How do you deal with your child's nut (walnut/tree nut) allergy?

Just today, we found out that our 2 year old is allergic to at the very least, walnuts, and probably other types, including peanuts. I have a call into my allergist to get him formerly tested - something that I was putting off until the new year (and new insurance) but with this call from his pediatrician I now have a message with my clinic to try to get him in tomorrow or Monday for more testing. For the time being, my pediatrician prescribed an epi pen for us to carry around.

I am scared to death that I will be the mom to the kid in the classroom with the peanut allergy. How do you deal with it? Are there any good resources out there for me to figure out what name brand foods to avoid, etc.? Am I over reacting? Will I become or need to become a label reader?

Help! I appreciate your assistance in advance.

You are not over reacting. It probably feels like you planned a trip to Florida and wound up in Alaska. I'm sorry to hear about your son, but welcome to the club. My 4 year old son is severely allergic to peanuts, egg and slightly to milk. Right now you are in the "overwhelming stage". A good place to start is at these two websites: Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN www.foodallergy.org) and Food Allergy Intiative (FAI www.foodallergyinitiative.org). There are support groups all over and listed at both of these websites. I suggest you find one since they can direct you more to products, etc. This is not as uncommon as you think, in fact the cases are increasing at a rapid rate.

There are many things your child can have, but yes, you have to read the labels. Nowadays it's a lot easier than it used to be before they put the extra warning part of it. I have found that there are substitutes for just about everything. You need to watch breads, ice creams, baked items, chocolate, you name it. Unfortunately, there is no list since companies have different policies that change pretty frequently.

Contact me directly if you need more help. You are not alone.

Don't give them walnuts.

Do not allow your child to eat nuts or anything containing nuts or things that have been made in places where nuts are also processed. Also, do not allow your child to eat any kind of nut butter. Nowadays most packaging tells you whether the product has been made in a place where nuts are also processed.

It's very important to know that nut allergies can be very serious indeed. The epi pen is a very wise thing to have.

If your child will be going to daycare or pre-school it is essential that the daycare/pre-school people are well aware that your son has an allergy to nuts. This is a vital piece of information that they should have.

Breathe first off. I am a mom to a now 4 1./2 yr old that had an anphylatic reaction to a cashew. found out later is anaphylatic to pistachio's and black walnut. And slightly to the other tree nuts. We even avoid peanuts.

Do a search and you can find what you are looking on the internet.

Read labels.

Ask restraunts what type of oils they use and let them know your child is allergic to nuts if they have nuts on their menu.

And most important keep your epi pen and benedryl with you.

knock on wood we have not had a repeat incident!