I assume since you’re reading this, you are an Allergy Mum and have an allergy kid. Maybe more than one?
Are the allergies severe or mild? Do you find them hard to manage? Are they food and drink-related or are they animals? Are the allergies environmental? Any other causes?
I’ve pulled together a quick guide to help you navigate the world of being an allergy mum. Why? Because being an allergy mum brings a whole new dimension to life … and then some!
Before I discovered my son had allergies, I wasn’t even aware of the term “allergy mum!”
Before I had children, I would often listen to my friends who had kids with allergies. They would constantly speak about their challenges and fears over their children.
I honestly used to wonder what on earth their life must be like living with all that anxiety!
One good friend’s son had a severe nut allergy and she often spoke about how life was a constant worry.
Every time she sent her son to school, she’d spend the whole day worrying whether the school was going to give her an emergency call any moment.
I remember thinking life must be so tough for her!
Having lived as an allergy mum for the past few years I’ve definitely learnt a thing or two!
When hosting a birthday party, ask the parents of children if there are any food allergies you should be aware of.
Ask in person, send an email, or mark it on the invitation if any children have food allergies.
Don’t be complacent, and work with the child’s parent to come up with a plan for serving allergy safe party food.
If you’re the host and a party guest has a food allergy, clearly state those allergies in the invitation or reminder.
Politely ask other guests not to bring foods that might contain allergens. Let other parents know to ensure that everyone understands the risks of allergens being present.
When my son developed his allergies he was very unwell and I didn’t know why.
Losing weight, not eating, rolling in pain. It was so hard to watch.
Getting my son diagnosed took some time. Once we got the diagnosis, I quickly made changes to his diet once we realised the causes.
It was an emotional and physically exhausting time, but I didn’t give up!
If there’s one thing I have learnt about allergy mums it’s that we are fighters! We will fight to get our children what they need and ensure they don’t miss out!
In the early days when my son would scream in agony, I did my own research and figured out he has a cow’s milk protein allergy.
Not just that, but shortly after, we discovered he had a soya allergy!
Today, I want to share my top tips for new allergy mums. It’s not exhaustive so please add more. I’d love to get more tips to add to this list.
This will help highlight any trigger foods and be useful to show medical professionals when they ask for more info.
Find out all you can about allergies and allergy symptoms. There’s so many great resources out there.
This could be images or videos. They can help when discussing symptoms with your doctors or health care practitioners.
If you’re not sure about something, please don’t be shy about asking for help and make sure you follow up with medical support.
Mum very often knows best – no really you do! If you think something isn’t right, keep pushing for support!
There are so many support groups out there, join a group and connect with other parents with similar issues, concerns and smart ways around it.
When your child joins nursery or school, make sure you speak with the staff and explain your child’s allergies. Present them with information and speak with the cook to make sure they are aware of your kids’ allergies.
Make other parents aware of your child’s allergies, to make sure they understand what foods are allergy safe for their child to take to nursery or school.
Take your time to read ingredient labels. These can often change and you should constantly make sure that you have the correct allergy information.
Don’t assume because a food item was once allergy safe that it still is. Manufacturers can change the ingredients at any time so you need to check the ingredient labels every time you purchase!
Don’t let allergies hold you back. Your child will grow up and be able to advocate for themselves. They will fully understand their allergies and be confident in avoiding trigger foods within a short period of time.
If you’re eating out, don’t be afraid to speak out to the waiting and kitchen staff. Don’t be afraid to be fussy. Tell them about your child’s food allergy and make sure they take you seriously.
It’s always a good idea to keep reminding friends and family about your child’s allergies. If they are a true friend then they really won’t mind you refreshing their minds about your child’s food allergies.
Communication is key. When they’re old enough, make sure you speak with your child about their allergies. Make sure you keep this conversation positive. Discuss ways in which they can live a normal life.
Try to remain positive. Focus on what your child can have and do rather than what they can’t eat.
Discuss how fun birthday parties are and talk about them spending time with their friends, playing games etc – don’t make it all about the food. Food shouldn’t be the focus of a birthday party.
Easier said than done, I know. Make sure you manage your emotions when present with your child. Children feed of your energy (that’s why my kids are so damn hyper 😂). But seriously, if you’re upset then they’ll be upset about their allergies. Try to remain positive. Your child will thank you for it.
For kids with multiple food allergies, it can be even more challenging to make sure all foods at a party are safe.
If your child is attending a party, it’s definitely a good idea to have your child bring his or her own treat so that they can still enjoy the celebrations.
If you’re the host, go that extra mile and make sure you have allergen free treats suitable for kids with allergies.
It will mean the whole world to their parents; you really will fill their hearts with joy!
Our Angelic Chocolate Chip cookies are the perfect treat for parties, kids love them, and they are the perfect allergy safe party food!
This is the perfect mix of allergen free chocolate cookies to brighten up anyone’s day!
Featuring a selection of our cookies, all made with delicious ethically sourced chocolate chips, and of course…every product is Top 14 Allergen Safe.
What’s included:
What’s more, the chocolate chips in our allergen free chocolate cookies are made using 100% renewable energy, and are certified by the Rainforest Alliance.
I hope you found my tips for new allergy mums helpful.
I’d love to hear from you on any tips you might have.
I want to be able to build this into the Ultimate Guide for Allergy Mums so I want all your best tips and tricks for turning this challenging situation into a win-win for everyone. I’ll credit you, obviously.
What are your top tips as an allergy mum? Let us know in the comment section below.
Kirsty
Angelic Free From Ltd Suite 314, 8 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EA, Scotland Registered Number: SC400402.
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