allergies

[chez]

Me and my assistant childminder have several food related allergies including some that include touching the food. Im wondering if anyone else is in this situation and if you would put a policy together to give to parents regarding allergies and ask that them foods are not brought into the house? Parents here provide food for babies under 1.

Foods include:
Cinemon - including smell
Cherries - smell touch and taste
pumpkin - touch
butternut squash - touch

Im aware in the past weve had a few parents bring food that contains the above in and Ive suffered an reaction due to it, for my reactions its a itchey rash but for my assistants cherry reaction its swelling and can include the throat etc.

I would like to ban the above foods from entering the house but is that reasonable?

I also have an onion allergy which is rather nasty (currently Im ill today after cross contamination between tomatoes and onions) Therefore I do not have onions in my house at all for us to prepare/cook etc If parents provide it thats ok as Ive not had to prepare and so little risk of cross contaimination. Should I be letting parents know that their kiddies wont be getting onions at all?

[Playmate]

Personally if I had these allergies I would be providing food to be on the safe side.

[QualityCare]

I would have a policy on food allergies and a reminder notice on view listing the foods that are banned (l would use the word banned, not please don't bring) from your house so that all parents see it daily, l would probably have on the bottom ' please respect this policy it could be your child that is allergic to something how would you feel if they came into contact with that food whilst in my care'

[AgentTink]

I would definitely have a policy written. The idea of policies is that they cover your setting and how they run so that all parties have clear guidelines of hat can be expected.

I agree with the above poster, you need to state which foods are banned within your home. Just think if you had a new child start who had allergies you would have to request to th other parent that certain foods be banned, so your situation is no different.