Blog — allergic family

There’s a line forming behind you at the ice cream truck. Children are clutching their dollars waiting to make their selections of scrumptious treats. Adults are eyeballing the visual menu, their mouths watering as they recall the way those cold goodies are intertwined with their youth. You, meanwhile, are patiently scanning labels trying to ascertain whether the Spiderman pop with the bubblegum eyes is safe for your daughter or if your son can indeed enjoy the strawberry shortcake ice cream bar. In that moment, you may feel like you’re the only one on the block who can’t just grab and...

Temperatures are rising. The focus is shifting from homework and schoolyear activities to summer camps and get-togethers. There are barbecues and pool parties. There are trips to the beach and the lake. There are outdoor events and amusement parks to visit. Summer is upon us and you’re busy figuring out how to fill (but not overfill) those balmy days. If you’re an allergy parent (or an allergic individual yourself), summer fun, like everything else, has an added set of hurdles for you to clear. Pour yourself a tall glass of something iced and allergy-friendly and let’s walk through a summer...

Food allergies are stressful. If your child (or you) lives with allergies, this isn’t a surprising statement. You may, however, find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone in feeling the stress. One study from the University of Maryland found that 41% of parents reported that their child’s food allergies had a “significant impact on their stress levels.” An earlier study out of the UK found that children with peanut allergies had more anxiety and lower quality of life than their peers who had Type 1 diabetes. Other studies point to the impact of allergy-related stress on marriages and work....