How to Help a Child Cope With a Food Allergy

Food allergies can produce mild reactions with few symptoms, or they can result in severe, life threatening responses. This condition can be frightening for parents and annoying or embarrassing for the child. With help, the child can learn how to cope with the allergy and lead a normal life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Prescribed medications

1. Keep medications close by. Involve the child in placing life saving medications in strategic locations at home, in the car, at school and in personal belongings.
2. Review the signs of allergic reaction. Be sure the child understands that seconds count. The sooner medication is taken, the better the odds of stopping the reaction.
3. Demonstrate how to use the medications. Then have the child do the same. This might include removing tablets from packaging, opening and pouring liquids and giving injections.
4. Teach about food labels. A child should learn about the name of the allergen and other possible names for it.
5. Establish ground rules. These should govern situations occurring away from home that involve food. A child can better cope when the rules are clear.
6. Educate school staff. Include the child in a meeting with teachers, the school nurse and administrators. Review the food allergies, the ground rules and locations of medications. Develop a joint response plan.
7. Help plan answers to questions. Encourage the child to anticipate questions about food allergies from others and to practice responses in advance as a way to cope.

Tips & Warnings

• For injectable medications, a drug free, needle-free version is available for training purposes.
• For school lunches and parties, work ahead to find some foods the child can have.
• Do not ignore the sections of a food label that read "processed on" and "may contain."