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September 13, 2024

Childhood Allergies

Bridget Wolff, NYS T-TAP PDS, Director of Learning and Development

Did you know that an estimated 8% of children in the United States have a food allergy? That’s 1 in 13 children, or roughly 2 children per classroom! (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Having a young child with food allergies can present unfamiliar and unique challenges, and that uncertainty can be heightened when making the decision to place your child in an early childhood program. The vigilance needed to manage an allergy can cause questions to arise, such as:

• “How will staff be informed of my child’s allergy?”
• “Are they trained on how to handle my child’s allergy?”
• “What is being done to prevent allergen exposure?”
• “How can I trust someone to have the same level of diligence that I have?”

Rest assured that Doodle Bugs! is committed to the health and safety of all children, which is why we have several policies and procedures in place to ensure that allergies are of the utmost importance. These practices are highlighted below:

1. Documentation: Upon enrollment in the program, all families of children with known allergies must provide the center with up-to-date paperwork, completed in conjunction with the child’s physician. This documentation remains on file and is routinely updated to keep the center informed about the child’s allergy and guide staff in the necessary actions to take during an allergic or anaphylactic reaction.
2. Communication: Upon enrollment of a child with a known allergy, all staff are made aware of the child’s allergy, emergency plan, and associated medication needs. In addition, all parents and children are made aware of any allergies in the classroom, as well as actions being taken to reduce exposure.
3. Food Preparation: Our food is prepared fresh and on-site in a commercial grade kitchen by a designated kitchen manager, who is aware of all allergies. Kitchen staff follow strict food preparation guidelines to avoid cross-contamination, including proper glove usage, and each classroom is provided with a copy of the allergen list when meals are delivered.
4. Safety & Cleanliness Procedures: All staff are required to take the necessary steps to prevent exposure to children’s allergens as outlined by local childcare regulations, including proper handwashing, glove usage, and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces before and after meals.
5. Supervision: Arms-reach supervision is provided to children during all meals so that staff can closely monitor food consumption, answer questions if necessary, and jump in to prevent potential exposure to allergens. It also allows teachers to act quickly if a child exhibits any signs of an allergic reaction to an unknown allergen.
6. Training: Upon hire and annually thereafter, all staff are trained in the prevention, recognition, and response to food and other allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. Several staff also maintain certifications in CPR, First Aid and Medication Administration.

Every single person in the building cares about my children. My oldest son has a serious peanut allergy that has always been met with extreme caution. In fact, many of his teachers over time shared that they went for additional training to improve their knowledge and caution in the event that something was to happen to him. There is no money better spent than the peace of mind I have knowing that my kids are Doodle Bugs! kids. – Sarah Wolf, Doodle Bugs! Parent

Entrusting others to keep your child safe while away from home is never easy, and those feelings of worry and uncertainty can be amplified when your child also has an allergy. When making the decision to send your child to an early childhood program, you can feel confident knowing that Doodle Bugs! takes all the necessary precautions to keep allergies at the forefront of our attention. Our mission to build a happy community is rooted in our promises of health and safety, and we are committed to providing environments for children where that remains the top priority.

Click here to view our monthly menu, review nutritional information, and learn more about our commitment to health and safety.

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