Anaphylaxis and Insurance

One of my new after schoolers is anaphylactic to peanut butter. We didn't have a formal interview, because she's a friend of one of my current dck's and her mom said that she's satisfied by their reports, blah blah.

She did not mention her allergy. I found out like this:

DCG (while having snack on her first day):"Alphaghetti, my mom asked me if you know that I'm allergic to peanuts".

Me: :blink:No, I didn't know that. Do you guys keep peanut butter in your house?

DCG: Yes, my brother eats it, but I'm not allowed.

I say nothing at pickup. I was kinda still stunned, and wasn't sure how to react to the situation. She texts me later and says that her ex husband will be dropping off DCG's epi pen. Ohhh...so she's anaphylactic. Mighta been something you'd want to mention BEFORE I fed her.

Anyway...my husband notices the epipen, and tells me "OMG NOOOOOO I don't feel comfortable having you care for an anaphylactic kid in our home. Please get rid of her. This is not ok with me, and besides I don't think your insurance will cover this". DH also thinks that the fact that mom didn't tell me about her allergy is reason enough to terminate. DH also thinks that the $45 dollars in revenue she's bringing to the table is not nearly worth the repercussions should something happen while she's in my care.

What do you guys think? Any thoughts, suggestions, comments? Does normal daycare insurance cover this? I look forward to your feedback.

Yikes....I'm with your husband. I'm cringing just thinking about what COULD have happened. Just a bit younger and your dck may not have thought to say anything. I'm absolutely astounded (being conservative here) that the mother didn't say something right up front.

I have no idea about insurance covering that. I'd be very surprised if either they won't cover it or at least jack your premiums way up. What about a liability waiver? That might work, but I'd get a lawyer to do it to be sure it will stand up. If something did happen....insurance aside....is that something you think you'd ever recover from....or the other kids watching it unfold? While I feel for the parents of kids with life threatening allergies, I've noted right on my website that I do not accept them. I have 2 epipens on hand anyway, but I'd rather not tempt fate.

I don't know about insurance, but I'm with your hubby on this one as well!

1. the mom didn't tell you BEFORE you took her on. That for me is grounds for termination. That's a life and death risk. Dumbass mother.

2. I couldn't bear to take on any child with food allergies. I am NOT having my home a nut-free environment just because of one child. I LOVE peanut butter. I now eat it by the spoon-fulls!

Good luck with that one! And I would personally call your insurance company and see what they say.

My son has a severe allergy to peanuts and carries an epi pen on him. I have always told people first thing that my son has this fatal allergy and make sure they are comfortable with the epi pen as not every one is. You can actually go onto the epi pen website and and order a training kit. It comes with a fake epi pen. I keep this around the house now to review with babysitters when I go out.

I don't know about the insurance, but I can't see why that would be an additional issue.

Also, as long as he doesn't have peanuts (or any other nuts just to be safe) there won't be any need for the epi pen.

However, this means that your home must be peanut free. Some kids will react to the smell. I don't even allow kids in my house if they've had peanut butter in the am.

However, I would terminate the child. I think to not disclose information that can effect everyone is a big no no. It's a huge red flag for me! Anaphalaxis is fatal. He could have died in your care if you had fed him or someone near him the wrong thing. Not having an epi pen with him at all times is just stupid in my opinion. You're sure to run into other issues with this parent.

I have found an amazing product that I use in my home called WOW butter. It's identical to peanut butter and made with soy. It's amazing!

My home is not peanut free, nor am I willing to make it so. The simple fact that dh is not comfortable means that I have to terminate anyway. I don't mean that I am submissive to his wishes, but as I operate my business out of our shared home, I feel it would be disrespectful of me to care for the girl against his wishes. He mentioned the same as you, cfred - would I ever be able to get over it if heaven forbid this little girl have a reaction, or die in my care?

It's not as if we'd never have a friend or family member come by if their LO had food allergies - it's just that dh feels (and I agree to an extent) that my business need not include a risk this great.

I am also cringing thinking back on the what if's of her first day here. What if I'd given out homemade cookies that day? She didn't mention the allergy until AFTER she started eating the snack I had provided. Her father didn't come by with the epipen until she had already been at my house EATING MY FOOD. :crying: I am pretty incensed that her mother was so cavalier about the whole thing, although she did tell me that she's never had to use the epipen...a million eyerolls!

Thanks for the input.

I have had several children over the years with food allergies. Most recently, I had one that carried an epi pen for a peanut allergy. In the two years he was here I never had to use it. I do not have a problem accepting children with allergies but I WOULD have a problem with Mom NOT mentioning it.

I am with your husband on this one! I don't accept sever food allergy kids into my daycare as the risk is just too high and I cannot ensure their safety! And the fact that she didn't tell you is absoultely mind-blowing...her child could have died because of her omission and you would not even know what to tell the paramedics as you were not aware of the allergy! I, like you, would not go against my husband's wishes when it comes to something like this because what I do in our home as a daycare provider has a huge effect on the whole family...if I am sued, we are all sued...I always respect his opinions on matters such as these!

Wow ~ how could the parent not tell you ~ this is something that can kill her child???

Reading stuff like this makes me glad I am anal with all the paper work cause there is spot right on there for does your child have any allergies so they cannot 'forget' to tell you about something and well its in writing so I cannot forget.

While the anaphylaxis allergy is not a deal breaker for me in itself as I have cared for kids with allergies like this n the past and am familiar with the epi pen use the fact that it is to NUTS would be a deal breaker for me unfortunately ~I have right on my website that I can accommodate just about any food allergy accept NUTS because as a Celiac nuts are my main flour source and due to the fact that many children react not just to eating it but being in the same 'room' with it is too risky for me and I am totally not prepared to have a nut free home.

I do have to wonder if the allergy is truly anaphylaxis because most people whose child is at risk of dying if exposed to something are much more diligent to make sure everyone knows and the sibling would not be eating the offending product at home because nut oils can remain embedded on surfaces for MONTHS so anything that kid touches and is not scrubbed could cause a reaction in his sister!

Alpha....that Mom is ridiculous, show them the door!!!! My 2 year old daughter has a peanut allergy. Everyone we know, knows about it. I agree with REGGIO that she must not be anaphylactic...no parent would forget to tell you, forget epi pen and to show you how to use it or allow peanut butter in their home!!!!! Must be a mild allergy with ingestion only. Much easier to make sure nothing is eaten. This is the case with my daughter but we have an epi pen just in case. Regardless of how serious her reactions are or what insurance you need, they neglected to TELL you of the allergy putting their own child at risk!

I don't serve peanut butter and am careful what I bring into my home as not to tempt fate with food allergies. When we have the young ones we never know if they could have their first allergic reaction with us. One of my first dcks was allergic to tree nuts and I did have an epi pen on hand. Never had an issue because I was careful and continued to be so after he left my care. Since I updated my child cpr last spring, I now have a childs epi pen in my first aid kit. I spoke to my insurance company when I had the child I just wrote of and they stated an epi pen in the house and my policy does not require an amendment. The cost is a write off, I have piece of mind should there be a "first" reaction in my home and the parents feel safer because I have it.
Last word, yeah the Mom should be hung out to dry for not protecting her child and not letting you know up front her child had this allergy, however, I would keep him (and his epi) as I wouldn't want to send the message to the child he is too scary to care for or not worth the effort to put in place preventative measures. JMO:)

Like Inspired by Reggio, I have a section right on my new contract where allergies must be listed. None-the-less, I won't take kids with life threatening allergies. I always ask parents to try their kids with a smear of peanut butter on the lip and watch them like a hawk BEFORE they begin daycare with me. I have 2 epipens here at all times, but that's more for bee stings or other environmental allergens.

I have paperwork too. But, the nature of our meeting etc allowed for me to accept her daughter into my home BEFORE she'd brought in all the papers. NEVER AGAIN. I am actually normally very diligent about having everything in place before the child starts, but, well, friend of a current client and all, I used word of mouth to judge character, and let things slide. My fault too.

Mom was very gracious about the whole thing. I emailed her, and she said she understood, and that she was sorry that she didn't make a big deal about her daughter's allergy. She said that she'd never had to use the epipen, and that her allergy didn't extend to things labeled "may contain nuts", just that she couldn't eat peanut butter itself.

Um, WTF? I'm sorry...you're putting your kid's life at risk. May contain means that if she's eating this stuff, you've been lucky so far.

Wouldn't take the risk, these are the kinds of things that I always "picture in my head" as being what could destroy me. what if...she has an allergy and dies, just what if? (i know its far fetched) but I operate my day care on alot of "what ifs", may be the only thing to protect me sometimes.
to say the very least, I like my household as "stress free" as posible, that doesn't include a child with severe allergy to such a "typical" thing. Not to mention, Hubby is a weighing factor...my husbands opinion very often outweighs my desires. Much Man Respect in this house!! :)