How Do We Be Normal?

[momof2sn]

I have a few questions..... My daughter was diagnosed in May so we have the diet under control and have had a second round of blood work that came back great!! I said that because I am having a dilema with playdates and church. I have stopped going to church because I don't trust that they are doing what I am asking, but my main question is... what about situations like playdates and church nursery where the children eat and then play with the toys?? I try not to get obsessive about it, but I feel I can easily cross that line.

My daughter is the only one that is gluten free in our house, so is it really any different when she is at church or a friends house? Gluten can get stuck to our toys just as it can at a friends. Do I need to worry about it?

I think with church nursery I am more nervous because I am not there to watch her every moment. Any child can just carry an animal cracker into the play area without someone noticing. I just don't leave her anywhere now, I am just to nervous

I really would like to know what you other mothers do. I do have a medical id bracelet only for the church nursery, so they don't think I am just a ridiculous mom.

I should add that my daughter has gotten glutened here and there accidentally, but she does not have severe reactions as I have read some children here do, but none the less, I want little damage as possible.

Thanks so much for your help........... Any opinion is appreciated!!

[NewGFMom]

How old is your daughter?

My son is 4 and attends preschool. They had fairly hygienic food policies in place before we found out about his celiac. Perhaps you could discuss this with your church day care.

Here's what they do for all the children at my son's school (from babies to preschoolers)

Kids wash hands before all meals or snacks

Kids eat in designated areas, ie at tables.

After meals they do diapering or toileting, depending on the age of the children

kids wash hands

teachers or parent help washes down tables & sweeps the floor.

kids are not allowed to play until they have washed their hands post diaper or bathroom. This really keeps the contamination down. Plus it's just good policy to keep food in specific places. I don't think kids should be playing while eating for a number of reasons that I won't go into here.

Best of luck!

[momof2sn]

How old is your daughter?

My son is 4 and attends preschool. They had fairly hygienic food policies in place before we found out about his celiac. Perhaps you could discuss this with your church day care.

Here's what they do for all the children at my son's school (from babies to preschoolers)

Kids wash hands before all meals or snacks

Kids eat in designated areas, ie at tables.

After meals they do diapering or toileting, depending on the age of the children

kids wash hands

teachers or parent help washes down tables & sweeps the floor.

kids are not allowed to play until they have washed their hands post diaper or bathroom. This really keeps the contamination down. Plus it's just good policy to keep food in specific places. I don't think kids should be playing while eating for a number of reasons that I won't go into here.

Best of luck!

My daughter is 2, I stay home with her, I think I would be in the looney bin if I had to work right now. In our church, it is run by volunteers, the nursery that is, and not the same person is there every week and sometimes who I drop her with is changed by the time I pick her up. The eating area is just a table in the middle of the nursery, right there where all the toys are. I think I just need to find a new church. But what about hand sanitizer, will that do the job?

[JennyC]

My daughter is 2, I stay home with her, I think I would be in the looney bin if I had to work right now. In our church, it is run by volunteers, the nursery that is, and not the same person is there every week and sometimes who I drop her with is changed by the time I pick her up. The eating area is just a table in the middle of the nursery, right there where all the toys are. I think I just need to find a new church. But what about hand sanitizer, will that do the job?

Hand washing is the best way to get rid of gluten, since you are trying to wash it away--not kill it, but hand sanitizer can't hurt. I would look into finding another church if you're not too attached to the one you're attending. I know your daughter is young, but start teaching her never to put things in her mouth, not even her hands unless they have been washed. This most likely won't be effective right away, but it's a start.

[taylor-]

Hi..i dont know why I always respond in this forum..since i dont have kids...this stuff bring back my childhood..haha..

Our church was the same way when I was in the nursery. We had volunteers run it every week, and it changed all the time. My grandma actually ran the sunday school portion of it, but volunteers ran it during the sermon. I don't know how big your church is, ours was a decent size but there were still those "church" kids that were there every week and you knew who they were. I was one of those, but anyway how they did it was they had a big sign on the wall with all the rules and stuff, not for the kids, but for the volunteers. It told them things like when snack time was and when the bible story was but at the bottom in big letters it said

***Taylor Vaughan Is NOT Supposed to Eat The Cookies!! She Is Allergic To Them!! DO NOT Give Them to Her***

then in slightly smaller print it said: Give Her the rice cakes in the food cabinet. Noone else is allowed to eat these except for her. Watch snack time closely and make sure noone touches her food and she doesn't touch theirs. If you have any question ask Taylor AND get her mother or grandmother out of church.

Our proceedure was always play time, bible story, snack, wash hands and bathroom, art craft. and every kid had to pick up his or her trash and wash their hands before they could do anything after snack time. The volunteers had to make sure the table and floor was picked up. We weren't allowed to walk around with food either.

If that nursery doesn't make kids wash their hands and lets them run around with food..then something needs to be done in there..because thats not safe at all for anyone and sort of grosses me out.

But the huge sign of instructions definitly made it clear for everyone. My mom would also volunteer to be in there once a month, just to make sure. Even if you change churches, it might take a few weeks for her to go through the whole cycle of volunteers, but once everybody knows her, they will know what to do.

PS. I "remember" all this because after I was old enough I worked in the nursery as a jr. helper. That sign, while it didn't bother me when i was 2-3, was still up for about 10 years after I was out of the nursery. It eventually got replaced about 7 years ago..haha

[dandelionmom]

I don't know if this helps with the church daycare or not but in my daughter's preschool room the teacher has all the kids wash their hands before and after snack. They stay at the tables while eating and the tables are cleaned well immediately after snack. I don't think I would trust my daughter in a situation where those precautions weren't taken.

As for playdates, every mom I've spoken to about Celiac Disease has been so awesome about taking great care while Julia is at their house. I know that their toys may have gluten on them but Julia has been drilled about not putting toys in her mouth and frequent hand washing.

[Nikki'smom]

Taylor I think it is great that you post on these threads giving the kids perspective. It helps parents like me know my DD will be just fine growing up gluten-free! Thank you!

I think the sign is a GREAT idea maybe have a letter that you can have copies of and talk to the people in the nursery when ever you drop her off?

I can't imagine keeping a 2 yr old gluten-free with as much as mine put there hands in their mouths. My DD is 7 and it is hard enough. Good luck to you!