Whether a babysitter is watching your child or she’s staying with Grandma for the weekend, every caregiver should understand how to identify and avoid food allergens and how to respond in an emergency. Food Allergy Research & Education offers the following advice for communicating with caregivers:
- Set up a time to meet with your babysitter beforehand to provide the time you need to review your child’s allergy information. Be calm, clear, and concise — be sure to provide enough time to absorb the information and ask questions.
- Go over every food your child is allergic to, and give the sitter the allergen avoidance information for each food.
- Teach the sitter how to recognize symptoms of a reaction, including anaphylaxis.
- Tell the sitter exactly what your child is allowed to eat, and set out the acceptable foods. Make sure the sitter understands the house rules on what can and cannot be eaten around your child. Explain that take-out orders, special snacks, and treats are strictly off-limits.
- Post emergency contact phone numbers, including your own. Also list phone numbers of others who may be able to help in the event of a reaction.
- List the prescription medications and dosages that should be given if your child has a reaction. Show the sitter how to use an epinephrine auto-injector, and make sure she is comfortable using it.
- Leave a signed Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan near the phone in case paramedics must be called. Stress the importance of calling 911 in an emergency.
- Put it all in writing.
The same rules apply when grandparents and other relatives are visiting. In addition to explaining the allergy, foods to avoid, the safety precautions you follow, and the symptoms of a reaction, emphasize that “just this once” could be dangerous, and certain foods are strictly off limits. Provide safe foods that can be given as treats.