I had children's Benadryl and was given instructions on the dosage to give her. We noticed the egg allergy at around 15 months when I fed her spam fried rice. I didn't know if it was the spam or the eggs at the time so about a week later I fed her pieces of my breakfast burrito. It just had egg and cheese and she broke out in hives about 30 minutes later so it confirmed that it was an egg allergy. She's one of those kids that doesn't like cake or cupcakes so I don't know about baked goods yet. She just spits it out. A friend told me try testing just the yolk to see if she can eat the yolk only and it appears that she isn't allergic to the yolk. So friend rice for DD is always a special one made with the yolk only for now. I have given her peanut butter and it seems that there is no reaction but she isn't a fan of it so she hasn't really eaten much of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176125 Tue, 12 May 2015 18:06:08 +0000 teamjse 2176125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ds is allergic to peanuts (life threatening), tree nuts, sesame, wheat, egg whites, and shellfish. We try our very best to cook for him at home and think a thousand times before going to a restaurant. We have a handful of safe restaurants that we go to, but we had some terrible experience with cross contmination that have landed us in the ER. It's the scariest thing in the world watching you child swell up to the point where they can't open their eyes.</p> <p>He's turning 3 in a few months and we are starting to look for a preschool for him, but I will admit I have crazy anxiety when I think about him being accidentally expose. We talk to him every single day about his allergies and how it would make him sick. </p> <p>Here is a great website with some safe snacks for people with allergies.</p> <p><a href="http://snacksafely.com/tag/allergen-safe-snack-list/" rel="nofollow">http://snacksafely.com/tag/allergen-safe-snack-list/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176071 Tue, 12 May 2015 16:55:33 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2176071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Happy Allergy Awareness Week!</p> <p>Thanks for starting this! DD has a peanut and walnut allergy. The peanut allergy is severe and landed her in the ER twice. Really scary seeing her go through that. The first time it was when I gave her a bite of PBJ to try as a solid when she was a little over a year. She immediately started throwing up, got hives over her entire body, and had trouble breathing. The 2nd time, a teacher at her old preschool gave her straight up peanut butter on a cracker as a snack, and I was pretty upset.</p> <p>Thankfully, she is a really cautious child and will now question anything that even resembles a nut or seed. Any kind of chocolate, she will ask me first before eating... so she is really good about monitoring herself. </p> <p>Her preschool now is nut free, but I worry about when she enters public school and how we will handle her allergy there. I haven't even attempted to give DS nuts. </p> <p>When there are events going on at school, I'm hyper sensitive to all the kids and what kinds of allergy they might be dealing with... so I try my best to bring in allergen-free snacks that all the kids can enjoy. I would hate for one of them to miss out when they already have to miss out on so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176061 Tue, 12 May 2015 16:38:28 +0000 charlotte 2176061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for starting this thread! My son is 2 and allergic to peanuts and almonds. He had major hives and was scratching his throat after eating peanut butter at age 1 and then tested positive on he blood test and skin field. </p> <p>He had a chance to food challenge almond but wasn't able to complete it all. We will try again when he's a little older. </p> <p>I have learned from all of our allergist visits that allergies, eczema, and asthma go hand in hand. We are on the lookout for asthma but so far so good. He has dealt with pretty bad eczema for a long time and I wish I had known about the relationship because I might have come up with a different strategy for introducing nuts. </p> <p>Pregnant with baby 2 now... the allergist said if she/he has eczema too that we can do the blood test around 4 months old and work with the doctors there for our allergen introduction plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176051 Tue, 12 May 2015 16:26:23 +0000 meesker 2176051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We, thank goodness, have not had a hives or anaphylactic reaction to anything yet, but my 11 month old daughter is most definitely intolerant of, if not allergic to, dairy and wheat. We also found out over the weekend that she cannot handle corn (and she's on Nutramigen so I'm nervous). We also suspect intolerances or allergies to legumes and oats and it would not surprise me if she couldn't handle soy either. We stopped breastfeeding at 5 months because she kept reacting after I had eliminated all the major suspects. Thankfully, she did ok with eggs when we tried them a couple of weeks ago and we haven't tried any of the other major allergens yet. Her daddy is intolerant of fish and shellfish and I am not eager to find out if that is a shared trait.</p> <p>Honestly, her reactions have all been stool and minor facial rash related, so I feel so lucky that it isn't worse, but I still worry about her food constantly. They told us to start trying diary and wheat again when she was one, but based on her reaction to corn three weeks before she turns one, I have zero desire to do that. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2176011 Tue, 12 May 2015 15:45:54 +0000 Rocker2014 2176011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for posting this! My LO is almost 7 months, and no food allergies yet - but I am honestly terrified. I have multiple food allergies that cause anaphylaxis, and starting solids with her is causing me so much anxiety. On a positive note, I've been allergic my whole life and it is exciting to see how much more awareness there is now about food allergies vs. 30 years ago. Much love to all the allergy mamas who go above and beyond to make sure their LO's have great and safe things to eat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2175931 Tue, 12 May 2015 14:50:54 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2175931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also didn't know this was a week! </p> <p>LO is allergic to eggs. We discovered this when I gave him a piece of my scrambled egg just before he turned one that landed him in the ER. We carry Benadryl and an Epi pen wherever we go.</p> <p>I find the biggest challenge is educating my parents on the fact that they could kill him if he has something with egg in it. They seem to think that this allergy is all in my head :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2175912 Tue, 12 May 2015 14:32:25 +0000 Freckles 2175912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: And how cute is that picture!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/food-allergy-awareness-week#post-2175911 Tue, 12 May 2015 14:32:08 +0000 Freckles 2175911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think Awareness Week is great!! So many parents complain about restrictions at daycare/schools, not truly understanding how life threatening some of these allergies are. I have to give huge kidos to you@yin: and all the other parents who have been able to figure out ways to get creative with their cooking and provide their kids with safe meals and snacks.</p> <p>I am lucky that my DD doesn't have any allergies, and not sure if DS will but i learned a lot from some Hellobee mamas and try to be more supportive and aware! </p>