10 Ways to Keep Children With Food Allergies Safe at Home, School, and While Traveling

If your child has food allergies, you likely do everything in your power to avoid the foods that may cause an allergic reaction. But that isn’t always easy to do, especially when your child is at school or eating at a restaurant.

“It’s a great thing for the other adults in your child's life, like their teachers, to be able to reference, especially if they’re unfamiliar with food allergies and when to use an EpiPen,” says Amanda Lee Pratt, MD, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.

Here are some additional measures you can take to help manage your child’s food allergy and stay safe at home, at school, and while traveling.

1. Reduce the Risk of Cross Contact in Your Kitchen

“To avoid cross contact, it’s important to clean surfaces before and after preparing meals and not allow your child to share utensils with others in your household,” says Christopher Codispoti, MD, an allergy and immunology specialist at The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

2. Separate Unsafe Foods

3. Wash Your Hands Before and After Meals

If a family member touches a food your child is allergic to and then touches something your child handles regularly, such as a toy, your child could have a reaction when they come in contact with that object.

That’s why washing your hands is so important. “Every person in your household should wash their hands before and after meals to avoid transferring food allergens,” says Dr. Codispoti.

4. Always Keep Epinephrine Within Reach

Your child should have their epinephrine with them at all times in case of an emergency. Keep a couple in their backpack, along with an antihistamine or inhaler, if they need it, says Codispoti. It’s also a good idea to include an extra copy of their emergency action plan.

5. Communicate With the School

“It’s important for every adult your child comes into contact with to know about your child’s food allergy and know where their EpiPen [or other epinephrine auto-injector] is,” says Dr. Pratt. Children who are 12 or younger are not expected to administer their own epinephrine, so an adult at their school — a teacher, school nurse, extracurricular activities supervisor — must be able to do it. Be sure to include the emergency action plan when you give the epinephrine to your child’s school.

6. Play It Safe With Lunches and Snacks

“If you want full control over what your kid eats, pack their lunch and snacks,” says Codispoti. You may also want to remind your child not to accept food from other kids, since they might be allergic to something in it.

If packing their lunch isn’t an option, ask the school to provide a separate meal for your child that is free of their allergens. “It’s the responsibility of the school to provide a safe lunch for your child,” says Pratt.

7. Pack Your Child’s Epinephrine Injectors in Your Carry-On

If you’re traveling by air, make sure your child’s epinephrine auto-injector is stored in your carry-on, so you have easy access to it in an emergency. Pratt recommends storing it in a clear plastic bag to make it easier to go through security. “You usually have to separate it from your other items, since it does have a needle,” she notes.

8. Choose the Right Restaurant

Depending on your child’s food allergy, some restaurants will be riskier to eat at than others. For example, if your child has a peanut allergy, it’s wise to avoid certain Asian restaurants, such as those serving Thai, Chinese, or Indian cuisine, because nuts are frequently used in their dishes.

9. Review the Menu Ahead of Time

Many restaurants have their menus online, so you can take a look and figure out which foods will be on the safer side, Codispoti notes.

10. Talk to the Waitstaff

Nowadays, many restaurants ask if anyone has a food allergy. But if they don’t, it’s important to let them know. “Be really clear with the waitstaff or even the manager about your child’s particular allergy,” says Pratt.

• Your child should have their epinephrine auto-injector and emergency action plan with them at all times in case of accidental exposure.
• It’s important to avoid cross contact of foods both at home and at restaurants.
• Communication is key: Whether your child is eating at a restaurant or school, it’s crucial to let others know about their food allergy and how a reaction can be avoided.