Hellobee Boards Topic: How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 09:54:26 +0000 Mrs. High Heels on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124830 Sat, 28 Mar 2015 00:28:39 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2124830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We just kept repeating it to her every chance we got, she caught on fast, and now it's just ingrained in her. We tell her she must check everything before she eats it, so anything that could potentially have nuts (like baked goods or chocolate) she always inspects it first, asks, "does this have any peanuts?" and then will try a teensy bite even if the answer is no just in case. She has a really cautious personality though, so I think double triple checking things comes pretty naturally for her. We also explained what could happen if she eats nuts so that scared her. We told her she gets really sick and will throw up and have to go to the doctor's to get shots. littlejoy on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124811 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 22:57:57 +0000 littlejoy 2124811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My nephew has a peanut allergy, and they just taught him to ask about food, discussed what symptoms would look like, and taught him how dangerous it could be. At 4, he was his own little advocate. And, it was adorable when he'd yell across the room, "Mom! This brownie doesn't have peanuts!" :) @HappyBaker: I don't think you've missed the boat here. I think your LO is the perfect age to start understanding!! brownie on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124789 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 21:52:55 +0000 brownie 2124789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ He kind of started it. We tell him he can't have x because it has x and that hurts his tummy. We have always been open and honest about it. He knows he can't drink milk (just drinking) because seeing milk is clear. But his soy allergy is much harder. Just the other day (at almost 4 years old) he asked if the cookies I was eating had soy in them. They didn't so he could eat them but I was impressed that he asked. Mrs. Jacks on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124772 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 21:32:21 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2124772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have to deal with this a lot and long ago I started a blog post on the topic that I never finished. We teach her to always ask if there are nuts in anything that people offer her. We read labels together and we talk a lot about the signs and symptoms of her allergy. She does a great job of being careful, because she's had four anaphylactic episodes and she knows how awful it feels. We started talking to her about it at around a year old. sarac on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124745 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:59:38 +0000 sarac 2124745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My daughter has a minor allergy to cherries - they gave her hives where they touch her skin and make her stomach hurt. So we just told her that she's allergic, which means they make her a little sick, and that's it. She totally got it. Rocker2014 on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124742 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:55:42 +0000 Rocker2014 2124742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ As a lifelong nut allergy sufferer, I like foodallergy.org for resources. The organization is FARE and they are great, lots of good ideas for educating kids. Peanutallergy.com is also good, but I have to be careful not to go down the rabbit hole of fear on those boards. (Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about growing up with allergies) sungirl on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124727 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 20:42:59 +0000 sungirl 2124727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't really have any good advice but I'm interested to hear others advice. My son is the same age and we found out about 8 months ago. We tell him that he's allergic to nuts and try to bring it up often. Sometimes if he hears someone talking about nuts he will say their allergic to me so I think he's somewhat getting it hopefully enough that an adult will get it. HappyBaker on "How to teach toddler/preschooler about their food allergy?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-teach-toddlerpreschooler-about-their-food-allergy#post-2124690 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 19:44:53 +0000 HappyBaker 2124690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I just realized we have never talked to DD who is 2.5 about her allergy to peanuts, we just don't keep any unsafe food i the house, and one of us has always been with her to make food choices for her. I feel like we completely dropped the ball on this, and now that she is speaking really well / so aware of things I think we really need to teach her about the allergy / what's safe / etc in the realization that someday we will not be with her 24/7. Do you have any recommendations on how to talk about it, books to read, etc? I saw there are a ton of books on Amazon.