Need Some Guidance On Finding Cc At School

[shayesmom]

I'm hoping some of you can share your wisdom and help me figure out what's going on with dd. She started pre-school 3 weeks ago and it feels like she is having reactions or side effects from exposures nearly every day at school. She only goes 2 days per week, but the side effects are sucking up most of the week and the poor thing needs a break! Our situation is a bit difficult as not only is she intolerant to gluten, but casein, eggs, soy and food colorings as well. Like many of the moms on here, I am the "poop patrol" here and I can tell you that I am pretty sure that so far, we've had two glutenings and one exposure to dairy.

The school has been really great and the teacher has made sure that all their crafts/art supplies are gluten-free. I also received a snack list and provided appropriate alternatives for dd which are labeled and the teacher keeps refrigerated/frozen for Shaye (no cc there as I not only bag the snack, but then put it in gladware). I've also provided Shaye with her own soap to wash her hands with as theirs contained gluten AND soy.

The other kids do get gluten snacks though and so I don't know how or if we are getting our exposures there. And so it brings me to wonder how to best approach the teacher with this (we've had one brief discussion and she's explained that the kids each have an area of a big carpet to sit on where they eat their snacks individually....so of course I'm thinking...crumbs). But with dd....you never know. She is also more sensitive to her allergens if she has sugar and the list of "comparable" snacks I was asked to bring in has plenty of sugar in it. I was irritated beyond belief when I got that snack list right from the get-go!

So here's where I need some help. How did you guys approach AND educate your child's teachers about this? Did you provide a written explanation of how this all works and possible sources of contamination? I can tell that this teacher is the type of person who will go the extra mile if you find a way to enlist her help. But I'm deeply concerned at this point because I don't know where these reactions are coming from. This may sound silly, but it seems to me that the easiest way to find out where the reaction is coming from is to be able to sit and observe the class for a day.

Help! What do I do???

[Guest nini]

my daughter's glutenings at preschool came from the playdough... it took us a while to figure out that playdough had wheat in it... ... I know how frustrating it is to know that you have done all you can to try to make your child's environment safe and she is still getting ill...

In our situation I had to provide safe playdough for the entire class so there was not chance of cc from kids playing with the not safe playdough and getting it all over the tables and all over their hands.

I would complain about the high sugar content of all the snacks, and then just provide healthy alternatives. Your daughter really doesn't have to have a snack that looks like everyone elses although we may think that is preferable, most kids don't care. My daughter liked it when her snacks were similar to everyone elses, but really didn't care when they were different. Because Chey initially had blood sugar issues as well, I really put my foot down about the sugar content of the snacks...

as far as sitting there and observing the class, I've done that too, and while it may or may not help you figure out the source of the glutenings and cc, your daughter will enjoy it.

[mommida]

Go and observe the class. The teachers should be happy with extra help. If even the handsoap has two of her no-nos in it, the whole class room has got to be a cross-contamination nightmare.

I switched my kids to a smaller private school. I could not believe the difference - even the janitor cared enough to ask me questions and things he could do to help! I also brought the Danna Korn book for the school. The principle has put it into the staff reference section. My son's teacher came out to the house to meet and discuss the school year before school started. (That is standard for Lutheran Schools.)

L.

[shayesmom]

my daughter's glutenings at preschool came from the playdough... it took us a while to figure out that playdough had wheat in it... ... I know how frustrating it is to know that you have done all you can to try to make your child's environment safe and she is still getting ill...

In our situation I had to provide safe playdough for the entire class so there was not chance of cc from kids playing with the not safe playdough and getting it all over the tables and all over their hands.

I would complain about the high sugar content of all the snacks, and then just provide healthy alternatives. Your daughter really doesn't have to have a snack that looks like everyone elses although we may think that is preferable, most kids don't care. My daughter liked it when her snacks were similar to everyone elses, but really didn't care when they were different. Because Chey initially had blood sugar issues as well, I really put my foot down about the sugar content of the snacks...

as far as sitting there and observing the class, I've done that too, and while it may or may not help you figure out the source of the glutenings and cc, your daughter will enjoy it.

The issue of playdough in this case, may or may not apply. The teacher went out and purchased gluten-free playdough for Shaye's class. But you know, it could be a possibility as 2 other classes share that room (different days) and I don't know if the other classes are using gluten-free playdough or not. And if so, I don't know what their cleaning schedule/regimen is. So thank you for pointing that out again. Perhaps it is a broader problem and not one directly related to my dd's particular class. At least this does give me an avenue to pursue.

I've been debating on what tact to use with the teacher. I really need to get to the bottom of this, but have been hesitant on how much information to actually supply the teacher with. I have given her lists of safe mainstream products that Shaye can have. And if EVER they are contemplating a deviation in the snack/treat routine, they have called me prior to making it. They have been very open and conscientious about consulting with me and making adjustments for Shaye (the teacher even goes with her to the restroom and brings her soap with her so she can wash her hands properly). So needless to say....I'd feel like a schmuck for "complaining".....so I am trying to find a way to approach it in a way that deals with the issue without alienating the teacher and assistant as they are truly trying to be safe.

I began deviating from their snack menu already and have briefly touched upon the sugar issue with the teaching assistant. I will revisit that more in depth next week. I will also see if I can sit in for a day. This cc issue can be so complex that I just don't see how the teachers can "get" it in such a short amount of time without getting a short crash course in gluten and it's many faces. And it sucks to have things finally going well at home and to see it all deteriorate in such a short span of time. Shaye loves school. But if this keeps up, I'm contemplating pulling her from pre-school and looking at other options. Maybe in another year, she will be in a place where she herself could be more aware of where she can be cc.

What a delicate balance this thing is to try to keep things as "normal" as possible while also being safe. I'm truly hoping that the past 3 weeks are not an indicator of how the beginning of each school year will go for the rest of our academic lives.

Nini, did you find a source of cc when you sat in on the class? Did you find that it helped a lot in terms of understanding the potential pitfalls?

[Guest nini]

oh yeah I saw potential cc in the classroom... when the other kids are eating their gluteny snacks and meals right next to my child, they aren't careful at all about their crumbs, they got all over the table and on their hands and faces and clothes and so when they wash their hands after lunch or snack it's still on their clothes and faces... I felt like I was being the "gluten nazi" and insisting that they be extra careful with the crumbs around the classroom, like keeping them confined to the tables and not allowed on the carpets or in centers... the eating snacks on the carpet may be a biggie...

are you absolutely sure the playdough she bought is gluten-free? I made my own just because it was cheaper than buying the stuff from Discount School Supply (colorations) oh and NOT ALL OF THE COLORATIONS PRODUCTS ARE gluten-free... I was previously told that they were all gluten-free but that is not the case.

[shayesmom]

Go and observe the class. The teachers should be happy with extra help. If even the handsoap has two of her no-nos in it, the whole class room has got to be a cross-contamination nightmare.

I switched my kids to a smaller private school. I could not believe the difference - even the janitor cared enough to ask me questions and things he could do to help! I also brought the Danna Korn book for the school. The principle has put it into the staff reference section. My son's teacher came out to the house to meet and discuss the school year before school started. (That is standard for Lutheran Schools.)

L.

Oh man. I hadn't even considered the handsoap everyone else uses!

This is NOT good. I think that I'll be having a very serious talk with the teacher on Tuesday as to where to go next. Guess I'll be buying some handsoap in bulk this year.

[Mamato2boys]

I've been dealing with this issue myself ever since I put Ryan in daycare at 1 year of age (as you know all too well). I feel your pain. I'm glad to hear that the teacher seems to be so open to helping you. Attitude among teachers in that regard seems to be improving as allergies are becoming more common.

I've found that what helps them "get it" is when you explain that this is life & death for your child. It isn't just an inconvenience - that exposure to these allergens could very well ultimately end her life. I had to do that with Ryan's daycare. I think up to that point they knew he had allergies, but didn't seem to take it real seriously until I explained that to them. Maybe you could try that ?

[dahams04]

Why are they eating on the floor? Is this a regulation preschool? I'm pretty sure that is a health code violation.

For Hunter I decorated a cookie sheet lamanated it w/ clear contact paper and he eats his lunch and snack on that. It helps to be a barrier for other's crumbs. So far its been ok. He also goes twice a week. I would definatly sit on the class. You could give pointers and then it all might sink in alittle more if your there and they are seeing it first hand. Hope this helps.

[shayesmom]

Why are they eating on the floor? Is this a regulation preschool? I'm pretty sure that is a health code violation.

For Hunter I decorated a cookie sheet lamanated it w/ clear contact paper and he eats his lunch and snack on that. It helps to be a barrier for other's crumbs. So far its been ok. He also goes twice a week. I would definatly sit on the class. You could give pointers and then it all might sink in alittle more if your there and they are seeing it first hand. Hope this helps.

The cookie sheet idea is an excellent idea! Thank you!

As for them eating on the floor....I don't know what that's about. They have a plush area rug which is a no shoes/story time place for them to sit and it was mentioned after the first glutening that they were eating their snacks on it while listening to a story. Other times, they have gone to the cafeteria and the other day, I saw them eating and drinking at tables. It is a regulation pre-school and came highly recommended. Three other kids in the class have food allergies and so far, no paramedics have been called.....

Tomorrow I will approach the teacher about sitting in on a class. I definitely have to get to the bottom of this despite my mil's comments on "Well....you just may have to get used to it. You can't keep her in a bubble". No I can't keep her in a bubble but since I elected to bring a child into this world, it IS my responsibility that she be safe and have the opportunity to enjoy her school life as well as good health! Ugghh!! There are times when the relatives can be so insensitive to all of this. And I HATE when she asks me how I *know* if dd was glutened. Hmmm....let me see.....could it be the fact that she has explosive BMs within the hour after coming home which are completely loose and so bulky that you'd swear they came out of an adult??? Oh and how about the tummy aches and then the avoiding food for the next 12 hours? I swear there are times when I want to kick some gluten-eaters in the seat of their pants for the assinine commentary. This is tough enough without them jumping on the bandwagon and treating you like some paranoid psychopath!