Practical advice from an allergist and mom to help kids with food allergies stay safe, confident, and prepared at school.
At a Glance
Create an allergy plan with teachers and school staff
Make sure allergy testing and epinephrine prescriptions are up to date
Teach kids how to speak up about their food allergies
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Five Ways To Prepare Your Food-Allergic Child For Back To School, From An Allergist Who’s Been There
Heading back to school is a busy and exciting time. For parents of kids with food allergies, it can also bring a lot of stress. As an allergist and a mom, I know this all too well. A lot of parents ask me, “How would you treat your own kid?” That’s easy for me to answer because I’ve walked that path myself. I understand both the medical and emotional realities of raising a child with food allergies. I hope the tips below will help alleviate some of your back-to-school stress. With preparation, you can feel confident that your child is safe when away from home and help them have a successful new school year.
Build Your School Team Early
Before the first day of school, schedule an in-person review of your child’s allergens and emergency action plan with their teacher. This is especially important for younger children. During back-to-school night, it’s also helpful to educate the other parents in your child’s class about their allergens and offer suggestions for inclusive snacks and holiday parties.
In the U.S., roughly two children in every classroom have food allergies, so by initiating the conversation, you could be helping many other families as well. You may consider sharing a list of allergy-safe foods with interested parents or creating a support group for parents of children with food allergies.
Retest Allergies Before the First Day of School
Allergies can change over time. It’s recommended that food-allergic patients be tested annually by a specialized allergist. This is especially important for young children, whose allergies can evolve quickly. Some children outgrow certain allergies and develop new ones before age six. Ask about food allergy treatment options, not just avoidance strategies.
An annual visit is also the time to update epinephrine prescriptions. Earlier this year, the FDA cleared Neffy®, the needle-free epinephrine nasal spray, for children who weigh 33 pounds or more, with no minimum age requirement.
Give Kids the Words, Not Just the Plan
Children with food allergies are twice as likely to be bullied as their peers. Giving your child a simple script to explain why they can’t eat certain foods, such as “I can’t eat that because it has peanuts” or “Eating that makes my stomach hurt,” can help them avoid embarrassment or shame.
Extend The Plan Beyond The Classroom Door
Bus drivers, coaches, and after-school staff are often left out of allergy planning. Making sure they understand your child’s food allergies can provide another layer of support. For older children heading to college, encourage them to inform roommates, resident advisors (RAs), and dining hall managers about their allergies to help them stay safe.
I was an allergist before I was a mom, but my son’s food allergy — and his life-changing treatment — changed my perspective as a physician. I am now more optimistic than ever about treatment options for food allergies. Simply avoiding foods that can make us sick should not be our only answer when effective treatment options exist. Address food allergies head-on with comprehensive diagnostics and proven, evidence-based treatments such as oral immunotherapy (OIT) and XOLAIR, which can significantly improve your child’s school experience. Starting OIT at the beginning of the school year can even allow a child to reach desensitization before the next school year begins.
Board-certified allergist and immunologist Zoya Treyster, MD, oversees the Latitude Food Allergy Care clinic in White Plains, New York. Latitude is the leading network of clinics dedicated to treating food allergies, redefining food allergy care through advanced diagnostics, evidence-based approaches such as OIT, and personalized treatment plans.
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