https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:08:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2224267 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 20:31:18 +0000 brownie 2224267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son had never had a reaction but tested positive on a blood test. We feed him sunbutter as a substitute. It is yummy and the brand name is not even processed near nuts. I swear by enjoy life brand which is top 8 allergen free. </p> <p>For parties at school I proved top 8 allergen free cupcakes or cookies (from enjoy life package). For birthday parties we do ask and look at labels if they have them. If we think ahead we make and bring our own treats.</p> <p>He is 4 now and knows to ask if it has soy (his true allergy) in it. He knows it hurts his tummy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2224199 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 18:47:09 +0000 Pancakes 2224199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raintreebee: Please don't feel bad. LO 1 has no food allergies, although she does have eczema. I gave LO 2 Bamba (the snack used in the recent NEJM study) at 8 months and she immediately broke out in hives. One allergist's visit later and we now have EpiPens. Her IgE levels were relatively low. The allergist told me that it's completely up to me whether we keep peanut products in the house. So for now we still eat PB except the baby, and I just make my older DD wash her hands after she's done, and I do the same.</p> <p>I keep one set of EpiPens in the diaper bag, which is basically always with me, and the second set is in a drawer in the kitchen, since she's probably more likely to be exposed. If I leave home without it but we are going some place low risk or if it's super close to home, I probably wouldn't go back for it, but we haven't had it for very long so I don't have a lot of experience with that. I'm sorry that you're going through this, I know it's stressful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223996 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:38:26 +0000 raintreebee 2223996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Keybee: @HappyBaker: @mrs.shinerbock: @Keybee: @sungirl: @Anagram: @jmarionsmith: Thank you ladies! These are amazing tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223889 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:08:58 +0000 HappyBaker 2223889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man I know the feeling of being so overwhelmed when finding this out! Luckily foods are labeled really clearly for peanuts these days, so as long as you check labels it should be clear what is safe or unsafe. </p> <p>I was surprised to find a LOT of things from Whole Foods / Trade Joe's are processed on the same line as peanuts - even things you wouldn't expect like their store brand Mac &amp; Cheese, so definitely check every label! </p> <p>Make sure to keep 2 epi-pens with you at all times, if there is a reaction you may have to give a second dose to get it under control. Also you can print coupons from the epi-pen website to reduce your cost if insurance doesn't cover them that much.</p> <p>Don't keep epi-pens in the car (like overnight) - they shouldn't be subject to extreme heat or cold - we keep a set in my purse, at daycare, and in our medicine cabinet. </p> <p>I definitely do feel super annoying to other parents, but I also always bring a safe snack if we are somewhere I'm not sure if the food is safe or not. Also - parents of kids without food allergies don't understand what "peanut free" really means in terms of contamination risks or anything, so I usually just err on the side of giving DD my safe treat.</p> <p>Honestly the hardest places for us to avoid are Dunkin Donuts (they have a sign saying they can't guarantee anything is safe), and the ice cream shops! </p> <p>We recently bought some children's books about food allergies to try to help our almost 3 year old understand this better, and I now have her "help" me check labels at the grocery store.</p> <p>Good luck and hang in there, you have gotten some great advice so far! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223883 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 13:02:42 +0000 jmarionsmith 2223883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nannied for a little girl with a severe peanut allergy. I'll try to answer some of your questions based on my experience. Yes, if we forgot the epi pen we went back (remember to never leave it in a hot car). The family was always weary around any kind of chocolate, something to do with it usually being made in facilities that had peanuts. For birthday parties we always had frozen cupcakes and would just let one thaw, spread some cream cheese on it and take it with us. That way she still had a treat to eat </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223791 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 12:06:36 +0000 Anagram 2223791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice, but my sister is highly allergic to tree nuts (all of them) and after she was 3-4, she was very aware of not eating things that she didn't know were safe, so my mom didn't worry too much about her. </p> <p>One weird thing is that she has always been able to eat peanuts (which are legumes) without any major reactions, even though she shows up as allergic on allergy tests to them. Same with shellfish--it will show she's allergic, but she eats shrimp with no problems. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223697 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 11:07:04 +0000 sungirl 2223697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It definitely sucks at first, but it's not too bad. We found out last year at 20 months old. Like you I had been putting off trying pb so maybe that's why...who knows? We keep an epi pen in the diaper bag, one at IL's who do part-time care and one at school. I think it's easier now (almost 3) because he doesn't go many places without us. I always go to parties at school and bring something I know he can eat (or check labels if it is store bought). The school knows about it and takes precautions but I am afraid they might not notice with all the excitement. At restaurants we always ask and most places are really good about it now. And at cookouts and pot lucks I always ask but when in doubt just don't give it to him. I usually try to have a treat in these occasions so he won't miss out. Knock on wood so far we haven't had any exposures. I am also working with him on learning that he is allergic to nuts and pb so he now knows and can say that nuts make him sick. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223696 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 11:07:01 +0000 Keybee 2223696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And don't blame yourself! It just happens. It's currently quite common.<br /> Also, if you do fast food, chick fil et uses peanut oil, they say it's safe but we avoid it just to be sure. Wendys and McDonalds use other oils. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223693 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 11:06:16 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2223693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So sorry to hear that! It's scary to get the first diagnosis, but it gets easier and learning to manage it becomes part of everyday life for you. </p> <p>My LO is allergic to cashews and pistachios. We have made our house tree nut free, but we still feed her peanut butter. We out the epi pen in a side pocket of the diaper roll we have in our diaper bag, so it goes everywhere with us and we have a second set in her stuff at the nanny-share house. We do a quick explanation to any care takers, just in case. </p> <p>Get in the habit of reading all food labels - you will be surprised what nuts are in sometimes. With a peanut allergy, one big thing to watch out for is peanut oil - a lot of things are fried in it. With nuts in general - bakeries, ice cream shops and certain ethnic restaurants are high hazard because of potential cross-contamination. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223681 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 10:58:14 +0000 Keybee 2223681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry! My niece has a peanut allergy and it isn't too hard to manage. Her sister had a gluten allergy for awhile and that was a real pain!<br /> I baby sit her a few times a week and here's what I've learned. Most candies are processed on the same machine as nuts, but Hershey's plain chocolate is safe. She eats their chocolate bars &amp; kisses no problem. During Easter we fill the eggs with non chocolate based candies. For Halloween she keeps what she can eat and parents give her Hershey's for the rest.That's really the only restriction. I take her epi pen with me if we are going on a big outing, like the zoo. Her mom keeps one in the car and we keep one at grandma's house. The family still keeps peanut butter in the house for other kids, she knows not to eat it. How sensitive your child is is also a factor in what you keep around the house.<br /> Anyway, I'm sorry, that is stressful.<br /> If you are at all into holistic medicine I've heard they allergies are tied to emotions and can be resolved through energy healing. My sister is not into holistic healing and will not try energy therapy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-dreaded-peanut-allergy-diagnosis#post-2223661 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 10:41:19 +0000 raintreebee 2223661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Two weeks ago, my 17 month old son had hives on his mouth after eating a pb&amp;j. Because he had been eating peanut butter without a problem for several weeks, we didn't think much of it. We took him to the pedi and gave him benadryl. He also got a fever later that night, which can cause hives. Well, yesterday we took him to the allergist just to make sure, and he tested positive for peanuts on the skin prick test. The allergist was baffled by his late reaction to it but said we had to remove peanuts from his diet, etc.</p> <p>Anyway, I am just reaching out to moms with kids with allergies. I am feeling a little overwhelmed and emotional about this (exacerbated by pregnancy hormones). How did you cope? What kinds of foods are peanuts hidden in besides baked goods? What if you forget your epi-pen on an outing? Do you turn around and go back home? Where do you keep your epi-pens? Do you constantly feel like the annoying mom pestering others about her kid's allergies? What about birthday parties? Another thing I feel guilty about is not introducing it sooner since the studies show that can help, but the pedi wanted us to wait until 1 since he had eczema and other possible allergies. And then I dragged my feet because it was never the right time...</p> <p>Would appreciate any tips or advice. Thank you! </p>