Has it always been like this?

[thyme4change]

Woo Hoo for the pick!

[milee]

Some of this may be not just the increase in incidence of allergies, but a cultural shift on snacking. We're not only feeding kids snacks more now, but many places are turning it into a communal thing. When I was growing up, the only time I ever remember having a snack was mid-morning at preschool (and the preschool provided the snack which was usually some cheap, inoffensive carb like crackers) and then later after elementary school when we got home.

I do understand some of the benefits of the communal snack culture - exposes the kids to different foods, might make it easier since you only are responsible for snacks once in a while - but honestly, I think it's better to just let parents send their own kids snacks rather than become the snack nazis.

[Colleenz]

It's all your fault for not letting them pick their noses. I probably still have the study in my favorites somewhere, but a German group studied nose picking and found it very beneficial to immune development. Our hands are one of the germiest parts of our bodies, and are constantly interracting with environmental contaminants, so when we pick our noses we're constantly introducing small quantities of stuff into our nasal passage where our immune systems are like optimized to receive germs and develop antibodies and stuff. It was a cool study, but the take away was, let your kids pick their noses and they'll be healthier later.

Now we know how you convinced Loopy to............................{PG13}

*and it's packed full of protein*

[maryjane]

I haven't read through the whole thread, but just wanted to let the OP know that:

You are a mother. Every decision you make is likely wrong. Your kids are young, so they think you are right, but soon they will become teenagers. Then, they will agree with the rest of the world that you are wrong, wrong, wrong.

[wvugurl26]

I'm 27 and I was born with all kinds of allergies. None have been life threatening so far. I do carry an epi pen and watch the stuff I eat.

I made the mistake of eating a Cliff bar last year. A couple hours later I was nauseous, having cold sweats and I puked till I was dry heaving. Soy had upset my stomach before but that was the first time I puked. Nice reminder to read labels!

[973beachbum]

I am of two minds. First my son had an allergy to Dairy when he was young. I didn't actually like when other people made/bought the food he ate. I was too much of a control freak I guess. But with a play date for little kids it is different. My son would break out in hives all over and start weezing from a couple of crumbs of a saltine. I get that others think it's no problem they just will let me feed my kid, and I will, but what happens when your toddler drops half their saltine? Are you going to make sure that absolutely no crumbs hit the ground for my kid to pick up? It sounds silly but, if anyone thinks not having lots of tasty snacks at the play date will kill the mood, just imagine what it would be like if my kid stopped breathing and I had to stab him with an epi pen in front of all the other kids.

[dancinmama]

May 23, 2012 15:46:37 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Woo Hoo for the pick!

No, no pick. It was just a scratch. I swear.

[dancinmama]

DS was born in the late 80s. We had play dates all the time. Sometimes I stayed and sometimes I didn't. I ALWAYS packed a snack for DS (most often "little trees" or another veggie or sliced fresh fruit and/or cheese) and the other moms did the same for their kids. DS had a friend who was allergic to strawberries, so I was a little bit educated about the problem and would always ask moms if their child was allergic to anything just in case.

I went to elementary school in the 60s. I cannot remember a single child having a food allergy. I don't think mothers ever gave a second thought to offering a neighborhood child a P&J. I did have one friend growing up who had juvenile diabetes.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

A theory with the increased allergy prevalance has to do with the overuse of sanitizers and cleanliness. It isn't that you have no immune system, though. The problem is that the immune system learns what are good germs and what are bad germs through practice and exposure to various bugs (This is why vaccines work).

By sterilizing the child's environment, the immune system has nothing to work on. Therefore, when it sees something that may be bad (aka peanut), it reacts full bore and that is where you get the anaphylaxis and bad response. The immune system is a tricky device. The majority of bad things that happen when we get sick (fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc) is the body's reaction to a substance. If the immune system doesn't have a braking system (Slight fever for flu virus, full out attack for chicken pox), it actually causes more damage to the body than the disease itself does (through the release of cytokines, histamines, and other factors).

This could also explain the increased prevalance of autoimmune diseases, where the immune system is destroying the body because it wasn't trained what to go after in the beginning.

Long story long, let your kids play with the dog, eat off the floor, and be touched by all strangers and other dirty kids

[hoops902]

::Long story long, let your kids play with the dog, eat off the floor, and be touched by all strangers and other dirty kids ::

I think if you let your kids "be touched by all strangers" they're gonna have more severe problems than a little food allergy.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

May 23, 2012 22:40:09 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

::Long story long, let your kids play with the dog, eat off the floor, and be touched by all strangers and other dirty kids ::

I think if you let your kids "be touched by all strangers" they're gonna have more severe problems than a little food allergy.

details, details...

[wvugurl26]

I was born allergic to soy. Went through 15 different formulas to find one I could tolerate.

[share88]

I don't remember any kids with food allergies when I was growing up, but I think maybe part of the reason is I don't remember eating every 2 hours either? The play dates I remember were about playing.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

May 23, 2012 13:30:26 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

May 23, 2012 13:14:43 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

You're a dirty hippy, Dark.. that isn't food!

Next time they're all getting flat bread, humus, goat cheese, apple slices, and maybe some grapes. Now that's a snack!

When's snack time Dark?

That sounded pretty good to me too!

[skubikky]

May 23, 2012 15:10:02 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

May 23, 2012 14:28:01 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

I am qualified to speak here because I have 2 of those kids with the PITA life-threatening, anaphylactic, food allergies. Trust me, I'd trade places with any of you in a heartbeat.

Thanks for your perspective. I just about choked at the (I hope) joking suggestion on Page 1 that you feed the kid a little of the supposed allergen to see if the parents are lying. In our area one teenager ended up in a coma after some classmates opened up Reese's Peanut Butter cups near her.

It's stands to reason then, that if someone is unfortunately that deadly sensitive to something, eventually they'll be exposed to it if they're out in public. What happens if you're on a plane or a train? Out at a restaurant? At a business meeting? Anywhere you might go in public could be lethal.

[Deleted]

mmmmm... I should make some hummus next week for my dinners when I have class. And pack some baby carrots and wheat pitas. Too bad I have PB&J and a granola bar for tonight.

[happyhoix]

I've talked to several young moms who tell me they knew their kids were allergic because they were having behavior problems, couldn't sit still, etc. I think back in my childhood those kids were spanked or sent to sit in the corner, I don't think anyone thought their behavior might be due to allergies.

Now, when kids behave badly, it seems like we have to find a reason for it. Allergies, autism, ADD, HDD, dyslexia. Probably these things were there all along, when I was a kid, but no one knew to look for them. You just spanked the kid and went on.

A woman my DH works with took her daughter to be evaluated to find out why she kept getting in trouble at school. $14,000 later they told her her daughter probably has a very mild form of autism. DH, who helped the woman move twice and hears her talk about her kid all the time, has another diagnosis - spoiled brat syndrome.

[973beachbum]

May 24, 2012 7:14:34 GMT -5 skubikky said:

May 23, 2012 15:10:02 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Thanks for your perspective. I just about choked at the (I hope) joking suggestion on Page 1 that you feed the kid a little of the supposed allergen to see if the parents are lying. In our area one teenager ended up in a coma after some classmates opened up Reese's Peanut Butter cups near her.

It's stands to reason then, that if someone is unfortunately that deadly sensitive to something, eventually they'll be exposed to it if they're out in public. What happens if you're on a plane or a train? Out at a restaurant? At a business meeting? Anywhere you might go in public could be lethal.

Well for starters the people getting on a plane by themselves or having a business meeting probably aren't 4. So I would hope that a grown adult could manage to not pick up food off the floor and eat it, or lick their hands at a business lunch.

The problem is that little kids do pick up food off the ground. they also get food like peanut butter all over themselves and don't usually wash their hand afterwards just lick it off themself. Plus other little kids are also apt to touch each other and then put their hands in their own mouth.

The last part of the problem with kids is they can't help themselves in an emergency like an adult can. An adult or at least bigger kid can use an epi pen on themself in an emergency. A 4 year old can't.

[skubikky]

Athena told the story of peanut butter candy being opened near a girl who was allergic to it. I'm sure there are any number of circumstances where someone could be exposed to something that they're allergic to even if they are an adult. I was specifically referring to those that are highly allergic not whether or not they could use an Epi pen.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2012 12:58:49 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I have a difficult time believing that yogurt is really any better for you than ice cream.

Not the way the major brands make it- most are flavored with high-fructose corn syrup. (Stonyfield is an exception.) I don't buy flavored yogurt- I buy a good brand of plain Greek yogurt (heck, the mainstream companies that have come herding into the market even mess that up by adding fillers) and add honey or the fruit jam DH makes.

[Deleted]

May 24, 2012 8:13:13 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

May 23, 2012 12:58:49 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I have a difficult time believing that yogurt is really any better for you than ice cream.

Not the way the major brands make it- most are flavored with high-fructose corn syrup. (Stonyfield is an exception.) I don't buy flavored yogurt- I buy a good brand of plain Greek yogurt (heck, the mainstream companies that have come herding into the market even mess that up by adding fillers) and add honey or the fruit jam DH makes.

don't bother. According to shoobs, it's still less healthy than ice cream.

[973beachbum]

May 24, 2012 8:19:28 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

May 24, 2012 8:13:13 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

Not the way the major brands make it- most are flavored with high-fructose corn syrup. (Stonyfield is an exception.) I don't buy flavored yogurt- I buy a good brand of plain Greek yogurt (heck, the mainstream companies that have come herding into the market even mess that up by adding fillers) and add honey or the fruit jam DH makes.

don't bother. According to shoobs, it's still less healthy than ice cream.

Then it is okay that we had custard for dinner last night?

[Deleted]

May 24, 2012 8:20:21 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

May 24, 2012 8:19:28 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

don't bother. According to shoobs, it's still less healthy than ice cream.

Then it is okay that we had custard for dinner last night?

as long as you had some Fruit Roll-Ups on the side!

[973beachbum]

May 24, 2012 8:23:17 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

May 24, 2012 8:20:21 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Then it is okay that we had custard for dinner last night?

as long as you had some Fruit Roll-Ups on the side!

and ruin good custard with fruit roll ups? That is just wrong!

[Angel!]

May 24, 2012 7:53:43 GMT -5 skubikky said:

Athena told the story of peanut butter candy being opened near a girl who was allergic to it. I'm sure there are any number of circumstances where someone could be exposed to something that they're allergic to even if they are an adult. I was specifically referring to those that are highly allergic not whether or not they could use an Epi pen.

That level of allergy is really rare. If you are that allergic you probably avoid most restaurants & cafeterias & are very aware of what people around you are doing & always carry an epi-pen.

Yes, anywhere you go could potentially be lethal, but they take extreme care to avoid issues. I completely understand when extreme measures are taken to protect really young kids or really sensitive kids.

After a certain age though the kids will learn you never take food from anyone if you haven't read the ingredients & be aware enough to care for themselves without needing extreme levels of protection.

Allergies are far more common today. I was one of the rare ones with an allergy growing up in the 80's. Even back then you couldn't miss real life-threatening allergies - they were diagnosed. Today I think people are more likely to diagnose intolerances than back then though.

I will tell you those with kid allergies today - thank you lucky stars you weren't dealing with this 30 years ago. Ingredients didn't have to include anything less than 2%, so I could easily get sick off stuff that didn't have any dairy listed in the ingredients. You had to be a very brand specific shopper & I still am today. There was way less awareness, people mistook my dairy allergy for lactose intolerance & would say things like "well you can just scrape off the cheese". I got extremely ill & was rushed in an ambulance as a young child because they put cheese & my hamburger, realized their mistake, took off the cheese & served it to me. Now I am the bizzare person that inspects every inch of their food before eating it because you don't soon forget a lesson that sends you to the hospital.

And I still today almost alway avoid places that serve primarly pizza - as a child I would get very sick walking into anywhere like pizza hut. Today I can usually avoid having a reaction if I am very careful - I won't eat anything & I have to be especially careful not to touch my eyes. But, it is like walking into a deathtrap - you know at every corner there is stuff that can make you violently ill & potentially kill you, so not much fun in going.

[Deleted]

May 24, 2012 7:14:34 GMT -5 skubikky said:

It stands to reason then, that if someone is unfortunately that deadly sensitive to something, eventually they'll be exposed to it if they're out in public. What happens if you're on a plane or a train? Out at a restaurant? At a business meeting? Anywhere you might go in public could be lethal.

Airlines have started distributing "premium snack mix" that doesn't include peanuts, when they do hand out food. I've also heard of flights where people were asked not to open anything containing peanuts because someone on the flight was deathly allergic.

As for diet affecting behavior- one of the things DS's therapist taught him in managing ADD was not eating junk food. I've got a friend whose kids have some senisitivities that affect their behavior and they're very careful about what they eat. When the kids were behaving so badly at a "Breakfast with Santa" event that they had to leave early, they inquired about the menu afterwards. The pancakes were doused with imitation maple syrup which was really colored, flavored high-fructose corn syrup.

I'm a firm believer in Spoiled Brat Syndrome but I also believe that diet can affect behavior.

[Deleted]

I would have assumed they were using the cheap syrup substitute -- do you know how much it would have cost to use real maple syrup??!?

[saveinla]

My cousin's son has the extreme allergies - he cannot get near anything made with milk or nuts. When he was less than a year old, they tried testing him with putting milk near his nose, but he had to be hospitalized in the ER, it was that bad. He learned to not eat anything from outside the home. When he goes to play dates, he either takes his own snacks or does not eat. He tells people that he will not eat anything that his mom has not vetted and only stays overnight with one kid who he has grown up with. He is 11 years old and the allergies have still not gone down.

[Formerly SK]

I'm a firm believer in Spoiled Brat Syndrome but I also believe that diet can affect behavior.

I agree with this. I'm AMAZED at how much sugar is fed to kids when groups get together. DS's cub scout meetings are horrible - imagine 10 7yo boys running around after eating a plate of chocolate cookies. They might as well be on crack. Yes, there is no substitute for discipline and I believe in Spoiled Brat Syndrome, but seriously if you want your child to behave and learn/participate in the group activity, don't make the goal even harder to obtain by jacking their system up with speed.

[Deleted]

I totally respect that a peanut allergy can kill. I made sure to pick a treat that contains no peanuts. I also read the package to make sure it wasn't packaged in a facility containing nuts.

However, I still find the "spicy food allergy" ridiculous! If the kid is allergic to peppers, say he's allergic to peppers (we had a house guest last night that is); if it's a certain spice then name the spice. Besides, I don't think anyone is going to serve habanero salsa to children anyway.