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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a 2 year old does not need a medical bracelet.

149 replies

MsJamieFraser · 30/12/2015 20:21

AIBU to think a barley turned toddler does not need a allergy bracelet...

I don't know if I am BU or not, ds2 has several grade 5-7 grade allergies (scale only goes to 5) and he is 6.5 years old...

The reason I am looking into medical bracelets now is that he is now attending beavers, even tho all the leaders are fully knowledgable about his medical conditions, but with his allergies being mostly natural allergies... I thought it best that we go down that route that we should be going down, as when and if he will attend over night stays some other beaver groups leaders won't know about his allergies in the possible case ds takes an attack/anaphylaxisnets...

I've just had a mum on our allergy groups saying that she needs to looking into bracelets for her just turned 2 year old... Because she thinks her child needs it incase others might give her, her allergen...

AIBU to think a 2 year old does not need a allergy bracelet?

OP posts:
Permanentlyexhausted · 30/12/2015 23:27

The car crash I get so I am BU, but for childminder, nursery, play groups etc... You would watch/ or you would surely be making sure an adult looking after your child would be medically adapt in giving medical emergency treatment for your allergen child... And knowing what their triggers are... Etc...

Maybe you already know this and it is already happening but I wasn't sure from your posts and it won't hurt to repeat it.

The same would apply to the Beaver leaders as to childminders, nurseries, etc. Leaders should be first aid trained and this should include the use of an epi-pen as standard. If your son is in Beavers, there should be a care plan in place so that leaders are able to care for your son appropriately. If he was to be going away with other leaders they should also all have been briefed to be aware that there is a child with allergies or medical issues attending. I'm speaking as a Brownie leader but I would imagine the policies are much the same in Scouting.

But, I agree absolutely with you that a medical bracelet would be an extremely useful additional visual reminder.

Original poster
MsJamieFraser · 30/12/2015 23:27

I wasn't going to come back to this thread, but CoteDAzur sorry you post has made Confused

Ds has many allergies, he also at the same time has many intolerances, an allergy is a substance that causes an allergic reaction, so in ds2 cause the allergy is not singular, he has many singular allergies that cause him to allergic allergies, so for him in my opinion, he is best described as to have many allergens.

allergens and allergy are the same, an allergen is a allergy to a substance, an allergic reaction is an damaging body immune response to a substance...

ds has many allergies, so to say he has an allergy is incorrect, he has many allergies which are life threatening, ds has many allergen which cause anaphylaxis!

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 30/12/2015 23:34

an allergen is the substance that causes an allergic reaction OP!

That is a fact.

An allergy is an allergic reaction to an allergen.

Surprised you don't know that if your child is as allergic to so many things as you say he is? Confused

trixymalixy · 30/12/2015 23:36

You're wrong. An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction. Cote is right.

Teenagecrisisagain · 30/12/2015 23:36

My dd2 had one aged 3. Very important in case something awful happened to us all.at least emergency services would be aware of her conditions

multivac · 30/12/2015 23:36

he has many singular allergies that cause him to allergic allergies

head explodes

Original poster
MsJamieFraser · 30/12/2015 23:44

Allergens cause his allergy.. but without the allergen there is no allergy, Most allergens are harmless but in ds2 case this is not the case, the opposite in fact.

I can post ds many IgE and skin test results, I have been a poster for many years and ds2 history on here will be/are known.

OP posts:
AliceInUnderpants · 31/12/2015 00:06

He has allergies that are caused by allergens.
Allergen is not the plural of allergy

CoteDAzur · 31/12/2015 00:07

"he has many singular allergies that cause him to allergic allergies, so for him in my opinion, he is best described as to have many allergens."

What? No! Hmm

The world has many allergens. A list of ingredients can have many allergens. Your DS doesn't have any allergens, unless he keeps them in a box somewhere.

"allergens and allergy are the same, an allergen is a allergy to a substance"

No, it's not Shock How on Earth are you this ignorant on a subject that is of utmost importance to your DS?

Ffs educate yourself, woman.

ketchupontoast · 31/12/2015 00:16

The RAST blood tests go to grade 6. I am grade 6 for two allergens, grade 5 for the other. Patch testing is graded from negative to extreme with there being 6 different results. The skin prick test goes to 4+ .
However there is an allergy reaction grading system goes from 1-5 which details the severity of the response with 5 being death. It is very easy for the OP to get confused with different scales as there are many used.

GoofyIsACow · 31/12/2015 00:25

I'm just here for the comments...

hownottofuckup · 31/12/2015 00:32

It sounds a little like you are getting allergy competitiveness, which is unlikely to be helpful.
Any allergy in your child is bound to be stressful, you are better off being kind to others in similar situations rather than ridiculing.

ovenchips · 31/12/2015 00:48

OP You don't need me or anyone else now to say YABU.

I am sorry to hear of severity of your son's allergies. Poor little chap. It must be such a worry at times keeping him safe, but sounds like you do a great job, and I applaud you for that.

FWIW I think you just had a kneejerk reaction and did something we all of us do at times, which is to think 'but that happened to me and I didn't need to do x/y/z'. Then somehow because we didn't do x/y/z it makes us a little defensive when we learn someone else feels it was necessary. IMHO.

Anyway, I suggest Wine for you now. Wink

kungpopanda · 31/12/2015 03:20

Ds has many allergies, he also at the same time has many intolerances, an allergy is a substance that causes an allergic reaction, so in ds2 cause the allergy is not singular, he has many singular allergies that cause him to allergic allergies, so for him in my opinion, he is best described as to have many allergens.

goodgawdalmighty. The allergies are likely the least of the boy's problems.

Bracelet. YES, absolutely a bracelet. Why wouldn't one?

Bifflepants · 31/12/2015 04:06

Your son's allergies sound scary and extreme. Well done for caring for him so well. And well done for remaining calm and good natured in the face of such a pasting on here. There are some horrible responses on this thread.

Want2bSupermum · 31/12/2015 04:25

A bracelet is a great idea and 2 is a good age to start. I'm laughing at lala having a patch on her jacket saying 'IM ALLERGIC TO MILK'. Totally useless if it's hot or if, like my school was, Blazers were removed as soon as school started. Bracelet is def the way to go. Links of London used to do nice chain ones. I got one made for my cousins little boy who has a severe peanut allergy.

knobblyknee · 31/12/2015 04:35

I wish I'd put one on my son, they forgot and gave him milk. He was so ill. Plus if he;d had it on hos wrist he would have felt more able to stand up to the staff and refuse to frink it.

I really cant see what your objection is. Make your own decisions for your own kid. Allergies and food sensitivities dont have to be life threatening to be extremely unpleasant.

mathanxiety · 31/12/2015 04:45

What is the reasoning behind sending your child off with Beavers on trips, camping, etc? Because if I were to choose an activity for a child who is severely allergic to Timothy grass, other grass, certain trees, dust mites, etc then Beavers would be just about last on my list. How are the leaders to keep your child away from beech tree pollen (for example) if the trees are several fields away but the wind blows it all in the troop's direction?

I would be looking as swimming, or sea scouts, or Taw-kwon-do, etc.

And yes, 'allergy'/'allergic' refer to the reaction of your DS.
'Allergen' is the substance that causes the reaction.

There are many allergens that cause your son's allergic reactions. Your son has allergies to many allergens.

mathanxiety · 31/12/2015 04:45

*Tae

HicDraconis · 31/12/2015 05:01

YABU but you know that. A 6 year old is less likely to need the bracelet than a 2 year old as the older child should be able to verbalise their allergic reaction to various substances whereas the 2 year old most likely can't.

However imho (medical, fwiw) both children require bracelets if there is any chance they could have a reaction resulting in loss of consciousness. It's useful for rare events like car accidents, but also useful as a visual reminder in any group situation (nursery, kindy, playcentre, playgroup, friends' houses, babysitters etc etc).

I should probably get around to wearing one myself 😊

You do sound like you're trying to play allergy top trumps, but I get the reasoning behind it, it's bloody exhausting coping with one or two serious allergies & it sounds like your DS has the full house. When you're so used to dealing with such serious problems, you could easily question why a 2 year old with one allergen would need an identifying bracelet as it doesn't seem as extreme. But everyone with potentially life threatening reactions should wear them once diagnosed - well done for accepting your unreasonableness.

Does remind me of the person who arrived once wearing a medic alert proudly declaring an allergy to oxygen though...

sashh · 31/12/2015 06:07

A couple of years ago a child was given milk at nursery, the staff member who did it didn't know the child had a severe milk allergy. Sadly the child died.

usernamesandgingerbreads · 31/12/2015 06:21

Haven't read all the thread.
In a nursery there might be changing room staff or cover staff. Many moons ago I was swapped to working in a older toddlers room as they were short staffed due to a bug wiping out half the staff. I asked a more junior member of staff who worked in the room normally as normal room staff and manager not in. Told no allergies, their key worker had taken their books home. I asked the 3 year olds if they had milk as a last resort as I was pouring as most three year olds will say I can't have milk. This boy didn't. He asked for milk. He was allergic to dairy. I was saved by one of older toddlers piping up that J never had milk. So a bracelet can help in nursery too.

usernamesandgingerbreads · 31/12/2015 06:23

Shudders after reading the post above mine in relation to mine :(

JessieMcJessie · 31/12/2015 07:23

Perhaps English is not the OP's first language? OP, everyone else here is right as to the definitions of allergy and allergen, sorry.

DancingDinosaur · 31/12/2015 07:36

There are lots of logical reasons why a two year old with allergies should have a bracelet, but none of them need to be justified to you. I'm surprised you're even making an issue of it Hmm