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Unusual_Lemon_2453 t1_itl8779 wrote

Your neighbors probably think you are a giant weirdo. What you need to do is let your kid collect the candy like a normal child, and teach him to pick out the candy that is nut free, the rest he puts in with the candy to give away to trick or treaters. Being able to deffirintiate the foods and candies that wont make him sick is a lesson he needs to learn in life. You will not always be there to cuddle him, and when he starts school, he needs to know not to eat that peanut chew sussie snuck in her backpack.

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justwantsomezen t1_itl9jg1 wrote

The child is three. As they get older your plan is wonderful but not for a three year old.

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99badwolfbaloons OP t1_itla7ao wrote

Absolutely. And even at three he has a developing understanding of ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ foods for him. But it is very hard for people to understand who don’t deal with it, you absolutely have to read the label. You can never give a kid with allergies unlabeled foods, even if they’ve had the food before. Halloween candy is usually not individually labeled, which is why we buy our own.

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99badwolfbaloons OP t1_itl9qyz wrote

Sure, knowing how to differentiate between safe and unsafe foods is important to teach a child with allergies. You certainly cannot do that before you’re old enough to read food labels though. And Halloween candy is usually not individually labeled anyway, it’s sold in large bags, with the ingredients listed on the larger bag, but not on the individual pieces of candy. Plus, even something typically safe, becomes unsafe if it is served in a large bowl of other allergy containing treats.

Also, how do you propose that a two or three year old pick candy out in the first place? It’s not like he can stick his hand in the bowl of foods he’s allergic to.

Also, I think you mean coddle and not cuddle. ‘Coddle’ means to treat in an indulgent or overprotective way. To be overprotective you have to be protecting the child in a way that is excessive or unnecessary given the situation. Since a child with food allergies can die from coming in contact with their allergen, and since a three year old cannot read for themselves, it is not overprotective to provide them with allergy friendly foods until they have the skills and maturity to pick out their own foods.

And lastly one of the absolute worst things you can do for a child with food allergies is train them to eat familiar looking foods or go off of the picture or look of the food since similar foods can have different ingredients and even the same food processed in different facilities can have different ingredients. You want to teach them instead to never accept food that was not given to them by a trusted adult who knows their allergies.

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Ghost-Toof t1_itlacrw wrote

Father of a boy with peanut tree nut and egg allergies. Nice to see others with ideas. Thanks for that. Daniel tigers allergy is peaches and rubble from law patrol is allergic to peanuts like our boy. Also helps to find shows with characters with similar allergies. For us at least. 3.5 year old says. I'm allergic to peanuts like ruble. It's awesome.

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99badwolfbaloons OP t1_itlbylj wrote

We actually just watched that Daniel Tiger episode with him! Our little guy has a whole bunch of allergies at the moment (hoping he grows out of at least a couple!). But we’re so lucky that he’s an incredibly good eater and up for anything when it comes to food. It makes it a lot easier find foods for him knowing he’s easy to make happy!

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Ghost-Toof t1_itledwh wrote

Our boy picked up a Hershey almonds bar at the grocery store a few weeks back. Said. Hey buddy you gotta put that back. He pointed at the almond and say. I allergic? And put it back. It made me so happy, proud and relieved that he's on a start to the right path.

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99badwolfbaloons OP t1_itlf6av wrote

Yay! It feels good when they understand and don’t seem like they’re feeling are hurt by it. :) He turned three a couple weeks ago and he has the language now to talk about it more.

There’s one niche store that sells special bread he can have and we make a whole trip out of going and shopping for special foods he can have (usually sauces and stuff to dress up chicken/veggies/ rice). He loves it! And he tells everyone in the store he’s there for ‘billy bread!’

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Remarkable_Story9843 t1_itlxc4y wrote

As an adult dx celiac this makes me so happy!

(And is also why I never take the last of a gf item on the shelf. )

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