Preschool Owner With Celiac Child

[strawberrygm]

hello everyone!

this is my first visit and my first post here.

i own a childcare center, and i have a student who has celiac.

she has been with me over a year now, her mom got the diagnosis in august.

i would like to know what you as moms do in regards to your child and what/how they eat when they are at preschool/daycare/babysitter/public school/etc.

do you send a sack lunch or a lunch to be heated everyday?

do you send food you have bought or prepared in bulk for the teachers/adults to prepare as they need?

what works best for you and why or why not?

currently mom brings in foods she has prepared or bought, in fairly large quantanties. i keep it here and we prepare what we need each day. usually works fine for us, except for space constraints it is sometimes inconvienient with all the regular foods, gluten free foods, baby foods, etc that we have. But i want to make things easier for us and mom and mainly for the child.

of course if the child has diarreha at night or over the weekend, the mom worries about whether she may have gotten ahold of something with me. i write down for mom each day what the child is offered.

on days i am not here, there have been a few instances where the staff would ask the mom if she could have this or that, which worries the mom.

other childcare providers i have talked to say they have their children with special diets bring a plate each day for their child, the provider heats it up and prepares it, then puts the plate in the childs cubbie so that the mom can see how much is left and know what the child did and didnt eat and how much of what the child ate.

i want to do what is best for everyone involved.

any tips or thoughts or advice ya'll could share would be greatly appreciated!

[Guhlia]

Welcome to the forum! Wow, if only more preschool owners were more like you...

I would suggest you ask the mother of the Celiac child to bring in one plate per day plus snacks. This will keep it easier and neater for you.

Just a couple of quick suggestions to keep this child safe... Are tables cleaned thoroughly before eating? Is any play-doh used in the preschool? If so, this could be a source for cross contamination. Has the mother approved all art supplies as being gluten free? Just because a product isn't intended to go in a student's mouth doesn't mean that it won't. All it takes is a crumb (or drop) for a Celiac to get sick. Is the child supervised heavily during mealtime to ensure that no one else is touching her food or trading foods?

Again, hats off to you for being concerned about this child's well being.

[strawberrygm]

Welcome to the forum! Wow, if only more preschool owners were more like you...

I would suggest you ask the mother of the Celiac child to bring in one plate per day plus snacks. This will keep it easier and neater for you.

Just a couple of quick suggestions to keep this child safe... Are tables cleaned thoroughly before eating? Is any play-doh used in the preschool? If so, this could be a source for cross contamination. Has the mother approved all art supplies as being gluten free? Just because a product isn't intended to go in a student's mouth doesn't mean that it won't. All it takes is a crumb (or drop) for a Celiac to get sick. Is the child supervised heavily during mealtime to ensure that no one else is touching her food or trading foods?

Again, hats off to you for being concerned about this child's well being.

Yes, tables are cleaned with soap and water and then sanitized with bleach and water before and after every meal.

Hands are washed (adults and children) before and after every meal.

Yes we do use play-doh.

Yes we do use paint.

Never realized those could be an issue.

Is it b/c a crumb of food could get into the paint or play-do or is there something actually in these items that has gluten in it?

Yes, all the children are supervised at meal time and luckily no food swapping has occured or been attemped!!! (i will knock on wood as i say that b/c sure as i dont she will get frisky tomorrow)

Thanks for the hats off.

I am not, nor will i probably ever be, an expert on celiac, but i do want to do my best to care for all of the children in my care.

I really appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions anyone here will give me!!

[Guhlia]

Play-doh is made from wheat (gluten). It has a warning right on the canisters. That could be why your Celiac child is getting randomly glutened. We all know how little ones manage to get things into their mouths. Paints can also be made from wheat. I know there are some that are safe, but I don't know which ones. Glue is also another gluten problem. I have no clue which brands are safe though. Many art supplies are risky when it comes to gluten. There is a company out there that makes gluten free play-doh, but I think it's pretty pricey. If you don't want to spring for it, perhaps the Celiac's mother would??? It would take a lot of supervision time off of you if there were gluten free play-doh used and it would keep the child safe.

Thanks again for caring about this child. So many preschools and daycares just don't care. It's such a breath of fresh air to hear you coming on here and trying to make things easier for this child and their family.

[Guhlia]

Duplicate post..

[CarlaB]

Yes, Play-doh brand has gluten.

Paints can also have gluten.

Thank you for going to so much trouble. I know it just seems like the right thing to do to you, but very few people go the extra mile like you are!

[strawberrygm]

Yes, Play-doh brand has gluten.

Paints can also have gluten.

Thank you for going to so much trouble. I know it just seems like the right thing to do to you, but very few people go the extra mile like you are!

well thats just crappy b/c we have name brand play-doh b/c the other is just so nasty and gets too hard too fast.

the paint is school supply washable paint

the child is a thumb sucker too

i dont mean to sound stupid...but...is there gluten or wheat in playgound dirt? she will suck her thumb after playing outside while standing in line to wash her hands.

i googled and found this forum on here :-) for play doh recipe and i have printed it off for mom

Open Original Shared Link

i also found this post when looking for gluten free washable paint and i have printed it for her also

Open Original Shared Link

so even the soap we use to wash our hands can have gluten in it?

and the parents choice baby wipes she sends for her can have gluten?

even the pull-ups?

what about diaper rash creme?

damn

i feel so bad for everyone having to deal with this in their lives....

is there anything you DONT have to check on??

wow

[strawberrygm]

Thank you for going to so much trouble. I know it just seems like the right thing to do to you, but very few people go the extra mile like you are!

Thank you for saying this,

the mom seems to think i should be an expert on celiac and know just as much as she does and never have to ask a question

i know she is stressed and frustrated...but gosh, i am trying.... ya know?

[happygirl]

Wow, when I have kids one day, I hope that our pre-school teacher will care as much. I think in the coming years, more child care providers are going to have to learn about this, becaus Celiac awareness is being raised.

When the providers are heating up the food, are they using clean utensils to serve it up (i.e., not a utensil that just stirred somebody else's food)?

If you are looking for a good informational source on Celiac, I suggest this site: Open Original Shared Link (Columbia University's Celiac Center)

Is the child touching other kids' foods?

I know it can be frustrating and overwhelming, and at times an inconvenience for you/your staff, but I can speak for all members on the board, when I say that we really appreciate the efforts that you are making. If the mom is concerned, its not not an attack on you in any way. The first thing anyone asks me if I am sick in any way, is "What did you eat?" (in the chance that it could be gluten related). Just having someone (i.e., a teacher) who understands makes such a world of difference. Having a positive, supportive attitude goes such a long way. I don't fault friends/family/co-workers who don't know everything but who try, have a genuine interest, and want to help (and, learn)...but it is the people who make it seem like a pain (even if they "understand" the mechanics of the diet) that are the ones that make it hard to handle. So your pre-schooler is lucky to have someone like you!

In the business sense, if you successfully deal with Celiac, and the parent is pleased with the school, if this parent knows of other Celiac kids, they could recommend you as a place that can handle this issue.

[Guhlia]

well thats just crappy b/c we have name brand play-doh b/c the other is just so nasty and gets too hard too fast.

the paint is school supply washable paint

the child is a thumb sucker too

i dont mean to sound stupid...but...is there gluten or wheat in playgound dirt? she will suck her thumb after playing outside while standing in line to wash her hands.

i googled and found this forum on here :-) for play doh recipe and i have printed it off for mom

Open Original Shared Link

i also found this post when looking for gluten free washable paint and i have printed it for her also

Open Original Shared Link

so even the soap we use to wash our hands can have gluten in it?

and the parents choice baby wipes she sends for her can have gluten?

even the pull-ups?

what about diaper rash creme?

damn

i feel so bad for everyone having to deal with this in their lives....

is there anything you DONT have to check on??

wow

Most off brand play-doh has gluten in it as well. It's not just the play-doh brand. There's only one, I believe, that's gluten free and it's hard to find. Perhaps someone will know the name of it.

Yes, most things could have gluten in them, but worrying about everything just isn't practical, especially if her mother isn't getting involved with things. Playground dirt is likely gluten free, although if she happens to be playing where someone just ate a cracker, there's a possibility of getting glutened. You likely can't protect her from those kinds of things though.

Wipes are probably gluten free. Diaper rash cream I would check on. There should be a 1-800 number on the tube that you can call. Make sure you let the mother know all of the extra effort you're putting forth. She may not even realize all the dangers that are out there for her child. Many Celiacs are horribly under-educated about the disease. You could send her here if she has any questions.

Yes, soap can have gluten in it. I have gotten glutened from soap at a friends house before. Again, you could just call the 1-800 number on the bottle. Her mother should really be helping you to do all of this though. It's great that you're taking an active role, but she really needs to get involved and be an advocate for her child. After all, it is HER child, not yours.

As for feeling bad for us, don't. Many of us enjoy the gluten free lifestyle. We eat healthier and are healthier than we've ever been before in our lives. It's really not so hard once you're used to all the specifics. Plus, the new labeling laws have made it much easier to decipher ingredients on food.

Thanks again for taking an interest.

[strawberrygm]

another question:

what if the child gets "glutened"? say by soap or paint or anything....

how long will she have reaction for? how long do the effects last?

[Guhlia]

another question:

what if the child gets "glutened"? say by soap or paint or anything....

how long will she have reaction for? how long do the effects last?

Likely her reaction will last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, possibly even a week or two. However, many times there is no visible reaction, but damage is still being done to the intestines. Worst case scenario is that a glutening or multiple glutenings could cause permanent damage, but I think the chances of that are relatively slim, especially at such a young age. It's definitely not something that should be taken lightly by any means, but don't let it get you too freaked out either. If she's a thumb sucker, perhaps you should discuss the dangers of cross contamination with her mother. Maybe she can start trying to wean her from her thumb. I know that sounds silly, but it may save the little girl from many, many unintentional glutenings.

[FeedIndy]

Since she is a thumb sucker I would bet a good amount of money the gluten accidents are coming from cross contamination. She touches something (play-doh, maybe or another child's food-even if she doesn't eat it) and then sucks it right off her thumb. There is only so much you can do to help control that situation. I applaud you for getting involved and being concerned, but her mother also needs to be aware of these issues and provide things that are safe for her child to suck off her thumb.

[vampella]

Thank you for saying this,

the mom seems to think i should be an expert on celiac and know just as much as she does and never have to ask a question

i know she is stressed and frustrated...but gosh, i am trying.... ya know?

I have to say this and others can flame me if they like.

,

you have a young child in your care that needs you to be an expert on celiac's . I kinda feel as if you are coming off a tad rude and put out by having to research this, *remembering I've had problems with my child's preschool* so if I am reading into this just ignore me. however the mother also should've educated you on this, given you websites to visit as well as sat down and explained to you exactly what you were dealing with.

She as the mother need to be the expert & she needs to educate you & your staff about celiacs, what is & isn't OK.

like I said I've had problems resulting in me pulling my child from preschool, so I may be reading into what you said.

until you've had to live it you will not understand, but, by coming here you made your first step on keeping that child safe while in your care. Good luck. I hope the mother becomes a better educator for her child's sake

[Juliet]

All Crayola brands, excluding their "dough", including "Model Magic" and fingerpaints are gluten free. Also, if you play with pasta, the Celiac child should have gluten-free pasta, if not all the kids so that there's no chance of anything getting mixed up.

My 3 1/2 year old son is a thumbsucker, and for that reason we didn't put him in pre-school this past fall. He does however play with other kids at a park down the street anywhere from 2-4 hours a day 5 days a week. We've really had to work on him to NOT touch other kids' food or eat their food (which he now is very good about - even when a gluten cookie is shoved in his face he refuses) so that even if he doesn't wash his hands right away he's still OK. He also has cut down on his thumbsucking only to times when he's tired or really needs comforting. Before that time, he was having issues with small amounts of cross contamination even when I was on top of him all the time - he was interacting with other kids, so there wasn't much that could be done.

I applaud you for taking such initiative, and I hope that when he does go to pre-school we find someone who's as willing to learn about this as you are.

[shayesmom]

the mom seems to think i should be an expert on celiac and know just as much as she does and never have to ask a question

i know she is stressed and frustrated...but gosh, i am trying.... ya know?

This issue is VERY difficult to find middle ground on. Should you become an expert? Not necessarily. But you should try to learn enough about it whereas you can keep this child or a future celiac child as safe as you possibly can. If you were dealing with a food allergic child, you'd have to learn enough about an Epi-Pen and potential sources of food exposure to prevent them from dying on your watch. Celiac also needs that same kind of attention....but without the immediate and deadly reaction. Please understand that celiacs struggle day in, day out with gluten issues. Every aspect of our lives are changed once that diagnosis comes. And never again can we take a meal for granted or just take a day off from this. And as a parent of a gluten intolerant child (with multiple food allergies)....I cannot tell you how stressful it is to HAVE to send your child into someone else's care and know that they don't fully comprehend the scope of the problem. Even worse...that they don't want to understand nor do they intend to learn more. The fact that you care enough to post and find out more...well, that's something I fantasize about daily! I can't even get my pre-k teacher to understand that my dd's reactions are coming from her classroom (it's full of gluten items and my home is completely gluten-free).

When it comes down to food and snacks...as a mom, I provide all of my daughter's food. I also ask that the teacher give her her food first or to thoroughly wash her hands before opening/handling my dd's food. I try to pack things in easy to open individual containers. And I sometimes put the food in a plastic baggie and then also put it into a plastic ware container so that the teacher can open the container and my dd can take her food out from there (works great with snacks).

I have had to provide my dd's class with a gluten-free soap (which I was happy to do). My suggestion would be to call in to see if your soap is gluten, dairy, nut, egg and soy-free. That covers many allergens. Once you find one, buy it and never think about it again. It is a lot easier to just stock allergen-free supplies like this than to have to try to keep it all separate. And I can tell you that cross-contamination is very frequent if the other kids are using the gluten soap and then playing with community toys/supplies.

My daughter's pre-k teacher did find some of the gluten-free playdoh. She wasn't very thrilled with it and so I brought in Crayola Modeling Magic. It's not quite as malleable. So then she asked me to try and make some. I did and it turned out perfect! I will be making some for the whole class next week. Don't be afraid to ask the mother of the child for help. She may be incredibly willing to put in extra effort in order to keep her daughter safe while also preserving some sense of normalcy in life.

As for thumb-sucking....mine is a thumb-sucker as well. It's a nightmare. This needs to be worked on continuously by the mom and caregivers. I am relatively lucky in that we only have a 2.5 hour span of time to "keep on" my daughter about this. I told her that she wasn't allowed to suck her thumb at school and until we got home and washed her hands. My daughter does get very sick when exposed to gluten and so she began to cooperate fully within a matter of weeks. Her teachers also gently reminded her of the issue as well. The habit was broken (at school) within 2 weeks. She still sucks her thumb....but only at home and I see the habit phasing itself out.

If I had more time....I could come up with a giant list of things to keep a daycare/pre-k safe. But I have to run for today. The only thing I have to add is....try to keep an open mind and listen with open ears. This child's mother has no wish to be THAT parent that is always complaining about this, that or the other. It is very difficult to be a celiac in a gluten-filled world. It's even more difficult to spend the night up with your child who is in pain and KNOW that they were glutened at school/daycare (where as a parent, you have little to no control). It's beyond frustrating and you feel utterly helpless. Being brushed off after this doesn't help at all. The lines of communication need to be constantly open and you should share feedback/observations.

And remember...you will only have this child for a short period of time. That mother is going to have to go through this process with each and every teacher her child has for the next decade or so. It's not a very heartening prospect. While she teaches you about celiac....you can teach her how to be more effective in helping "newbies" along.

[strawberrygm]

I am not here to flame anyone, so dont worry about that.

I am here to get advice and suggestions and thoughts.

I am here to play nice.

I totally understand how this is and should be a touchy subject for all of you, and i am certainly in no way going to try and make it seem as though i dont care or that i dont want to help.

I certainly did not mean to come across as rude in any previous post, nor do i want to in any future posts here. :-)

I am sure lots of you have had issues with schools and preschools, etc, be it on celiacs or another issue. It is inevitable.

I am so glad I came here b/c i have learned more in the past several hours visiting this board than i have in the past several months from mom.

i am not here to flame mom, but i would like to explain to you all what frustrates me as the teacher in this situation so that you can understand my point of view and so that maybe it will help you in your dealings with teachers, etc.

I have been provided with nothing in writing from the mom or any doctors.

Any and all printed forms or information I have on gluten or celiacs are things I have took the time to find and print.

Mom told me yesterday that she wishes we (my staff and I) would just get it and never have to ask another stupid question again.

Again, i get it that she is totally stressed out and worried. I can only begin to imagine what it is like for a mom of a celiac.

However it does hurt me and frustrate me that she would get mad for me asking a question. i tried to explain to her that i am only human (as is everyone) and that yes, i may ask a question that to her seems so simple but to me it is a real question, and that i am liable to ask the same question again in a few weeks. Not b/c i dont care or i dont listen, but b/c it is alot to remember.

i do not mind at all coming to this board, or doing any research on celiacs or any other issue or need that a student might have. I enjoy it actually, and it will only help me to help them and others in the future. i do wish that she would supply me with what she finds when she is researching or visiting the doctors too. when she first told me of the diagnosis, i was online like crazy searching for sites with information and stores where she could find the proper foods. i was emailing her at least once a day with links to my findings. never once did she reply to me or share anything she might have found. that frustrates me b/c i am trying and willing to work together on this and there are times i feel like i am not getting any help, only accusations.

coming here was the first i have ever heard of the soaps and paints and play doh and anything other than food being glutened, or the chance of a celiac being gluten by touching something, not actually eating a plate of it.

the mom did tell me yesterday that if her child is glutened, the reaction will last for 6 months!

now please dont let me offend any of you, i am just stating my situation and trying to explain where i am coming from.

this child also has an epi pen in her diaper bag, as she is allergic to milk, diary, turkey, and peanuts.

i do my very best to train and educate my staff on this any all of our students food alergy issues.

mom said that her doctor has offered to have a meeting with the mom, dad, and grandparents on celiacs and asked if i would come. i was so excited, i told her heck yes i will be there, my entire staff will be there and i will even host the meeting at my school so we can have enough room for everyone.

thank you all for talking with me and helping me to learn more. i do really appreciate it.

[angel-jd1]

I am not here to flame anyone, so dont worry about that.

I am here to get advice and suggestions and thoughts.

I am here to play nice.

I totally understand how this is and should be a touchy subject for all of you, and i am certainly in no way going to try and make it seem as though i dont care or that i dont want to help.

I certainly did not mean to come across as rude in any previous post, nor do i want to in any future posts here. :-)

I am sure lots of you have had issues with schools and preschools, etc, be it on celiacs or another issue. It is inevitable.

I am so glad I came here b/c i have learned more in the past several hours visiting this board than i have in the past several months from mom.

i am not here to flame mom, but i would like to explain to you all what frustrates me as the teacher in this situation so that you can understand my point of view and so that maybe it will help you in your dealings with teachers, etc.

I have been provided with nothing in writing from the mom or any doctors.

Any and all printed forms or information I have on gluten or celiacs are things I have took the time to find and print.

Mom told me yesterday that she wishes we (my staff and I) would just get it and never have to ask another stupid question again.

Again, i get it that she is totally stressed out and worried. I can only begin to imagine what it is like for a mom of a celiac.

However it does hurt me and frustrate me that she would get mad for me asking a question. i tried to explain to her that i am only human (as is everyone) and that yes, i may ask a question that to her seems so simple but to me it is a real question, and that i am liable to ask the same question again in a few weeks. Not b/c i dont care or i dont listen, but b/c it is alot to remember.

i do not mind at all coming to this board, or doing any research on celiacs or any other issue or need that a student might have. I enjoy it actually, and it will only help me to help them and others in the future. i do wish that she would supply me with what she finds when she is researching or visiting the doctors too. when she first told me of the diagnosis, i was online like crazy searching for sites with information and stores where she could find the proper foods. i was emailing her at least once a day with links to my findings. never once did she reply to me or share anything she might have found. that frustrates me b/c i am trying and willing to work together on this and there are times i feel like i am not getting any help, only accusations.

coming here was the first i have ever heard of the soaps and paints and play doh and anything other than food being glutened, or the chance of a celiac being gluten by touching something, not actually eating a plate of it.

the mom did tell me yesterday that if her child is glutened, the reaction will last for 6 months!

now please dont let me offend any of you, i am just stating my situation and trying to explain where i am coming from.

this child also has an epi pen in her diaper bag, as she is allergic to milk, diary, turkey, and peanuts.

i do my very best to train and educate my staff on this any all of our students food alergy issues.

mom said that her doctor has offered to have a meeting with the mom, dad, and grandparents on celiacs and asked if i would come. i was so excited, i told her heck yes i will be there, my entire staff will be there and i will even host the meeting at my school so we can have enough room for everyone.

thank you all for talking with me and helping me to learn more. i do really appreciate it.

Just wanted to give you a pat on the back for being such a great teacher!! (coming from a fellow early childhood teacher and celiac) You are doing a GREAT job with your student! Please do not let the comments of others on the board discourage you. I do not feel that you are being rude or flippant in your comments. You are going above and beyond your duties!! Way to go!

Discount school supply has the gluten free playdough. It is colorations brand. Open Original Shared Link It looks like the cost is $19.97

Keep up the great work and please come back often with your questions

-Jessica

[CarlaB]

Strawberry, the more you post, the more it sounds like a possibility that the child is getting contaminated at home, too. It sounds like this is a new diagnosis ... the mom won't answer questions? Is this because she doesn't know the answer? Why else wouldn't she answer them? If it were me, I would have already educated you about Play-doh, pasta, cross-contamination, etc. It's her role to be sure you understand. I'm guessing that you already know more than the mother.

You are going above and beyond and if anyone's being rude, it sounds like the mother is. It blows me away that she's upset that you are asking questions. I would be happy you cared.

[AmandaD]

I'm a mom of three kids who has Celiac. If any of my three children ever develops this disease I hope they get a teacher who is as pro-active as you! There will be cross-contamination issues to deal with, food concerns, but if there's a teacher out there who's trying to figure out the best way to handle the situation - and wants to learn - boy, that's awesome!

hello everyone!

this is my first visit and my first post here.

i own a childcare center, and i have a student who has celiac.

she has been with me over a year now, her mom got the diagnosis in august.

i would like to know what you as moms do in regards to your child and what/how they eat when they are at preschool/daycare/babysitter/public school/etc.

do you send a sack lunch or a lunch to be heated everyday?

do you send food you have bought or prepared in bulk for the teachers/adults to prepare as they need?

what works best for you and why or why not?

currently mom brings in foods she has prepared or bought, in fairly large quantanties. i keep it here and we prepare what we need each day. usually works fine for us, except for space constraints it is sometimes inconvienient with all the regular foods, gluten free foods, baby foods, etc that we have. But i want to make things easier for us and mom and mainly for the child.

of course if the child has diarreha at night or over the weekend, the mom worries about whether she may have gotten ahold of something with me. i write down for mom each day what the child is offered.

on days i am not here, there have been a few instances where the staff would ask the mom if she could have this or that, which worries the mom.

other childcare providers i have talked to say they have their children with special diets bring a plate each day for their child, the provider heats it up and prepares it, then puts the plate in the childs cubbie so that the mom can see how much is left and know what the child did and didnt eat and how much of what the child ate.

i want to do what is best for everyone involved.

any tips or thoughts or advice ya'll could share would be greatly appreciated!

[strawberrygm]

does your child's school require that you provide a doctors note for proof of diagnosis, along with other important information?

[vampella]

Strawberry, the more you post, the more it sounds like a possibility that the child is getting contaminated at home, too. It sounds like this is a new diagnosis ... the mom won't answer questions? Is this because she doesn't know the answer? Why else wouldn't she answer them? If it were me, I would have already educated you about Play-doh, pasta, cross-contamination, etc. It's her role to be sure you understand. I'm guessing that you already know more than the mother.

You are going above and beyond and if anyone's being rude, it sounds like the mother is. It blows me away that she's upset that you are asking questions. I would be happy you cared.

I agree, I think mom is being totally rude . I also agree with her getting glutened at home.

I think you should go to that meeting, I think you should take from it all you can but remember doctors don't know much about this!!

They don't have to live it, they know the medical*sometimes* and that's it.

MOM should have educated you yes, when I took my daughter to preschool the day we *thought* she had celiacs I told them everything, I made play dough, told them about paint, soaps, CC and so on.

Even after the educating and talking until I was blue in the face they still couldn't get it right, they would use her hand washing towel to wipe the table & then dry her hands on it. I kept telling them, hey look there is something happening that she's coming home sick & I was told " well I can't watch her the whole time, I wipe the table with her towel and then her hands. She was told my daughter wasn't coming back.

anyway, I wasn't flamming you, I THINK YOU ARE GREAT FOR DOING THIS, researching & caring.

I hope mom steps up to the plate, for her child's sake.

My daughter has been gluten free for 5 + months now & I still come to these great people for advice, I don't know everything yet, I've even screwed up and glutened my daughter by not reading a label or calling the company that time I wanted to buy the product I bought only 2 weeks before.

I ramble a lot, sorry, if that made no scenes

[vampella]

does your child's school require that you provide a doctors note for proof of diagnosis, along with other important information?

No, they don't & thats great because not everyone has official dx's. The tests for celiac's aren't very good in children & a lot of people are diagnosed by trying the diet.

No school should ask for proof IMO, I highly doubt that anyone is going to lie about their child being ill and needing and epi-pen or special diet.

[Jestgar]

Sooo, on the practical, mercenary side.....

Since you are clearly trying to provide the most safe environment you can, maybe you could take the time to learn a bit about other allergies and market yourself as an "allergy aware daycare". It would definitely involve charging more, but might also require you to spring for the gluten free art materials and prepare allergen free snacks.

[Guhlia]

You aren't by any chance located in Pennsylvania, are you? We're looking for a preschool for my daughter right now and having a heck of a time because she doesn't have an official diagnosis.