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

  Hope you are all well and as promised here is the recipe of our cookies the other day , a very fast and simple recipe that we use quite a lot. So hope you get as much enjoyment out of these as we do especially if its making them with the kids or the kids making themselves as my 12 year old did with these :)



Vanilla Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter choice (Nuttlex dairy free if needing dairy free)
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence / golden syrup (for a different taste which we used in these ones)
1 1/2 cup flour of choice self raising
(a tiny extra flour for 


Method Prep 15mins / cook 15mins
Preheat oven 170c
1/ Line two baking trays with baking paper
2/ Beat margarine, sugar and vanilla essence in small bowl of an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes, or until well combined.
3/ Sift the flour into the butter mixture
4/ Use a wooden spoon to mix until well combined.
5/ Use your hands to mix to soft dough
6/ Shape tablespoonful of the mixture into balls and place on the prepared trays or use a cookie stamp
7/ Use a fork to flatten the balls and place on the prepared trays
8/ Bake for 12- 15mins till light golden in colour then let cool
Be careful to keep watch they cook fast.

****** With that cookie mix you can add dairy free, nut free choc chips
Also can press down with thumb in the middle and in the dip of the cookie your thumb add a jam of choice

My kids love home made pear jam, though strawberry jam used in the photo.


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

I would like to say a huge hello to everyone who is reading this blog and as well to those who have followed my blog and have been waiting for my next one in which has been delayed.Though better late than never :)

On my Facebook page I asked if there was a particular subject that people are interested in hearing more about and the response was about Children with Severe Allergies starting School or Kinder. So i am not talking with a medical degree only from the experience of 10 years with children with severe Allergies , please do further your researches and do what is right for you in the end.
Now being a mother of 4 with 2 with Epipens for Severe Food Allergies , I myself can say that the school year doesn't get easier as they get older when they have Severe Allergies , well your childs awareness and being able to protect themselves more , though being a mum having kids is exactly like we are wearing our Heart outside of our bodies , as anything that concerns our children and their safety of course makes us scared , nervous , sick in the stomach and all those not so great feelings , as at the end of the day they have been in our safe hands up until now and we have been of full control as much as possible of their environment to date. So yes the over whelming feelings that start towards the end of the year prior to them starting school are all normal and please realise you aren't alone on this one, hence another reason why I started my Facebook page to contact other parents going through the same things on the same page , to feel that they be able to chat and connect together , to re-enforce the idea that we aren't alone.
So once you have decided on the School your child will be attending , you should be able to talk openly to the principal all about your childs Allergies and ask them what plans they have in place as well as let them know how you feel about them or things you would liked changed , as at the end of the day you have to be able to walk away from the School and feel that they understand and have all the information they can in case of an emergency.I would go as far as asking what teacher your child will be having and if they aren't aware of that as yet to let you know before school ends that year before so you can organise to meet up with this teacher and go through all the important individual Medical history and needs.In this meet up you would discuss with the teacher Are they Epipen / Anaphylaxis Trained , oh and don't be afraid to hear the words "NO" in which I so have come across.In that case you would make the head of the School aware that you would like them to be trained , even so I still go through the training of Epipen myself with them and a Trainer pen (Keeping in mind you would still refresh their minds at the start of the year as well).
Make sure they are aware of all the things your Child is allergic too and show them Action Plan that should be displayed on the classroom wall in which your child will be in , as well as in the School Office , and the folders that some schools have for playground duty - Children at Risk. This is pretty much the most you can cover the year before your Child starts School / Kinder.
While at home before School starts the new year be sure to have all Medication Scripts filled ready for the new year all Clearly labelled with your Childs Name and can even have the amount your Child may need on the Antihistamine ( we use Zrytec) , Making sure the Epipen is in date and Labelled as well ( most Schools here in Australia need the Medications to have the pharmacy Labels on all Medications with your Childs name on them or they will not use them).
About Two weeks before Schools about to start I lay out the Medications and do labels or recheck labels and dates as well as visit a doctor or allergists if Child doesn't already have an Action Plan written and signed ready for the school to either have or take COLOUR copies of for the Classroom , Office and Staff playground Folders - the word COLOUR in capitals meaning if it is in black and white it really doesn't look important or stand out when most needed.
Also organise your Childs Lunch Box to either be different to what the run of the mill one would look like or have it WELL LABELLED , so there isn't a mix up , as when they are little they could mix them up , same goes on their Drink bottles to have them WELL LABELLED , as well as their School bag.
Next I would organised a Safe TREAT BOX for your Childs Teacher to have for when she/he wants to give out treats or there may be another Child's Birthday party in which your Child can't have the cake they can have a treat from their Safe Box that you have organised yourself. Fill this Box with treats that you know are ok and are safe for them to have , saving them from feeling left out or feeling too different to their peers.

Now the above is done you are ready as much as you can be till they start their first day which in itself for parents is hard enough without having the extra worry of Severe Allergies.The beginning of the first School year is a busy yet Scary and Anxious time , so having things planned the best we can will hopefully let our minds be at ease where it doesn't need to be worrying.



The first day has arrived and all is packed lunches , drink bottle , and you have treat box ready all Medications in one bag as well as Action Plan ( this can be COLOURED COPIED BY YOU AND LAMINATED to save school getting round to one more job , in which they didn't for few weeks this year for my children hence I will surely be going back to what i am suggesting). Once you get to School be sure to be earlier so you can get a chance to see your Childs Teacher in advance before they are taken over by all the parents trying to get their Children to stay ( another reason why knowing who it is the year before is of great Advantage where possible), as well as drop off any Medical permission forms filled out to the School Office and with the Medications and Action Plan forms ( for overseas have heard and read about a 504 - from what I have read this forms take a lot of work and time to get filled out so these should be done way in advance before the first day at School , if you think these are necessary is your personal choice and something to research as well as being as young as they are if in the first year they have a greater chance of getting these forms passed necessary authorise).
Clearly give all the Medications needed to the Teacher in class depending on your Childs School policies and run through the use of the Epipen if they ask you to as well as the steps to be taken in an Emergency reminding them that you are the last person to be called as Ambulance first , as well as hand them the snack box well LABELLED again with all your Child's details , oh and Mobile number is updated.
On this day do be sure to take tissues as it is harder than other parents with Children without Allergies as we leave just with the unknown that they are safe and that we have done all that we can to have all in place in case on an emergency , try to walk out with confidence that you were organised so far in advance and all will be ok.We as mum's and dads can only do the best we can to control this situation and know that you have done all to have in place everything your Child needs.
Now there is the question of Where do we leave the Epipen ?? in the classroom , at the Office on strapped on your Child in an Epipen Belt. From a parent to another I will let you know what we have done , because of their age in the first year of School and the extra curiosity of the kids we havent strapped the Epipen to our kids when they first start School , though we have had one in the Classroom they are in and any other Meds needed as well as one in the School Office - please make sure if the School Office is the ONLY place you have it in , do check that it isn't kept under lock and key as this in itself will cause huge problems if ever an Emergency came about. Now my older Son started wearing his Epipen from Year 2 , when they are fully aware that it isn't a toy and that no one of their friends are to touch it at any time , as well as keeping one in School Office.So far this has worked just fine for my older Son.
If it makes you feel heaps better for the first week most Schools wont mind if you want to call the Office to just check how all going , as this will put your mind at ease , as well as make sure especially the first day line up to visit a friend for a coffee so you aren't pacing the floor until School Home time comes around.

One other thing is you may want to get to know the School Canteen ladies and the lady in charge making them aware of who you are and who your Child is , and of their Allergies are , if able to Order tuck shop I always make sure if the Canteen has any of the Allergens that your Child is Allergic too as then decide if safe to order and exactly what is safe to order of the list , always writing on the order bag the Allergies that the Child may have as an extra precaution.

Now overall most Schools I know in Australia especially QLD will not ban Peanuts etc from the School and at the same time this doesn't come recommended either as gives the Parents , Students and Teachers false sense of security and think the Children are safe , when at the end of the day you can never be sure who may have to pack a Childs lunch if one parent is sick or maybe away , they wont know the rules and may pack the ban Allergen hence then causing a risk no one think is possible.

Last but not least a question of " How do we deal with the Students Parents from the Classroom our Child is in , one that doesn't want to accommodate our children's Allergies? " Now with this every year I choose to go to the Office and ask for a note to be written up to be passed to Parents or the Students to take home , making them aware that your Child has Severe Food Allergies and what to.You will find like I did the ones that aren't accommodating to your Childs Allergies are normally ones that really have no idea what a severe Allergy is , we so take it for granted that everyone knows what it is and how we feel or what the repercussion is if Emergency happens etc . You can also choose to type and print letter yourself to hand to teacher to read and give out , or better still as well go to the meet the Teacher times that in some Schools can happen in first week or Two and stand up and explain to the parents that may be there able how serious this is.The above are some of the things I do myself for my Children , and I so have to admit my youngest Son has had 4 Party Invites in last few months and all of which the parents have bent over backwards to accommodate our Son to be there and have checked Ingredients listings with me or Products I know are safe , even though ive said I will bring his own Party Bag of safe foods they have insisted not to , keeping in mind i still stay present at the party with Epipen etc as one of the most important rules are about Allergies is NO EPIPEN NO EAT !

I really do hope I havent confused anyone and have covered things of interest , if there are things you still want to know about that I may not have covered please feel free to make a comment or even go to my Facebook page and ask please....

Wishing you all a great week head :)

Heidi :)