Kids Play Center- Cc Everywhere?

[K8ling]

We went to a playdate today at one of those inflatable kid places...I normally hate them but went as a favor to a friend. Of course we get there and all the kids line up for snacks- soft pretzels, pizza, hotdogs and cookies. Thanks. So off the bat, the toddler is begging for snacks and has to settle for gluten-free pretzels and a gluten-free cookie. Then we start playing...kid needs ME to go with him because he is small. As I am climbing into this huge bouncy thing I am thinking "Um...all these kids are covered in gluten and climbing on stuff...and I am right behind them". We didn't stay long but we took showers and rinsed off when we got home. I am going to run into the same problem when school starts in two weeks...

Am I overreacting? Was it really NOT that big of a deal? I just kept thinking "CC! CC!" *I* didn't eat or drink anything there because I was freaked out! If I am NOT over reacting, how can I deal with the CC factor at his school?

[T.H.]

I think the big thing is to try to face it and be able to relax and stay vigilant at the same time, if that makes sense? But I don't think you were analyzing the CC potential, really. I think it's...well, I don't honestly know! I know very small amounts can cause damage, and they can be spread from contact, although the amounts would get less and less with each touch, I imagine, you know? But...gluten doesn't exactly die, not like a virus. I know that with fungal spores, they can have one spore on clothing that can hang in there for months, so for gluten - I've always wondered just how tough it is to completely rid ourselves of the gluten around us. I don't honestly know! I think perhaps checking with some people with severe food allergies might be of use, actually, come to think of it.

But, in a place where there is a gluten source - the food- right next to the play area, I would imagine the contamination issue would be more immediate. In a school, perhaps less so, since much of the time there is no food in some of the areas. But in places near gluten sources, like the cafeteria or art room, I would imagine it's more of a potential problem.

My mother came to visit us a few weeks back when I was recovering from surgery. She had a couple loaves of bread. She kept them in one spot in the house, under glass, only ate them in one spot as well, washed her hands very often, only used paper plates and her own silverware. She was trying to be really careful because she knows how sensitive I am to gluten, which is why we've kept a gluten free house.

Even with all that care, I still got glutened. So in the situation you described, when there's itty bitties, whose hands are everywhere and touch gluten constantly and aren't washing afterwards? Yeah, I think you're likely very contaminated/covered in gluten coming out of that situation. I don't know how sensitive you or your little ones are, so perhaps it wouldn't bother you, but at least in our situation, we definitely would have problems with that as a contamination issue.

At school - I wish I had more advice! We homeschool our kids, and after we had the diagnosis of celiac disease, I must admit that was a big relief to realize that we got to dodge that bullet, conatmination-wise.

Good luck!

[T.H.]

Oh darn it - I mis-typed. I meant to say I don't think you are OVER-analyzing the CC potential. I think you were analyzing it just fine. Dang - sorry about that!

[K8ling]

LOL yeah I was a little confused at first but i got the idea. He's only 2, it's nursery school so I don't know if they eat at the tables in their classrooms or if they are in a different room. The school DOES wipe him down and change his clothes before I pick him up which is hard on me laundry wise but keeps his from CCing me. There is a student in his class that is allergic to wheat so they are pretty good with keeping it off and away from the kids.

I guess it was just like I saw ALL this food that could make me sick...and then realized kids were coated in it like little kid chicken tenders dipped in flour. And then it was like "Oh joy". I dunno, I may not go back again just because I can't climb like that again lol I may only be 23 but those were not made for chicks who are 6'1"!!!

[T.H.]

Ha, definitely not made for bigger folks!

I remember this one poor guy - and he was only maybe 5'10" - who had to try and crawl up into the play area to get his kids, and he got stuck on the slide! Had to have another adult help him out.

LOL yeah I was a little confused at first but i got the idea. He's only 2, it's nursery school so I don't know if they eat at the tables in their classrooms or if they are in a different room. The school DOES wipe him down and change his clothes before I pick him up which is hard on me laundry wise but keeps his from CCing me. There is a student in his class that is allergic to wheat so they are pretty good with keeping it off and away from the kids.

I guess it was just like I saw ALL this food that could make me sick...and then realized kids were coated in it like little kid chicken tenders dipped in flour. And then it was like "Oh joy". I dunno, I may not go back again just because I can't climb like that again lol I may only be 23 but those were not made for chicks who are 6'1"!!!

[K8ling]

I nearly got stuck...I told the guy at the top, "I can do the Marine obstacle course but I can't handle a kids play center?!"