Our PA & TA child is our middle child. Up until now, we have always treated our youngest (he’s 2), the same as our PA & TA son. How have you handled how you feed your younger child? I would appreciate hearing how you have handled this.
This is a great question and one I have struggled with quite a bit until recently. First, and you are probably not dealing with this, but Tyler outgrew his milk and egg allergy when Dylan (my youngest) was 16 months old. To prevent Tyler from eating or drinking anything he shouldn't, I didn't give it to Dylan. Plus, I wanted to hold off to ensure Dylan didn't develop an allergy. So, when Tyler was 37 months and Dylan was 16 months, I gave them both milk and eggs for the first time. I was a little nervous but it all turned out fine.
As far as peanuts go, obviously, I will not give those to Dylan. No one in our home eats them for Tyler's safety. In the beginning, Tyler thought Dylan had to avoid the same things he did. In the fall (when Tyler was 3.5), I started explaining to Tyler that Dylan could eat things he could not. I was just testing the waters and Tyler didn't seem to mind a bit. Then I started gradually giving Dylan things Tyler couldn't have in Tyler's presence. Of course, I always offered a similar food to Tyler. I honestly did not know how he would handle it. If he got upset, I would have stopped immediately. But, he could have cared less!! As long as I have something Tyler wants, he is fine.
My most amazing story is going out for ice cream once recently. I asked Tyler if he minded taking another treat if we got ice cream. I let him pick what he wanted. In the end, he played on the playground and didn't eat his special snack until we got home! I have been intentional with all of this. I have done it gradually. I have been trying to build a maturity about his allergy.
With all of this said, each child handles this sort of issue differently. Some children may be 8 or 9 before they can accept the fact that siblings can eat things they cannot. I think that is totally normal. The key is to do it gradual and let your son be the guide of how much he can accept. I wouldn't push things if he doesn't seem ready to watch his brother eat something he cannot. That is a lot to emotionally process.
Another issue this brings up is whether or not you need to avoid things with your youngest child. For my own peace of mind, I am choosing to have Dylan tested. Our allergist said he would test him when he turned two. Dylan turned two in October and I will probably wait until after the holidays. For our family, we just want to make sure Dylan doesn' t need any Epi Pen with him when Tyler's is away from him. That is a call each family needs to make for other children. I just don't want to find out the hard way that I have two children with food allergies!
I would love to hear how others handle this issue with their non-PA kids.
1 comments:
My PA child is my third and youngest little one. The two older ones have no troubles at all. When we are all together none of us eat nuts to be safe. I usually don't when I am out because I am freaked out that I will somehow get some on me or my clothes and not realize it. I know that after an hour I am most likely in the clear on what was in my mouth, but I still worry that I might miss something! I know my husband probably eats nut things when we aren't around (not at our home of course), but it is one of those things that I chose not to worry about and I am 100% tursting the Lord that my young one will always be fine. My older ones once knew what peanut butter was and peanuts and actually do miss them a lot, but I just can't change that now. I am thankful that Sunbutter has been a wonderful substitute for us. I wish I had known about it during the two years I was nursing and unable to eat nuts, soy, and eggs either.
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