|
By Sarah of No Whey, Mama
Parents of allergic children are fortunate to have so many online resources available to them today, but it can be difficult to weed out the helpful sites from the not-so-helpful ones, especially when you are new to the world of food allergies.
Here are a few of my top recommendations:
- The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the gold standard of food allergy websites. FAAN has been at this a long time, and they are experts. Start with their article For the Newly Diagnosed , and go on from there. For even more information, I recommend becoming a member . Membership costs $30 a year, and includes a subscription to Food Allergy News and a children’s newsletter.
- Allergy Moms is an informational website that focuses on advocacy for food-allergic children. Their email newsletter is free.
- It can be hard to persuade a toddler to wear a medical alert bracelet. Thank goodness for Check My Tag ’s food allergy alert clothing.
- Eating out with food allergies is a challenge. Allergic Girl ’s Worry-Free Dinners (TM) are making restaurant dining safe in the New York City-area and beyond.
- Many health-centered sites, such as WEGOHealth and Wellsphere have allergy communities where you can talk with other parents of allergic children.
- Of course there are many blogs written by food-allergic individuals or parents of the food allergic (Ahem ). Most of these are reliable, but if you aren’t sure about something consult your child’s allergist.
Do you know of some good resources for parents of allergic children?
Subscribe to blog via RSS
Great article, Sarah. I’m glad to see you sharing your knowledge with others. I think you have so much advice to offer about allergies, and I love what you’ve done just for me to open my eyes to it.
Mommy Daisy | October 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Thanks for the links, Sarah! As always, you are very helpful! I LOVE the “check my Tag” option! I’m still prayerful that our next allergy test shows all negatives, but if it doesn’t I plan on looking into a bracelet or these tags. As our little guys gets older, I see that it is going to be harder and harder to oversee EVERYTHING. Hopefully the bracelet or tags will give me *some* comfort. But hopefully, we won’t need them.
Becky@BoysRuleMyLife | October 29th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
My 9 year old is allergic to dairy, gluten, soy, eggs, nuts and fish. Please check out this AMAZING website for help dealing with food allergies, they were a lifesaver for me!
http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/index.html
The best!!
Org Junkie | October 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I’ve found your blog so helpful, it’s actually changed the way I think. And you’re still training me!
swistle | October 29th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Excellent list!! Thanks for sharing and thanks for including WEGO Health
chupieandjsmama | October 29th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Great post Sarah. You have a good list of sites and resources.
Sue | October 31st, 2008 at 1:41 am
Hello- My concern is food allergies in young children. Two of my three children suffer from severe food allergies so I understand the concerns of parents with this issue. According to FAAN-the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network the numbers are 1 in 17 estimated to be about three million children, under the age of three, have the highest incidences of food allergies. Peanut allergies have doubled over a five year period 1997-2002. A parent cannot be present constantly (pre-school, camps, field trips..) and a two, three or four year old cannot be depended upon to relay their food allergy message to all. I observed children in a busy pre-school classroom. Young children with food allergies need to be identified. I did not feel a medical identification bracelet alone was the answer; because, young children are moving and busy their hands are not always within sight. I had to do something to ensure that the caregivers had a reminder of my childrens food allergies when I could not be present. I designed ALERT Clothing Company with the child in mind, we are needed and new! Bright, cheerful, child friendly graphics (fish, ladybugs, and fairies to dinosaurs and cowboys..) with the message of food allergies included on each t-shirt, sweatshirt and tote bag. There is even a blue elephant with a crown shooting stars that states,”NO nuts for me- thank you!” The company logo is on the back of every item for easy identification as well. Education is the key. In a busy classroom teachers, volunteers and caregivers are thankful because food is an issue daily. My goal is to raise awareness, help the caregivers with the identification of food allergies and to have the child feel special too! ALERT Clothing Company supports FAAN. Please visit the website to learn more
http://www.alertclothingcompany.com -Lets keep these kids safe! Thank you for your time.
My Best,
R. Nelson
ALERT Clothing Company
R. Nelson | November 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm