Allergies are on the increase globally, and children are being affected the most. Allergy UK estimates that up to 50% of children in the UK have been diagnosed with some kind of allergic condition, including hay fever, atopic eczema and food related allergies.

It’s the food allergies that often cause the most concern, especially for those children who suffer extreme or life-threatening reactions. On the plus side the increase in allergies has raised awareness of them, but for any parent of a food allergic child there’s the constant worry that they might inadvertently consume something containing an allergen.

Childcare And Food Allergies

If your child has an allergy you’ll already be fully aware of the potential for small children to eat things they shouldn’t. No doubt you keep a close eye on them when visiting friends or at the soft play centre to ensure they don’t pick up someone’s discarded biscuit or other foods. So I’m not surprised if you’re concerned about leaving your child at nursery or with any other child carer. Fortunately most good nurseries, us included, have policies in place to ensure that children with allergies are well looked after and protected, but also not excluded or discriminated against in any way.

Before Starting Nursery

The following procedures are what we do at our nurseries in the Naturally Curious Childcare Group. If you’re looking for a setting elsewhere you should expect a similar level of care and concern.

Generally when parents of children with food allergies contact us about joining our nurseries, one of the first things they will ask about is our provision for babies and children with allergies. Top of the list of questions tends to be, “are you a nut-free environment?” to which the answer is yes. We take care not to provide food containing nuts or nut products to any baby or child; and we’re especially vigilant when we have a child who has a known allergy to nuts.

Before a baby or child starts at any of our settings we ask their parents about their children’s dietary needs and preferences, including any allergies. This information about each child’s dietary needs is recorded on an ‘all about me’ form which parents complete on their children’s warming session. We also regularly consult with parents to ensure that our records are up to date.

It is really important to have a partnership with parents in order to know their children really well.

Mealtimes and Food Allergies

As per our Nursery Policy, we regard all meal times as an important part of our day. Eating represents a social time for children and adults, and helps children to learn about healthy eating. At meal times we aim to provide nutritious food, which meets the children’s individual dietary needs.

We display current information about individual children’s dietary needs so that all the staff and volunteers are fully informed about any dietary requirements. Further to this we implement systems to ensure that children receive only food and drink that is consistent with their dietary needs and preferences as well as their parents’ wishes. All menus are planned in advance and available for parents to see.

The children are provided with a healthy balanced diet taking into consideration any preferences, dietary requirements or allergies. When making food for children who suffer from intolerances and allergies we try to make their meal look as similar to the other children’s as possible in order for them not to feel ‘different’.

Members of staff also take care to sit by the children with known allergies at mealtimes to avoid any ‘sharing of food’.

We also work alongside parents who want to introduce new foods to their child who has been previously intolerant, Marie our nursery cook is brilliant at providing for all.

Finally, our nursery managers and deputies are all Epi Pen trained; parents are able to supply an Epi or Jext pen which is kept at nursery clearly labeled in a locked medicine cupboard.

Food allergies are now so common that often the nursery manager asks the parent about whether a child has any intolerances or allergies before the parent gets a chance to tell them! It’s something that all good nurseries can accommodate easily and that all nursery staff are aware of.

If you have any concerns about sending your baby or child to nursery please feel free to ask any questions, you can use the comments below or contact the nursery manager directly.