Parenting Australia

Allergy Aware

I have two kids who eat everything.  Yep, everything.  It’s a different story for my closest girlfriend though.  Beck is mum to two beautiful boys – Caleb and Jett.  Caleb is almost 2 and is allergic to several key foods.  Baby Jett is only two weeks old!  I interviewed Beck this week, and she happily shared her experience in order to raise allergy awareness.

What is Caleb allergic to?

All nuts, all dairy, and also egg white.

How did you discover the first allergy?

His first reaction was to dairy.  He had been a fully breast fed baby, and at six months I used a little formula on his rice cereal.  He came out with a bright red rash and welts around his lower face and he was starting to choke and splutter.  The welts moved down onto his chest, neck and back.  I panicked and rang for medical help.  We took Caleb straight to hospital and the ordeal probably lasted about an hour.

How long did you have to wait to be seen by a specialist?

We went straight onto a waiting list because of his young age, but it was still three months before we could see an allergist.  In the mean time I avoided giving Caleb any dairy.  They did a skin prick test and he was diagnosed with the dairy allergy as expected.  As he has grown he has also developed allergies to egg and nuts, so he’ll need to continue being regularly tested and monitored.

What steps do you have to take if Caleb reacts to a food?

It depends on the severity of the reaction.  I’m always on the lookout for welts around the mouth which indicate a mild reaction.  If he has a more extreme reaction with multiple symptoms I have to use the epipen junior.  I carry the epipen wherever we go.  The allergist gave us a poster with an anaphylaxis action plan which we keep in the kitchen too.

Is it hard for you to leave Caleb in the care of others as a result?

Yes.  I’m always concerned that he’ll unwittingly come into contact with something that will cause a severe reaction, so I pack his own food for him.

What is your biggest frustration as a mother of a child with allergies?

Trying to give Caleb a comprehensive enough diet to meet his nutritional needs is really challenging, especially as he has a low weight for his height.  I wish there were more options for allergen-free foods in stores! 
You've recently given birth again.  Has it been difficult to manage Caleb's foods during this time?  I micromanaged his diet and pre-planned everything!  I wrote out full meal plans and left lists of everything he is allowed to eat.  I cooked a week’s worth of meals and baked snacks so that they could all be frozen.  I felt better once I had taken care of that and talked it through with the family members who would be looking after him.

Do you worry about Jett developing allergies too?

Yeah, I do.  I’ll endeavour to put him on as normal a diet as possible but we’ll watch closely for signs of reaction.

What do you wish mothers of kids without allergies understood?

How dangerous it is.  Your child eating a nut spread near my child can be life threatening.  And how much hard work it is keeping on top of it all.  I can’t just buy off the shelf like other mums! 

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

My playgroup have been so supportive.  As soon as we discovered Caleb’s nut allergy they put a nut-free policy in place for both mums’ and kids’ foods.  I’m so grateful for the way they support me, and I’d encourage other playgroups to do the same.

For more information on allergies click here (link: http://www.allergyfacts.org.au )

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Catherine Oehlman is a SAHM currently being raised by a terrific toddler and a curious crawler. Her background in primary education, love of the mothering journey and compulsion for writing collide on her SquiggleMum blog. Cath encourages other parents from all walks of life to maximise the time they spend with their children.

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