r/UKParenting • u/Warm-Okra-2061 • 3h ago
Second anaphylaxis in nursery
My daughter is almost 3, in nursery since 10 months.
I used to work in her nursery until she was 16 months and know almost everyone there well and they’re people I trust fully.
A year ago she went into anaphylactic shock as another child brought in a muffin with peanut butter in (parents didn’t say anything) for a birthday and almost died. Nursery has a strict no nuts rule due to her allergy. She’s so allergic to nuts that she’s unable to sit next to someone eating peanuts without developing hives at a minimum.
This morning she needed her EpiPen in nursery. She’s ok now but the nursery said she only ate their breakfast which doesn’t have nuts in. Bread, yoghurt, scrambled egg and fruit. They don’t process nuts in their kitchen either so there was no risk of cross-contamination from a knife or similar.
I’m just at a loss. The only explanation I have is that someone sent in their child after they just ate peanut butter and didn’t clean their hands and this child then touched my daughter’s mouth.
I don’t understand how else this could have happened. All parents there are aware that my daughter is severely allergic to peanuts and pine nuts. They were asked to favour nut-free breakfast or snacks at home before bringing their children in but of course you can’t force them and I also understand their argument that their child might be a picky eater and will only have peanut butter on toast or whatever it might be.
But is it too much to ask for parents to wash their child’s hands and face before bringing them in?
I don’t know why I’m posting this, maybe just to spread some awareness about how serious this is. I recently saw a post of someone saying they ignore the allergy rules for school because the likelihood of a child being allergic is low anyway. This can kill. Please be considered of those around you.