How to Host an Allergy-Safe Play Date – What Moms Need to Know

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I send my children to school each day without concern that residue from peanut butter on a backpack could cause a serious reaction. We are incredibly lucky that no one in our home has food allergies. Yet, some of our friends do and we want to ensure they are safe at our house.

Have you ever thought about how to host an allergy-safe play date?

Because we consume so much peanut butter in our family, I recently considered how safe our household is for a child with a peanut allergy. As a result, I take these four steps to prepare our house for an allergy-safe playdate. 

  1. Ask – “Does your child have any allergies or dietary restrictions?” Surprisingly enough, parent’s have reported lactose intolerance, insect bite sensitivities, allergies to shellfish, and most recently a friend with a significant nut allergy.
  2. Clean – In our home we eat exclusively at our dining room table. Eating at the table is a great way to keep potential food-related allergens in check. Nonetheless I’m careful to wipe down my kitchen, door nobs, light switches, and hard surfaces in my home. I also clean my children by being sure their hands, faces, backpacks, and other personal items are free from allergen residue. I take our trash out and change any hand or dish towels before hosting an allergy-safe play date.
  3. Snacks – Be proactive about having approved snacks available. Some allergy sensitive children might bring appropriate snacks instead of eating foods you have on hand. Never serve allergy sensitive foods to other children when a child with a food allergy is present. READ THE LABELS. There may be hidden allergy triggers in something you’re serving. 

    allergin risk
    Microwave popcorn contains traces of nuts.
  4. Reaction Plan – Be sure that you understand what a potential reaction looks like, and how to manage it. If a child brings an Epipen it’s important to know how to use an Epipen. In addition make a plan with the child’s family about what symptoms warrant an immediate call to emergency services (911).

I talk to my children about how important it is to be aware of food allergies among their peers. We discuss the importance of hand-washing, and asking adults before sharing foods. My children are also careful not to eat “trigger foods” such as peanut butter or nuts around friends unless they know it is safe to do so.

At first, hosting an allergy safe play date may seem intimidating. However, with some simple strategies and common precaution you can keep allergy sensitive children safe and playing all day.