How to talk to your child about their allergies

Posted: 1st February 2023 | Posted by Costa

How to talk to your child about their allergies

We spend a lot of time in our blog talking about how you, as a parent, can navigate the challenges of your child’s allergies. Whether it’s answering your burning questions, talking about allergies in infants, or just general food allergy tips, we have you covered. But we never cover how to talk to your child about their allergies.

And it’s important to do. You can’t be around them 24/7 and they deserve to know how to manage their condition. So let’s bring them into the conversation. We’ve got some advice for how you can talk to your child about their allergies.

Start simple (and young)

You don’t want to throw everything at them at once. They could potentially be dealing with something deadly, and that’s a lot to put on their shoulders. So you want to start simple when they’re younger and introduce terms and elements that will become more apparent in the future.

For example, you might want to start by talking about their symptoms in a way they can understand. Maybe certain food makes their tummy hurt, or they get itchy eyes in summer. Identify their biggest gripes and explain why they happen. Keep language simple by saying something like “some foods aren’t safe for you” or that “flowers can sometimes make people sneeze”.

What you’re doing is drawing a link between how they feel and the world around them. And you want to clarify that these things aren’t nice (for them) and that we have to be careful around them. “We” is also important here. It lets them know this is a journey for the both of you.

Get them involved

As they start to get older and are heading out into the world on their own more, you want them to be fully aware of their allergies. This is a great time to get them involved. If they’re allergic to peanuts, it’s all well and good telling them that. But they need to know how those will present themselves in their lives.

So involve them in everything you do to keep them safe. Take them shopping and point out foods they can and can’t have. Tell them why they shouldn’t have them. But don’t make it sound scary. Treat it as an educational experience that empowers them to live free of danger.

Another great idea if they have a food allergy is to involve them in cooking. This is another way to make their allergies seem less scary – they get to see how simple it can be to stay safe. If not food, then at least show them any medication they might come across. It’s better if they’re prepared for a future EpiPen use.

Teach them how to talk about their allergy

Another aspect of them heading out on their own is that they will have to learn to rely on others when they need the help. Sure, you can tell their teachers or childminders about their condition. But the child themselves will need to know who to go to and how to express their needs.

It’s another aspect of helping them navigate the world. They need to know how to say no to certain foods, telling others about the impact of their allergy, and who’s in charge should an emergency happen. If you empower them to take charge of their allergy like this, you can be more confident in their safety. You can put at least a little trust in them!

None of this is easy to grapple with as a parent. And we completely understand that feeling of sheer trepidation at having to let them take care of themselves. But we have to let them do it. By preparing them and teaching them to own their allergies, you can give them the greatest chance of living happy and free. Like a child should be.

Going it alone is tough. So if you ever need advice – or even just someone to talk to – get in touch with us today. Our allergy specialists have worked with parents just like you to create a better life for your child. Call us on 02031 433 449 or register your child as a patient here.