Things that childcare providers should know about food allergies
This post is all about family wellness. Today we are going to concentrate on food allergies and the risks related to them. If someone appoints a babysitter or nanny to take care of a child, he or she might be nervous if they are not familiar with the allergic reaction of a child. So, as a parent or as a childcare provider, you should have enough information about different facts of food allergies and tips to get rid of those worries.
Get introduced to some of the common allergies
Certain foods that we eat daily are potential high risks than you ever thought. These foods include soy, milk, eggs, tree nuts, seafood, and peanuts. If you are worried about the risk of your child getting an allergy outbreak, you should avoid these foods, especially if your baby has not tried them yet. This is because you never know if the baby is allergic to these foods or not. So, if you are a babysitter, never take the risk to have them eat any allergic food like shrimp for the first time.
Why these reactions occur?
Sometimes a particular food is mistaken by your immune system which leads towards an allergic reaction. That food is taken as a virus or bacteria that can hurt your health.
How can you identify the allergic reaction?
Allergic reactions vary from time to time. You can distinguish them by their type. Most of the time, the allergic reactions affect the skin, throat, eyes, respiratory system, nose or digestive system. If you see any of these below symptoms, you can identify them as an allergic reaction from any food.
- A runny nose is the most prominent symptom of an allergy.
- Skin itching is another reaction.
- If there is throat tightness, you have to understand that it’s an allergic reaction.
- Vomiting can happen because of an allergy.
- A cough is also a symptom of an allergy.
- The feeling of a tingling tongue, or if its the same feeling in your lips, it’s an allergic reaction.
- Apart from that, Nausea, Diarrhea and Stomach pain can also happen because of an allergy.
If the case is serious, you have to consult a doctor immediately because anaphylaxis is also caused by food allergies. This one is a severe problem when a person gets an allergy attack all of a sudden. It affects that person’s breathing, skin, digestion, blood vessels or heart. You have to have an excellent emergency plan, and nothing can be better than proper medicines for sudden allergic reactions.
An Epi-pen
There are so many adults and kids out there who use epinephrine or an epi-pen for their allergies. It is basically used in an emergency situation. So, if you are a childcare provider, you have to get an idea about how to administer it and store it. Additionally, you need to know what actions should be taken afterward.
If the reaction is less severe, you can take it as an antihistamine, just like Benadryl. It’ll help you to facilitate the syndrome.
Proactiveness
You have to be proactive while it comes to child safety. You should know all about a child before taking him or her in your care. If you are new to dealing with children of certain food allergies, prepare only those foods that any child can have without worrying about food allergies. Along with that, don’t forget to check the labels attached to food. This little care will help you to recognize the allergic foods instantly. This will go a long way.
As a caregiver, you must be very careful. If you visit a restaurant together, ask the staff about an allergenic contamination before ordering any item.
We always teach our children to share foods with others. But in that case, you should avoid it to avoid any food reactions.
Changes found in allergies
Always keep in mind that allergic reactions change with time. You may have found minor reactions from food. Your child can face severe reactions from the same food in the future.
Awareness is more important than anything. Keep in mind that happiness and safety are the main priorities of your job as a caregiver.
