My 2-year-old has severe allergies to cow's milk, eggs and soy, and milder allergies to peanut and almond. His allergist recommended we get him a bracelet to wear that reminds people of this, especially when he begins preschool. I'm wondering if it'll be very difficult getting a toddler to keep a bracelet on his wrist all day. Do any of you have experience with this? Your thoughts? Any suggestions for places or websites you would recommend for buying this type of bracelet? Thank you!
Try www.childidbracelets.com My autistic/epileptic/develomentally disabled daughter has been wearing one since she was 3 and she is now 19 and has a fit if we even try to take it off. I think we have taken it off a total of 5 times in 15 years LOL
T.
My daughter has life threatening allergies to dairy, amoxicillin and cefprozil and at one time allergies to eggs and soy. She has worn a medic-alert bracelet since she was 2 and they will size it smaller if the sizes available are too big for your son. She had no problem wearing it and likes that she can choose the color.
Also, when your son starts attending preschool, I would recommend purchasing a product called SafetySack. It's a heavy duty plastic ziplock type bag that has a squeeze lock on it so other children can't open it. It's clear which is great, because everyone can see the instructions that I have for the order of medications to administer. Plus it is big enough to carry two epi-pen jrs, the epi-pen tester, benadryl, prednisone, and a dropper. We have two sets, one for home/playdates and one for school. I highly recommend it.
Hi J.,
I also use Safetytat.com, they have great wrist bands that are actually tattoos so your child cant pull it off and lose it. They last all day and I put one on my child anytime we go somewhere in case she gets lost but they have all different kinds for allergies as well.
Hi J.,
Our son (now 7) has been wearing a Medic Alert bracelet since he was 2. We put it on once and have NEVER taken it off. He swims, bathes, etc. with it. He thinks it's cool because of the snake design. www.medicalert.org
Having Medic Alert is more than just the bracelet. You register with them details about the allergies, and give them your emergency contact info. Then, in the case of an emergency, the hospital could call and find out what they need to know...
He doesn't really need this for preschool. You will need to have a meeting with them and they will remember (or if not, he shouldn't be there!) The bigger reason for the bracelet is if you were in car accident or if he got lost...
-D.
Try www.laurenshope.com and www.cutemedicalbracelets.com. If he has small wrists, get the bands that go on the shoe.
Greetings J.: I don't think you would have a problem.
I have family that have their children religious braclets from the time they are tiny and none of the children have had a problem. I think they have always worn them and its just apart of them.
I have a child with medical problems and it was important that he learned to wear it for his own protection. The company won't list everything but the most important things that will catch the eye and alert someone to special needs.
Good Luck and enjoy the adventure of parenthood. Nana G
My husbands family is Mexican and it is almost tradition that babies get a bracelet with their name and wear it until it gets lost, broken or gets too small. My nieces and nephews have all worn them (they are the slim gold link bracelets with a name plate) and they don't seem to be bothered. After a day or so, they arent so much of a distraction. It will become part of him very quickly. I'm assuming that it would be similar to a medical alert bracelet. I found some that are affordable and kid-oriented on etsy. ( http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=catego...)
They remind me of the bracelets that we used to order as a school fundraiser. All of our contact info was on the back and we got to choose the design etched on the front.
Look into Medic Alert solutions. There are these tags that go on the shoe that maybe might work for a child.
My son has been wearing a Medic-alert bracelet since he was 2 and LOVES it - doesn't like to show it to others thinking they want to take it off. Even his little friend who doesn't have allergies wants one to be like my son. He has multiple food allergies. There is no way all his allergies will fit, I put peanuts, latex & multiple foods - medical personnel call Medic-Alert if they need more info (they have all his allergy info). People do notice it, but I bought it for medical personnel in case I can't speak for my son (i.e. he has a latex allergy & if in a car accident & I get injured, they know not to use latex). I do not rely on it as a reminder. He does go to preschool and they deal with his allergies very well & have their own reminders/protocols in place. When we're in a group setting where others don't know my son he wears a sticker on his shirt - "Food Allergy Alert! Please don't feed me unless you ask my parents". I'm guessing your MD wants a Medic-Alert type of bracelet, but I wouldn't rely on it as a reminder. T.
HI!
Mabels labels. I organized a fund raiser for my son's preschool through them. They have just general labels but also to notify of allergies. Check it out.
H.
You make a big deal out of it when you put it on and leave it on 24/7. This could be life or death. If you get something cheap but similar for you to or daddy he will think its really special.
Not bracelets, but a tattoo may work for you. I ordered temporary tattoos from Safety Tat (http://www.safetytat.com/). The ones I used were the "If lost please call..." kind. They also have allergy alerts and other variations. They are fairly cheap about 30 for 20 bucks. They worked great when we went to Disneyland and other airport trips. We have been in and out of the pool several times, applying sunscreen, etc and they stayed on for days. Plus she loves putting tattoos on and she can't remove them! Maybe you can use these during the transition, until all the new care providers are up to speed. Day care providers are usually pretty good about this. At my daughter's preschool they have BIG notes near the snack area about kids with allergies. Good Luck!
Also, teach him to understand the allergy as soon as he is able. Do not expect that each person will understand. The Day Care/preschool people that I came in contact with would often mistake it with Lactose intolerant and Allergic is obviously very different!! Feel free to tell everyone and anyone that may come in contact with him that he is very allergic. If you keep it away, he will probably grow out of it by 7 or 8 like my son did.
Thanks,
Our toodler cannot have gluten (wheat, rye and barley). They make t-shirts for kids with allergies/intollerances but we have opted to pin a tag to her back. At our 4th of July celebration we simply put an idex card sized tag on her back that says DON'T FEED ME!! Ask mt mommy first. We chose to refuse all foods that didn't come from usbecause people will assume if it's not bread or crackers it is gluten-free which is so not true.
I had one as a kid.
You can get it here.
http://www.medicalert.org/Home/HomeEmblemCatalogs.aspx
They have a wider variety now. There is a sports band that is fabric, instead of a metal chain, which might be more comfortable.
He is young, so you can start the expectation that he will wear it all the time. Start now. Even though you might not need it now, get him wearing it now.
Put it on and tell him how nice it looks. Make it special. Offer to take him to the park, so he can wear his new wristband. Just keep putting it on him if he takes it off. You can explain the purpose of the bracelet to him. Be persistent ...keep putting it back on.
Good luck,
Stephanie
