https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:11:11 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2625110 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 23:09:46 +0000 Corduroy 2625110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Aria: "I didn't want to overwhelm her with an insanely long list of every food she could or could not eat because I was trying to keep it simple for her. And honestly there are some foods I feel comfortable taking a calculated risk with (when it is not indicated whether or not it is processed with nuts) that I don't feel comfortable having the sitter deal with. So I kept the list short and stuck with foods I know she loves, I feel completely safe with and we always have on hand." This. If you want to try her again that is what she needs to hear and understand. She very well may have checked the label but not understood the research and anxiety that goes into it beyond the label. </p> <p>If you think she didn't check the label or doesn't understands allergies at all then I wouldn't use her again. My DD had egg sensitivies and DCP was convinced she was "strong enough" for eggs and gave her some. I was livid and gave her a reeducation. I would have left immediately but I did an egg trial myself a few days before with good results and LO had already had the other major allergens. Unfortunately there are people like that out there. If you suspect anything like that definitely report her to the agency. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624858 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:16:56 +0000 MrsADS 2624858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aria this would possibly be a dealbreaker with me too, but it would depend on the overall gut feeling I got from the sitter. We have been through hell trying to find a trustworthy, decent nanny/sitter and had to fire 2. One after only 1 day. And for that one, it was just a gut feeling. You know what I mean? If you get the feeling it was an honest mistake and she will be careful in the future and she's upset about it, maybe give it another go. But if you don't get that feeling... I would not hesitate to get rid of her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624841 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:51:17 +0000 DesertDreams88 2624841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ahhhh ok, with your updated response, I'd be upset too, and consider another sitter, for sure. @Aria: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624819 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:31:39 +0000 Aria 2624819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the responses. It's clear that opinions on this are split, which is why I'm struggling so much. I think I will call the agency today and discuss the incident with them and see what they say. It's so hard to be trusting when you have a kid with food allergies. </p> <p>@tlcbaby: @Andrea: @DesertDreams88: We do keep our home nut free, but not free of foods that may be processed with nuts, and those foods I generally eat when she is sleeping. The thing is, I had this conversation with the sitter and she knew that there were no nuts but that there was still a risk from cross contamination with some things, hence the list I made of approved foods, to take the guesswork out of the situation.</p> <p>@Chillybear: I hear what you are saying and I don't completely disagree. I did know my daughter would throw a fit if someone ate bread in front of her and it just didnt occur to me at the time to mention it, and for that I take responsibility. I didn't want to overwhelm her with an insanely long list of every food she could or could not eat because I was trying to keep it simple for her. And honestly there are some foods I feel comfortable taking a calculated risk with (when it is not indicated whether or not it is processed with nuts) that I don't feel comfortable having the sitter deal with. So I kept the list short and stuck with foods I know she loves, I feel completely safe with and we always have on hand. I guess the thing that really bothers me is that she could've texted my husband or I to ask, or she could have given her something on the list to distract her or removed her from the situation to calm her down and she didn't do those things. My daughter is too young to understand her allergy and I want an adult who will be vigilant with these things and not just give in when she cries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624777 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 10:22:54 +0000 Chillybear 2624777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So this may be an unpopular opinion but to me it sort of feels like you set her up for the lapse in judgement. If you know your daughter is "obsessed with bread" why wouldn't it be on the approved to eat list? Maybe edit the list and add the foods in the house that she absolutely cannot eat otherwise everything else is safe to eat but this is what we prefer her to snack on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624720 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 08:45:17 +0000 DesertDreams88 2624720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>BIL and DH both have severe nut and peanut allergies, and we suspect LO (8m) is allergic too. I'm also very neurotic and scared in general about leaving my baby in other people's care, so I hear you on that.</p> <p>However, I don't think this situation necessitates firing her, but it warrants a conversation. It could be that she was rattled by your daughter throwing a fit on her first day, and she may have thought that you keep your home nut free, so that anything in the pantry was safe for her to eat (despite your list.) </p> <p>Can your daughter consume product that say, "manufactured on equipment that also processes nuts"? DH can, but BIL can't. Maybe she needs clarification on that kind of labeling vs just checking the ingredients list.</p> <p>Regardless, food allergies suck and dealing with caregivers is tricky. Do what feels right to you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624689 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 08:09:20 +0000 catomd00 2624689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am pretty laid back and I'd look for someone else. She can't follow basic instructions regarding your child's safety on the very first day?! No, it can pretty much only go downhill from there as she gets comfortable in the job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624638 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 06:02:28 +0000 Andrea 2624638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd look for someone else since she couldn't even follow your instructions on her first full day. This is a safety issue.</p> <p>Is this a full time sitter you are using every day? If so, I think it would be safer if you kept your home tree nut and peanut free so that it won't be a big deal if your LO got to eat a bite of food. DD1 also has a nut allergy so I never eat anything in front of her that she can't also eat in case she wants a bite. My toddlers definitely had the tendency of wanting whatever I was eating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624635 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:50:56 +0000 Adira 2624635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you ask her if she looked at the ingredients on the bread before giving your daughter some? If she read the ingredients prior, I'd give her another shot, but stress that you just feel more comfortable if she stuck to your list, regardless of your daughter's demands for something else. If she DIDN'T read the ingredients, find a new sitter! Food allergies are not something that can just be ignored! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624632 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:40:47 +0000 rachiecakes 2624632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd look for someone else. It's obvious she doesn't understand allergies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624629 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 04:59:17 +0000 ElbieKay 2624629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She sat for you once? I would move on and ask the agency for another sitter. This is a serious safety issue and she displayed poor judgement. Ask the agency for someone with experience with food allergies.</p> <p>ETA: I do a lot of recruiting at work. Interviewing and hiring sucks and is really tedious. But it is always a mistake to compromise and hire the wrong person, even though it's tempting because you want to get the job filled. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624625 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 04:24:29 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2624625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would talk to her and review what is on the approved list, why she must stick to the list, and perhaps ask her to snack out of sight of your DD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624620 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 03:08:46 +0000 mrbee 2624620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could she go through some sort of training program or watch some videos, so she realizes how serious allergies can be? And also, what she should do if your DD experiences an allergic reaction (how to use an Epipen, etc.). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624617 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 01:18:18 +0000 tlcbaby 2624617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would talk to her. If it isn't something she has dealt with much, she may not realize the seriousness. Also, she could have assumed that if it was in the house it was safe to eat? If you like her otherwise, I wouldn't write her off without talking with her first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-babysitter-and-allergies#post-2624613 Wed, 21 Sep 2016 00:30:21 +0000 Aria 2624613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We recently hired a sitter from an agency. She did one trial run while I was home and yesterday was her first day solo. </p> <p>My DD is 19 months and has a peanut and tree nut allergy. To avoid any issues with food, I expressly told her that DD was only to be fed the food I had prepared for her and gave her a list of approved foods should she need to offer her something else. </p> <p>When my husband got home, the sitter mentioned to him that she gave my daughter bread because when she made herself a sandwich my daughter got very upset when she saw her eat it (DD is obsessed with bread). The bread we have is fine for her to eat but it was NOT on the list of foods I gave her, and I have no idea whether she even read the label before offering it to her. </p> <p>I am really upset about this. I just want someone I can trust to follow my directions when it comes to food. However, I'm torn because prior to this I really liked her and my daughter likes her too. Asking for a new sitter and scheduling a new trial would be a huge inconvenience and my daughter was not actually at risk in this case. </p> <p>I'm so torn on what to do. Talk to her about it and hope she never does it again or go with someone new? I need some perspective, I already have so much anxiety about leaving my daughter that I can't tell if I'm being unreasonable or not. </p>