5 year old & play dates

My granddaughter is in kindergarten. She has severe food allergies(tree nuts, not peanuts) and must have the epi pen wherever she goes. She doesn't self carry, but an adult who is with her always has it. Anyway do you let your 5 yr. old go to a friends house cor a playmate without you being there? Just dropping them off and leaving? My daughter doesn't know the moms well enough to do this. Plus she can't leave hr without instructing the mom how to administer the epi pen. If someone in that house ate or handled nuts and touches her... Could cause a reaction. Plus my daughter thinks she is just too young to be left at someone's house without knowing the family well.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

It sounds like your daughter isn't comfortable with it, so I guess it's a non issue. My DS has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. He is 6. I have left him for a few play dates since he was 5. I explained his allergies and trusted the moms. Plus DS did not eat there and knows about his allergy. My DS's allergist said just casually smelling or touching nuts would not cause a reaction, he has to actually eat it.

5 year old & play dates

In this case - no. Since it's so severe and it's a lot to ask of the other parent, I would not leave them at a friend's house for a playdate.

I would invite other children over to her house in the interim until she knows some of the other parents better if her DD really wants to have a playdate.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

Playdate at the park - perfect solultion.

Neither of my kids have allergies and I would never leave them at 5 with a partent I didn't know extremely well.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

At five I did not leave either of my kids. I have hosted kids with severe allergies here, and I served allergy approved items on paper plates. I will say that some of my friends whose kids are so allergic they only have play dates at their house or at a park.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

Dd is almost 6 and I am still not comfortable with that. And she doesn't have any allergies.
In your granddaughters case...absolutely not.

5 year old & play dates

My son has food allergies and there's no way I would drop him off for a playdate (or a party) unless there is a person in the family that has the same food allergy. I usually end up hosting the playdate at my house or asking to meet at the park.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

No, I would not feel comfortable with that. Even myself hosting a child with a food allergy, I would feel very uncomfortable if their parent wasn't there. That's a big responsibility.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

You really should be properly trained to use an epi pen. I teach and have mandatory training every year with a fake. I wouldn't risk it.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

5yo with an allergy is too young to be left in someone's house, that is not someone you know and trust. Heck, no allergy and I wouldnt drop off my 5yo.

Re: 5 year old & play dates

No, I do not let my daughter who is 5 1/2 go to houses by herself where I don't know the parents well. I do know a couple of moms very well - so I would let her go to those houses.

She does not have food allegies, but my older DS does. I DEFINITELY did not let him go by himself to anyone's house until I knew the parent very well and he was old enough to be aware of what he was eating (usually I tell him not to eat anything! I feed him before he goes).