Babysitting Children with Food Allergies

I have to preface this post with the fact that I do not babysit children with food allergies. I would, I just don't have any of those jobs right now (though I think many allergy parents are scared to leave their kids with sitters, and I don't blame them). But, a couple of my friends have started babysitting allergic kids, and frankly, it scares me. These are the people who say that one bite won't hurt, that I talk about allergies too much, that it must be terrible that I can't eat [insert food here]. They don't know the first thing about preventing or treating allergic reactions.

Ideally, all food-allergic kids would be babysat by food-allergic teenagers who could be role models. After all, we know how they feel even better than their parents do! Another option would be a teenage sibling of a food-allergic child, who has to be responsible for checking labels and keeping track of EpiPens, even if they don't necessarily have allergies. If you are an allergy parent and are looking for one of these, try contacting your local allergy support group to find teenage groups, childrens' group alumni, or for allergic kids with older siblings.

But, whether you're a non-allergic babysitter looking for help with allergic kids or the parent of an allergic kid trying to find resources for a babysitter, the number one best thing you can do  is create an allergy binder. This can be left out on the counter where everyone has access to it. If you're a babysitter, ask the parents to create a binder for you. Trust me, they won't find it a hassle. If anything, they will appreciate your concern for the health and safety of their child. The recommended layout is as follows:

• A clear binder pocket, such as this one, should be in the front. In this, you can keep EpiPens/Auvi-Qs, inhalers, antihistamines, and other emergency meds. An alternative, if there are several medicines, is to get a dollar store basket to keep the binder and meds in. Even though these shouldn't need to be used, they need to be the most easily accessible in an emergency. I would also leave a trainer, so that the babysitter can get comfortable with the procedure (teach them before you go and leave instructions for the EpiPen or Auvi-Q).
• Emergency documentation for the sitter and for paramedics. In case you cannot get back in time, the sitter needs the resources to get proper medical attention. Most of these are from the Allergy Free Table, who also offers a free food allergy aware babysitting training course.

1. A quick care sheet has the basics on preventing possible allergic reactions, including label-reading and cross-contamination information. This is another good one to include with basic information about house rules.
2. A Food Allergy Action Plan. This one is my favorite for personal use (though I prefer this one for school use) because it very clearly states when an antihistamine should be used versus when an EpiPen should be used, and who should be contacted in each situation.
3. A 911 dialogue script. Calling 911 is stressful, especially if you're already trying to treat a child who is panicking and cannot breathe (and possibly wrangle other kids). Sample dialogue will make sure all necessary information is conveyed to the operator.
4. A medical release form. Especially if the babysitter is over 18, some hospitals are weary of treatment without consent. To make sure that care is provided to the fullest possible extent without hesitation, a medical release will authorize any necessary medical treatment. This also has the address/contact information in case of emergency, as well as doctor and insurance information.
5. A reaction journal, if allergies are still being diagnosed. Sometimes a babysitter won't tell you about injuries or sicknesses, especially if they aren't severe. This will make it easier for them to be open about what happened, which is important if you need to monitor reactions to things that aren't restricted.

• Food! Many households with a food-allergic child still have food that isn't safe for the child to eat. Using stickers to mark safe and unsafe foods is helpful, but the easiest way to make sure only safe food is given is to prepare the food in advance or set out a tub with safe options. Also be sure to leave safe snacks for the babysitter. They will be in close contact with your child and won't automatically remember to wash their hands before touching or wash their face before kissing.