10 Signs to look out for that a child may have Allergies / Intolerances

1.     Within the first 6 months signs of eczema

2.     Any signs of welts on the face or body after contact with foods    
        and or in some cases after contact with 
        Breast milk.

3.     Mucus/blood in baby / childs stool’s

4.     Any trouble with constant ear infections / throat / tonsillitis 
         or fast on set Croup.
        (Kids with nasal allergies or react in this way are more prone 
         to ear infections, asthma or sinus infections)                           
        Additives and preservatives as well as colours in foods can also 
        cause these reactions.

5.     Having a unsettled baby for extreme lengths of time, or 
        constant screaming.

6.     Does your child see to have the skin under eyes seem dark or 
         purple in colour, even a blue like tone?         
        Allergy doctors call them allergy shiners.

7.    Does your child always seem to sneeze or even wiping or 
        pushing their nose in a up direction? This is       
        known as the allergy salute.

8.     A regular dry cough or persistent or tends to breathe through 
         mouth.

9.     Does your child seem to have watery eyes, runny nose red 
         itchy eye?

10.   Rashes welts that show up close to time of eating?

If you answer yes to one or more of these above there a good chance your child may have allergies or intolerance, best to keep a small note of these things and take to your health provider.

For more assistance – book a coaching session or send questions to Heidi by emailing allergyfreecoach@gmail.com or by calling 0419462141.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AllergyFreeCoach

 As you all know Celebrating different life events such as Birthdays and Christmas etc cause stress on allergy families along with Easter time and yes it is not far off for 2014.


 At the start of our kids being diagnose it sure was like a breathe taking experience the thought of not being able to celebrate Easter the way in which i could as a child.
 I so remember being spoilt by not only the Easter bunny yet also parents and lots of family friends and family as well. I think some years we had enough to last a year... and having 3 under 4 years at the time when we had to go so strict because of Anaphylaxis it sure was hard to think of where from here and how can i experience and enjoy Easter with my own kids yet keeping them safe.
 So here I am writing as so many kids are being diagnosed daily with severe allergies and even severe Intolerances and if i remember clearly our minds are so in survival mode that hard to think of ideas we can use instead of chocolate for Easter.


 Some non food ideas for Easter

* I found that smuggles ( the company) bring out a easter range that easter related such as plastic eggs with rubber in each.
* Can use stickers easter ones on non easter ones and buy some of the little plastic eggs that open and fill them with sticker or even depending on age the little fluffy chickens in the eggs. We also put tiny toy inside the eggs.
* Can also buy around cheap shops or Big W which found today the foam little eggs that come with things to    decorate them they are around $4 and comes in a half egg carton.
* There are some toy companies that have toy eggs that can be filled with animals or even shapes and use for      game of memories etc.
* Can buy plastic eggs or rabbits to paint as easter gift.
* Wind up eggs, chickens or rabbits. 
* PJs can be bought for easter gift too depending on season where you are here in Australia its heading into Winter so our kids normally need new ones.
* Easter safe Cupcakes with the cute little easter cupcake holders and flags you can buy now, or cupcake boxes that are easter themed.
* Little soft bunny rabbits.
* Free colouring pages from online i found some links here is one of them http://www.kidspot.com.au/slideshow/kids-activity-sheets--easter-colouring-pages+118.htm

* Easter baskets filled with:  

• Wooden, plaster, plastic or foam eggs 
• Easter-themed stuffed animals 
• Small action figures, dolls or animal figurines 
• Jewellery, sunglasses, hats and hair items 
  
• Key chains, toy cars or other collectibles 
  
• Stickers, stamps, markers, paints, coloring 
  
• books and craft items.
  
  

* Easter kids movies such as Dora , and Mickey etc
* Can also buy Easter books i saw easter barbie books
* Can help celebrate easter with a easter tree by placing branches in vase and decorating with easter decorations.

Easter Activities 
* You can play pin FluffyTail on the bunny.
* Egg and spoon races yet with plastic eggs, can put a toy in it or just use it with a weight like a marble inside.
* Easter Hunt without chocolate eggs, again using different plastic ones that you can either hide a message inside or a toy of choice, such as stickers , or bouncy balls, little bottles of bubbles, plastic toy animals or toy cars.
Also last few years we put glow sticks inside the eggs and hid them outside at night, it sure was effective and our kids loved it.
* Make eater baskets with your kids or Bonnet.


Food related activities
* Bake egg, rabbit , or chicken shaped cookies that are safe for your child's needs
* Make your own home made chocolates or eggs shapes out of safe chocolate option for your allergy child or adult.
* Jelly in rabbit moulds or marshmallow rabbits with the rabbit mould you can buy.
 
 The above are some awesome options that you can use to make your Easter feel exactly that your child is feeling not left out. Who said allergy kids have to miss out.


 Also there are Allergy aware companies that are supplying allergen free eggs , you just have to be careful to contact them if ordering online to make sure these are safe for your child.


Places like Coles and Woolworths are Trying to be aware and have tried to create a range yet won't always suit all of us that have kids with the multiple allergies.
 Some links to online business's that have allergy aware products and a range for easter, some are over seas yet have Australian stockists lists.


Moo free
http://www.moofreechocolates.com/dairy-free-chocolate/stockists/other-high-street-retailers.php 
Allergy Train - have easter range 
http://www.allergytrain.com.au/Store/tabid/62/List/1/CategoryID/19/Level/1/Default.aspx
Kinnerton - nut free

http://www.kinnerton.com


Plamil - Uk yet have ranges available in Australia (no nuts)

http://www.plamilfoods.co.uk/products/
(available at my local organic shop Kunara on the Sunshine Coast)  http://www.kunara.com.au

Sweet Williams - nut free ranges
http://www.sweetwilliam.com.au/our-products


 So overall I really hope that you find a Idea for your allergy child or adult and have a fantastic Happy and Safe Easter break with your families. I also look forward to writing blogs more often.

 Please feel free to come and like my Facebook page and follow my post that are regular there and or follow me on Instagram, twitter :) and or share other ideas with us all too :) 


Heidi Finlay 
Contact me on :
http://www.allergyfreecoach.com.au/contactmedia.html

 So our journey continues only today's Doctors appointment was with a difference . Have you ever found that if you look after your Allergy or intolerant child so well and they are growing well , that they tend to sweep under the carpet for the time being , until such time things change ??
 Well not here with this little brown duck , just out of the blue i was prompted from accepting the way things are as out of my control and we have what we can control under wraps , well for no longer time to poke and motivate the doctor and specialist into some Action in really finding out what my baby girls allergy condition really is and to start with a Management plan or at least look for one.
 It's so amazing what us as humans can do or accept ..... accept as normal as for them in their life as it is , though when a conversation with another starts you soon get the reality check that having a little girl four weeks off turning 3 and only able to eat 3 foods is not ok anymore. There has to be more answers and she cant fight for the answers i have to be her voice , no matter how weak and worn out i feel its up to me in which she trust with her life to get things in Action and be the voice she is too young to be. Well young and little though at nearly 3 she is far from silly , to hear her little voice say " mummy i can have that when i GET BIG " just makes you want to cry knowing i really don't know anything else to say to her except to say " Yes when you GET BIG".
 I suppose what has prompt me to take Action yet again is all my little Angel wants it to have a cupcake or a tinker bell birthday cake ... her little not yet 3 year old voice says. Well i have 3 and bit weeks to get creative with her request and obviously not a real and edible cake though something that looks like a tinker bell cake ... mmmm creative mind is at work on how can i pull this one off , trust me i will not give up on this challenge set before me.

 Well really was no real plan for this blog it really was just to give our allergy journey a voice and to help others in doing so , making sure others know they are not alone on this journey and together we can support and share ideas.

Please feel free to contact me or write a comment and look forward in helping other families on their allergy journey's.

This photo was borrowed as a example of cake my princess would so dream of ...