As a parent or caregiver for a kid with food allergies, the health journey often means facing unfamiliar and unexpected challenges.
Finding out your child has a food allergy can come as a shock, especially if you make the discovery during a severe reaction.
For many parents, the experience raises immediate concerns: Could this condition be life threatening? How careful do we have to be going forward? What happens when I’m not the one preparing food?
What’s more, food allergies can be unpredictable. Even if your child has a history of mild reactions, there’s no way to predict how severe future allergic reactions will be. More than 40% of children with food allergies experience a severe reaction at some point in their lives.
Healthline talked to Dr. Jennifer Silver, a dentist and mother of a 6-year-old boy with multiple food allergies. She says that her journey has been filled with challenges as well as moments of profound growth.
“Around my son’s first birthday, he started experiencing recurring rashes and digestive issues after meals,” said Silver.
“Initially, we attributed it to various factors like sensitive skin or a mild stomach bug. However, as the symptoms persisted and even worsened, we began to suspect something more serious.
“After consulting with pediatricians and undergoing several rounds of testing, it was confirmed that my child had multiple food allergies, including dairy, eggs, and nuts.”
When you’re allergic to a food, it causes an immune reaction in your body. The cascade of biological responses that follow can lead to symptoms like facial swelling, itching, coughing, and nausea.
For some kids, food allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life threatening reaction that affects multiple organ systems in the body.
In very young children, like Silver’s son, severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis can present differently than in older children and adults. Toddlers are more likely to experience:
- rashes
- itching
- hoarse voice/crying
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- hives
- sudden behavioral changes
When your child is diagnosed with a food allergy at a very young age, management of food allergies can be exceptionally challenging.
Silver notes that when her son first started presenting symptoms, he was a toddler and was still developing vocabulary. He wasn’t really able to communicate exactly what he was feeling, and when he had an allergic reaction, he wasn’t always able to truly understand what was happening.
Silver says the learning curve was steep during the first few years. There were countless trial-and-error moments.
“We had to navigate ingredient labels meticulously,” she explained. “And learn how to cook alternative meals without triggering allergies and educate ourselves about hidden allergens.”
One major revelation, she says, was constant communication with relatives, other caregivers, and restaurant staff.
“We had to proactively inform relatives, caregivers, and even restaurant staff about my child’s dietary restrictions to ensure his safety.”
Silver says that initially there was a lot of worry and concern.
“It was tough to see my child struggle and not always know how to help. There were times when I felt overwhelmed and frustrated, especially when trying to navigate social situations or find safe foods.”
With a food allergy, safety becomes a priority and something you have to think about every single day, and as a result, emotions range from anxiety and overwhelm to fear.
Resilience is important, says Silver. It allows you to adapt and change as you learn, and when your child is very young, so much of learning is trial and error.
As a parent, being constantly vigilant about food allergies can be exhausting. You might feel as though it’s all you think about, and many parents constantly worry about making food mistakes that will result in a reaction.
Through it all, there have been moments of joy and gratitude. Seeing her son’s positive attitude has been incredibly inspiring, and Silver has learned to embrace the journey with courage, gratitude, and an unwavering determination to provide the best possible life for her child.
For parents of a child with newly diagnosed food allergies, Silver says the key is to educate yourselves as much as possible. Seek guidance from allergists, join online support groups, and ask a ton of questions.
Learning as much as you can about food allergies helps you cope by empowering you to be in control of your child’s diagnosis.
Silver recommends developing a comprehensive emergency action plan. These plans outline mild to severe symptoms and give detailed instructions about what care to provide during an allergy attack. Emergency action plans can be printed off and given to anyone who will be spending time with your kid, like teachers, child care providers, and family members.
Most importantly, Silver says, remember that you’re not alone on this journey. Resources are available to help you every step of the way. It does get easier. Her son is now 6 years old, and managing allergies has become a normal and routine part of their lives.
For additional coping strategies, consider:
- working with a mental health professional
- learning breath work, meditation, or mind-body arts (like tai chi)
- making time for creative hobbies
- exercising regularly
- celebrating small successes
- gratitude journaling
Food allergies in children require constant management and parental involvement. There may be times when you feel overwhelmed, confused, or anxious, but all parents go through a learning curve after their child receives a food allergy diagnosis.
Learning as much as you can about food allergies and working closely with your child’s allergist and pediatrician can help you feel more in control along the food allergy journey. Support groups, mental health professionals, and self-care are just a few examples of coping strategies you can add to your day.
Dr. Jennifer Silver was born in Newfoundland, and graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is the owner of Macleod Trail Dentistry and is mom to a 6-year-old son.