How can I make people aware that my 7 year old have severe peanut/nut allergies at our family reunion?

Even if they tell you the ingredients, are you going to trust that there are no hidden peanuts or peanut ingredients in there, somewhere? I wouldn't. I don't trust that any food is safe for my milk allergic son unless I can read the ingredient list myself (or have made it myself).

When we go to family gatherings like that (and we have lots of them), I simply bring him food that I know is safe for him. He's OK with that. He knows that his life is at stake & that it's no big deal if he misses a treat here & there. We make up for it at home, with safe treats.

I do have a few family members who take the extra time to bring me the ingredient list from everything that they make to bring to a potluck. That's nice. But, not expected in any way. This is our child, our responsibility.

Although it would be hard to keep her from eating from all of the options available to her at the potluck, it would be much safer for you to just bring food for her. Prepare a few of her favorites (and feel free to bring extra for other people to try) and make her plate for her. You might want to serve her first or have separate portions already packaged just for her, since people sometimes use one serving utensil for different dishes. Make sure you bring dessert options for her, too!

You should probably contact the host to let them know that your child has a severe peanut allergy, so you cannot bring peanuts. Maybe offer a few suggestions that are safe for your daughter that you can bring.

I think that the button idea is great to let people know not to give her anything without your permission.

You can ask people what is in their foods, but, unless they read the package for each of the ingredients used, they might not know that the item was prepared on the same equipment as peanuts (even if it doesn't contain them).

You are smart to bring the epi-pen, just in case.

Put a button on her in red saying severe peanut/nut allergy. Then do the poster board thing. I would get there early too. Bring her epi pen just in case.

I would contact the organizer and tell her you can not bring nuts because if people see YOU with nuts they will not realize how serious her allergy is. Bring something else instead. The organizer should also be aware of the allergy. Too bad there isn't time to have sent a note telling people ahead of time to label all food with nuts.

Why not just pack a cooler with food for your daughter to eat, and skip the worrying that you'll miss a peanut business? Enlist your daughter's help in making a fun cooler full of food that she really likes - especially if there are certain treats she doesn't eat very often! Then, you and she can peruse the tables of food together for extra treats, too - but you won't be worried that she has nothing to eat. If there's something she really wants to try, ask the person who made it what is in it. That way, no big deal is made of the situation, your daughter is safe, and you're not on pins and needles all day.

If there is enough time in advance, call everyone and tell them. If not, make an announcement once everyone is there. Bring some index cards and if something has nuts in it, write NUTS on it and tape it to the dish. Make sure they understand the seriousness of a peanut allergy--a lot of people don't understand or just poo-poo it and think the parents are overreacting. Then the poor kid winds up in the ER.

You've waited awfully late for this for a mom with a sick kid so don't gripe if the family doesn't take it very seriously. You can mention the allergy and ask about family allergies. That may get you the attention you want/need here

You will have to get there early and question each person about each dish. The sign-up sheet will, I promise you, be ignored for a whole bunch of reasons. Alternatively, figure out what your child will want to eat. Identify the food as it comes in and ask the provider for its provenance. Once you've identified four or five safe ones, fill your child's plate, remind her to eat only that and the safe food you've hidden in your purse and act as normal.

You weren't proactive when the potluck was announced so you'll just have to be at the event.

I think that the most practical and easiest thing for you to do would be to bring her lunch with you. Our family reunions are PACKED and there is no way I could find out who brought what and then ask them what was in it. If the allergy is that severe, (and it sounds like it is), they might cross-contaminate with nuts and not even realize it (like if they used the same cutting board to chop nuts for fruit salad and then turned around and used it to chop carrots for a regular salad). Therefore, to keep your daughter safest, you should probably bring her lunch. Bring her something special--a treat she doesn't get often or something--so she doesn't feel quite so left out. I would still put the button on her to keep ppl from offering her something....but informing her is the best way--in case another child or somebody who doesn't read the button tries to get her to eat something....GOOD LUCK

Well, you could have your husband send an email out and ask them to put a sign next to the dishes that do have peanut contents in them. or, just send out a notice, expressing the concern. (to the person who has all the adresses and he can like forward it to the people)

Or you could go around asking people what dishes have peanuts in them, or peanut products.

dont be afraid to explain the situation, because if something happens they all will ask " why didnt you say anything before?"

Or, you could have your daughter fill up before hand, and bring some snacks for her in a bag or something, and she can just have the soda or juice or water that they have there.

they are your family, should'nt they already know?

anyways, like i said dont be afraid or embarrassed to tell your family about this.

and if you already havent, talk to your daughter about this, and let her know that she has to ask you before she can eat or touch something

hope this helps

My suggestion would be to email everyone with this info and ask everyone to send you a list of ingredients and possible allergies they (the whole family) may have. You can buy some cute, recipe cards listing all ingredients and place them next to each dish. Maybe you can highlite the foods with nuts in one color, and you never know, someone elso can be allergic to nuts or dairy, etc. You can probly highlite other key allergy ingredients in a different color.

Tell your daughter what color to watch out for.

I wouldn't chance it. I would bring your own meal for her. If anyone asks, just tell. Someone, might not know that the oil they used contained just a tiny bit of peanut product. The pin/button is a good idea, in case anyone tries to feed her something. Next time, alert the host/ess and have them put it on the invitation that there is someone allergic to peanuts. Good luck and have fun!