Kids Food Allergies Blog

I can’t tell you how many times that family and friends have asked me when my daughter will outgrow her allergies and how we will find out.

I have found an informative video produced by ABC News that can help me explain the process to others in a straightforward, non-emotional way. Entitled Food Challenges for Children with Allergies, the video succinctly explains food allergy testing and walks viewers through the food challenge process from the perspective of an allergic child and his family.

For those of us struggling with how to prepare our children for food challenges, I thought that mother’s approach was a good model:

“Hayden handles food challenges with … 75% with excitement and hope, and 25% fear and anxiety, what if I have a reaction. And we talk very frankly and openly about the reality of it, if he had a reaction how that would be handled, that we’re in a very safe environment and they give such small doses that the reaction would most likely never get to be life threatening or very scary like the reactions he’s experienced before”

Good advice to keep in mind for our children’s next food challenges.

Purple Mommy’s post, “You Could Die” is a stark reminder how much food allergic kids know — despite our best efforts not to say scary things in front of them.

We’re going through something similar.  My daughter’s annual allergist visit is rapidly approaching.  If yesterday’s RAST tests went well, we will soon be able to challenge eggs.   I am torn between talking with her about the food challenge in advance (so she can be mentally prepared) and not wanting to talk it up too much (for fear of scaring her, or getting her hopes up - in the event she doesn’t pass).   So, I floated a trial balloon.  I told her about the possibility of doing a challenge in the context of having to get a blood test.  Her immediate response … “Oh Mommy.  That doesn’t sound like a very good idea at all.  It’s not safe for me to eat eggs.  I don’t want to try eggs.  I am happy with the foods I can eat.  Why do I need to try eggs?”  It had never occurred to me the degree to which she has internalized the parameters that define her world, and that she would be afraid to rock the boat.  So, as reassuringly as I could, I told her that we would only try eggs if her allergist (her favorite doctor in the whole world) thinks it is safe for her to do so — and that he would be right there if anything bad happened to make sure she would be OK.  Wiping away tears, she said she’s lucky to have such a wonderful allergist who takes such good care of her.  My sentiments exactly.