Jill A Sobel wrote:
>
> I guess I am still new to the food allergies in my 16 month old and
> wonder if parents ever stop feeling super guarded and paranoid about
> others giving the foods to your kids?

I agree with psam, it gets much easier as they grow older.
Unfortunately that probably doesn't make you feel a whole lot better
right now.  Does it?

I must admit I never really got the hang of allowing my kids to be
passed around in large groups.  They wouldn't tolerate it and I didn't
trust anyone.  If this is something you regularly do during family
gatherings and such, perhaps you can have a button made for her and she
can wear it on a hat (she would probably rip it off a shirt) or perhaps
a nice looking T-shirt or dress with something along the lines of
"Please No Milk, I'm Allergic!".  I still wouldn't trust many to
actually read it - or believe it once they had though, so don't get a
false sense of security.

There is no one panacea while she is so young.  You must continue to
remain vigilant and to watch everyone, but only for awhile longer.  By
the time my kids were two they could tell people they had allergies and
to ask Mom or would come running over and tug for me to come read some
package.  She will learn to protect herself under your care and
tutelage.  Tell her about her allergies (yes, now while she is young),
read her the packages, talk to her about letting other people feed her.
Continue to do this over the next few years and pretty soon she will
more than you do (because she can make the ultimate decisions).

I would like to tell you it gets easier, but I know most Moms worry
about this stuff until their dying days (or at least my Mom will).  My 8
yo walked out of religious ed today with a little plastic bag of
pretzels and my heart skipped a beat.  Silly me, he knew better and
never ate any - just brought the bag home unopened.  :-D

--
Kathy Wentz                   I'm not politically incorrect,
[log in to unmask]           I'm euphemistically challenged.