Baby with a nut/peanut allergy

[Dozzie]

My baby has recently been diagnosed with an allergy to peanuts and couple of tree nuts.

I'm currently finding it very overwhelming to think about whether she will be able to lead a relatively normal life with eating out/travelling/ socialising in the future and wondered if anyone with but allergic kids had experience of this further down the line? We are looking into OIT/desensitisation but this is very expensive and also seems to come with its own issues.

I’m also very nervous that she will go in to develop other allergies - trying to be brave as we’ve been advised to introduce the nuts she isn’t allergic to and other allergens as much as possible, but it is really spiking my anxiety at every meal time! Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips are hugely welcomed!

Where are you based? I'm in south Manchester and am member of a brilliant parents of allergy children group.

We’re in London so unfortunately probably a bit too far away!

We've been through it all. DS diagnosed with peanut allergy at 13 months. It's very scary I know, but funnily enough I think nut allergies are easier to manage. If it's an egg or dairy allergy it's could be hidden in anything whereas nuts tend to be more obvious.

I used to feel sorry for him going off to kids parties with his own lunchbox full of safe foods. It's hard initially to rely on other people to check ingredients - I found other parents didn't want the responsibility of providing or checking ingredient lists - safer all round for you to do it.

It really hasn't been too bad. You do get your head round it. Primary school was excellent in getting trained on EpiPen usage and banning peanuts in lunch bags.

DS has only had one mishap and he's in his 20s now. Teenage years - he often forgot to take his epipens out with him and the consultant warned us that university is the dangerous period (drunken nights, midnight curries, often haven't told housemates about allergy or how to use his life saving EpiPen).

Food companies have got really good at allergy information now. Macdonald's was safe when travelling as no peanuts in their products - not sure about now.

Don't stress too much, you'll navigate it ok.

Oh that's a shame. They are looking to expand. It might be worth seeing if there are any groups local to you.

There are kids of all varieties on our group. Some with severe allergies going down the immunotherapy route. Some with single allergies some with multiple. Some outgrow others don't.

Eating out gets less stressful. Most places if you are buying for others will let you bring your own food and discreetly feed safe foods from home. My daughter has a lot of allergies but not severe and we often bring something from home and then buy sides when eating out. For kids parties I find out what they are serving before hand and bring along something that is close to that.

My daughter knows she has to wait for me to tell her something is safe. As soon as she learnt the word for a food she was taught whether it was safe for her to eat or not. She has a dairy allergy so as soon as she learnt the word for milk we taught her oat milk and cows milk and how she could only have oat milk. We have the "I can't have that I have allergies book" which might be one for when they get a bit bigger.

With the other allergens you have to be brave but cautious. Try them when it's easy to get medical help if needed. If an allergen is safe it must be kept in the diet regularly otherwise they can lose tolerance.

Right now everything is new and scary but you will become an expert so quickly! Shopping gets easier when you have a list of safe foods. Check packaging every time as they can change the ingredients without flagging they have done so.

whether she will be able to lead a relatively normal life with eating out/travelling/ socialising in the future

DH has anaphylactic allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame seeds.

There is a bit of restriction around restaurants but most places are good. And we tend to take picnics when going for a day out with DDs just because it's a little easier to know for sure that he can eat (but tbh we'd probably do this anyway as it's cheaper).

I would say it has minimal impact day to day on his life. Just a bit more time reading labels in the supermarket!

(Obviously I'm not his parent, so I'm not wanting to diminish the worry I'm sure you must feel, and I have no experience of managing a small child with allergies. I just wanted to discuss your point about the further future).

Thanks everyone for your really helpful replies - I think this coming at the same time as the recent tragic stories in the press of girls dying from food allergies has thrown me for a loop, but it’s really helpful to hear that others manage and don’t have to completely restrict themselves

Hi, both my kids have food allergies. DD is only allergic to nuts and that's way way easier than dealing with DS's allergies. He is allergic to milk and eggs as well as nuts.

Most places understand nut allergies much better than other types of allergies and take them much more seriously. It's also not that common an ingredient particularly in food for kids, so much easier to avoid.

DD has been through peanut OIT. She took part in the BOPI study so it was free apart from travel to London. She now eats 6 peanut M&Ms per day.

The same team are involved in the Natasha clinical trials. Obviously your baby is too young just now but something to look into in the future.

And don't hold back on things your baby is not allergic to. The best way to avoid an allergy is early introduction.

If worried then park outside a hospital and try them. Although it's not usual to react on first exposure.

My youngest is allergic to peanuts. It has little impact as food labeling is clear and as pp said, nut allergies are taken seriously. We wouldn't take her to a Thai restaurant and would feel cautious about Indian. Otherwise everywhere is fine. I know she's fine with hazelnuts and almonds and pretty much any other nuts which makes life easier.

Thank you! I have introduced almost all of the other main allergens including the nuts that she isn’t allergic to, but have been told to keep them in her diet a couple of times a week each and i’m still finding every meal time quite fretful as I wonder if every nose rub is a reaction! I’m hoping this will pass in time?!