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Glutened From Toddlers I'M Taking Care Of....

luciddream928

By luciddream928
in Coping with Celiac Disease

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luciddream928 Explorer
luciddream928
Posted

Hi everyone... I need help!! I just started working as a nanny 2 weeks ago and I've been consistently glutened from the toddlers I work with. One is 1.5, the other is 2.5 years. So for all of you with babies, you know how messy it is all day. I'm constantly covered in crackers, cereal bars, snack stuff... it's a gluten nightmare. I work with them from 8-6pm every day. So of course I bring my own lunch, and I try to bring stuff that I have to eat with a utensil.

I am so, so careful, I don't know how I am being cross contaminated. I'm constantly washing my hands. I wash all of my tupperware there, is it possible to be cross contaminated from sponges that are used to clean glutened countertops and utensils? Are their sponges and dishtowels safe?

Help, please... I have been breaking out and irritable, fatigued, D and C is starting up.

On a side note, my b/f has a mixed kitchen and I eat there all the time, but we are careful and I haven't been sick yet from that. It's started up since I've worked as a nanny.

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elle's mom Contributor
elle's mom
Posted

Hi everyone... I need help!! I just started working as a nanny 2 weeks ago and I've been consistently glutened from the toddlers I work with. One is 1.5, the other is 2.5 years. So for all of you with babies, you know how messy it is all day. I'm constantly covered in crackers, cereal bars, snack stuff... it's a gluten nightmare. I work with them from 8-6pm every day. So of course I bring my own lunch, and I try to bring stuff that I have to eat with a utensil.

I am so, so careful, I don't know how I am being cross contaminated. I'm constantly washing my hands. I wash all of my tupperware there, is it possible to be cross contaminated from sponges that are used to clean glutened countertops and utensils? Are their sponges and dishtowels safe?

Help, please... I have been breaking out and irritable, fatigued, D and C is starting up.

On a side note, my b/f has a mixed kitchen and I eat there all the time, but we are careful and I haven't been sick yet from that. It's started up since I've worked as a nanny.

That's a hard one when they're not your kids you don't choose what foods to buy for them. It may be difficult for you being a nanny.....it's much easier when it's your own house, you make the rules. Maybe with older kids who aren't covered in food, but it's so hard with little ones.

But to answer your question, and this pertains to at your boyfriend's house too: I would say YES, it is absolutely possible and probable to be glutened from a gluten sponge and towels. If they touch gluten at all, then they are not safe for you. Good Luck!

lau123tn Newbie
lau123tn
Posted

YES! you can be glutened by their kitchen. Anything that has wheat particles on it- towels, sponges, a tortilla that was briefly laid on top of your food by accident... anything!! Rewash your containers at home in a dishwasher - I routinely was being poisoned by my inlaws kitchen until I realized that they were only handwashing some of the pots and pans... and the silverware. I get amazingly sick if the dishes are only handwashed.

Get some disposable forks if you have to.. but don't trust that kitchen.

Be well!

Laurie

jackay Enthusiast
jackay
Posted

I am so, so careful, I don't know how I am being cross contaminated. I'm constantly washing my hands. I wash all of my tupperware there, is it possible to be cross contaminated from sponges that are used to clean glutened countertops and utensils? Are their sponges and dishtowels safe?

I suggest you make sure that you use gluten free soap and paper towels. If you employer won't provide them, bring your own.

Good luck!+

luciddream928 Explorer
luciddream928
Posted
  • Author

YES! you can be glutened by their kitchen. Anything that has wheat particles on it- towels, sponges, a tortilla that was briefly laid on top of your food by accident... anything!! Rewash your containers at home in a dishwasher - I routinely was being poisoned by my inlaws kitchen until I realized that they were only handwashing some of the pots and pans... and the silverware. I get amazingly sick if the dishes are only handwashed.

Get some disposable forks if you have to.. but don't trust that kitchen.

Be well!

Laurie

Yikes. This is a real problem. I don't have a dishwasher and neither does my boyfriend. He eats mostly gluten free but there is some stuff that I can't have at his house. When I'm there we can change the towels and just use a separate sponge. I haven't noticed being sick from being there but I noticed immediately at the kids' house.

I guess I will have to rinse everything at the kids' house and bring it home to wash it. I'll use paper towels and make sure to change out the towels just in case.

What a pain. I can't believe soap has gluten in it.

luciddream928 Explorer
luciddream928
Posted
  • Author

Ok so we have a question...

If he cooks pasta in a pot, then washes that pot with HIS sponge, presumably there's still gluten on it. Then the following night we want to make a gluten-free dinner with that pot, do we need to wash it again with MY sponge? And after that, isn't my sponge glutened? Then what do we do? There are plenty of people on the forum who live mixed kitchens.... I wonder how they do it. It seems it would be impossible to clean anything without having to constantly use new sponges if you are in a mixed kitchen.

Not to belabor this, but it's so hard to know how to deal with it. We both have tiny kitchens and are worried that I may not be able to eat at his place anymore. He does so much to make sure that the food is safe and the utensils are clean, we always cook gluten-free meals and he's super wonderful about it.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

Ok so we have a question...

If he cooks pasta in a pot, then washes that pot with HIS sponge, presumably there's still gluten on it. Then the following night we want to make a gluten-free dinner with that pot, do we need to wash it again with MY sponge? And after that, isn't my sponge glutened? Then what do we do? There are plenty of people on the forum who live mixed kitchens.... I wonder how they do it. It seems it would be impossible to clean anything without having to constantly use new sponges if you are in a mixed kitchen.

Not to belabor this, but it's so hard to know how to deal with it. We both have tiny kitchens and are worried that I may not be able to eat at his place anymore. He does so much to make sure that the food is safe and the utensils are clean, we always cook gluten-free meals and he's super wonderful about it.

If you have not so far had an issue in your boyfriends house I wouldn't worry about it as you are already doing a good job of keeping safe there. I think the issue is the home where you are babysitting. It is there that you are looking like you need to take more precautions. Powder free non latex gloves may help. I get a big box at my local drugstore. Put them on whenever you feed the kids or change or clean them up or up after them. That along with the other precautions mentioned may help.

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