Argh - Frustrated

[Mamato2boys]

~sigh~

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now. How the heck do I hammer into the daycare people's heads how to deal with this ?

I haven't talked in depth about cross contamination with them yet. I was planning on going out this weekend and getting him some gluten-free art supplies to be kept at the daycare, and then talking with them when I bring the stuff in. One of the employees happened to mention yesterday that whenever Ryan brings Tings that a lot of the kids think they're Cheetos and take some off his plate. She made it sound like they do that with some of his other food, too. I think they stop the kids when they see that happening, but all I could think was "ugggggghhhhh......all those grubby, gluten-covered hands all over his food...."

So how far does this need to be taken ? If one of the kids touches his food, for example, do they just throw that food away ? Same with the art supplies ? Should Ryan be seated separately from them, the table scubbed down first, etc ? Do all the kids then have to wash their hands before interacting with Ryan ? I can conceivably see this as being never-ending...I mean technically EVERYTHING should be washed after eating/playing items that have gluten...all the toys should be cleaned probably twice a day at least....there are 24 kids and at least two staff there (and the staff rotate during the day). I don't know if the daycare CAN handle this much work involved, or if they'd even be willing to.

Did I say UGH ??? I'm kind of feeling like I'd be better off putting my kids in a bubble. Eating out has gotten to be more hassle than it's worth. It seems like restaurants either get the order wrong, or I get attitude when I'm special ordering stuff. On the one hand I feel like it would be easier for me to quit working and keep my boys at home instead of having to deal with this - but I'm going to have to handle it eventually. I mean, before I know it they'll start school. They're both just so little right now (3 years and almost 4 months).

I thought I had a good handle on this - I kind of got hit between the eyes with feeling this way. I think the catalyst for this is last weekend Ryan had a nice, solid BM (VERY rare for him) - but it was yellow.

Thanks for letting me vent....I sure could use some help. How have some of you dealt with this ?

[celiacgirls]

One difference is when they start school, they will be able to handle their diet themselves a lot better. But even then, they may not handle it the way you want them to. One of my daughters is pretty careful but one is a little lax about cc in my opinion. At their age, they are totally dependant on the caregivers at the daycare.

I didn't have to deal with daycare when my kids were younger and we only suspected gluten was a problem for one of them at the time. I never had to worry about cc because we were told she didn't have celiac and didn't need to be gluten free. We did it anyway because she felt better. I can only imagine what it would be like to tell them they had to worry about cc. Even my husband hates to hear about that!

No advice just sympathy for a difficult situation.

[mamatide]

~sigh~

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now. How the heck do I hammer into the daycare people's heads how to deal with this ?

I've felt this. My DD was in daycare for her first three months of gluten-free life. I had a talk with the Director and provided them with some literature. There is an information sheet on nih that someone posted from her - if you google NIH and Celiac you'll get it. It's for anyone unfamiliar with Celiac Disease and impresses upon them the importance the diet in the children's health.

With my DD (now in Kindergarten) she has always had trouble with other kids digging into her lunch, especially at daycare. I mean, how can a kid who has to eat the same old slop the rest of the kids are eating resist??? My DD's lunches were packed full of fresh fruit, cut up veggies, meat cubes, cheese cubes... and must have been awfully tempting to the other kids.

Now my DD will absolutely not touch her food if the other kids have been digging. She is quite sensitive and she knows very well the ramifications. I try to give her lots of food in separate containers so that even if another kid touches something, my DD will have other things to eat. On rare occasions she comes home hungry.

I think you have to explain to the Daycare (director) and staff (if possible) that your child/ren is/are very sensitive (you can pour it on a little thicker for effect if need be) to gluten and that even a crumb will bring on severe diarrhea. Let me tell you - if there's one thing a daycare doesn't like it's diarrhea and poop accidents.

Above all, explain to your child(ren) that they have to be extra careful about crumbs. Especially at daycare where I'd say 90% of food is gluten-based (or in the form of dried cereal and crackers and macaroni). It's all over the place, it's on the playground, it's on the tables, chairs, floors in the form of crumbs dropped off of little laps. You need to educate your child that they should keep their fingers out of their mouth between meals and to wash their hands BEFORE eating every single time. It will sink in eventually.

If they do get glutened, bring this to both the daycare's attention (to alert them that your child may have to run to poop on very short notice) and to your child's attention so that the child can draw a direct correlation between the crumbs/gluten and the resulting symptoms.

Good luck - it will get better when your child is older - at least it has been for us.

mamatide.

[taweavmo3]

I know how you feel, it can be quite overwhelming. It is really hard being gluten free at preschool, because SO many things revolve around food. The biggest thing I've stressed to Emmie's teachers is just to make sure she washes her hands well before she eats. I'm sure she touches gluten laden toys and such throughout the day, but as long as she washes her hands, I think it's allright. If the kids touched her food though, I would want the teachers to throw it away.

Emmie is nearly four, but she still doesn't really understand what she can and can't eat, so we're still dependant on her teachers being careful. We've been lucky so far this year, and no accidents that I can tell.

It does get easier with age....my 7 year old is also on the diet, and it has been super easy. They don't do nearly as many projects with food, all I really have to worry about is lunch, which I just send with him each day. Luckily, he hasn't tired of sandwhiches yet!

And about going out to eat, we gave up that battle a while ago! I love going out, but it just got too hard and wasn't worth the effort or risk. Every now and then, I'll get the kids some fries and Sprite from Chick Fil a for a treat. That's the extent of our dining out, lol. Instead of going out to eat......I make the kids Kinnikinnick pizza so I can get a cooking break. I do get tired of cooking all the time, but I try to make things as easy as possible so I don't get too burned out.

Keep venting here........many of us can relate!

[Mamato2boys]

Thanks.

I told Ryan this morning not to let anybody take his food, but he's 3, I don't know if he'll be able to fend the kids off, lol. I'm glad they think his food looks so much better, but - PAWS OFF ! LOL One of the staff keeps telling Ryan jokingly that she's going to steal his food because it looks so good. He just kind of looks at her like "yeah, whatever lady" lol.

What I do is send breakfast, lunch, and two snacks, along with a "backup" snack in case he doesn't want one of the ones I've sent, or he's extra-hungry. Then they also put out a weekly menu, and I circle the stuff he can have (usually just fruits & veggies, sometimes meats or salads, no dressing). If somebody touches his lunch I don't know what the heck to do about that - I can't leave work to get him something else, and sending two lunches every day seems pretty wasteful.... Snacks are no big deal and I can send extras of that, though.

I'll check out that link, too. Thanks again guys.