This is the story of a near-miss. Two, in fact.   My son was just two and a half when he suffered suspected anaphylaxis after his nursery mixed up his food with another child’s. And he was just three when they did it again, in a slightly different way.  Egg is innocuous to most, but to … Continue reading The story of a near-miss

We turned to nature for the physical health benefits – but never expected the mental health ones. My youngest child was six months old when, after a terrifying dash to A&E, he was diagnosed with multiple severe food allergies. It was an event which had a big impact on our everyday lives – affecting where … Continue reading The benefits of being a wild child

As lockdown rules begin to lift, and people venture out once more to cafes and restaurants, guest blogger Jasmine Watson from allergyabroad.com asks what allergy sufferers need to consider in this brave new world. Jasmine says: “Both my mum and I have an allergy to dairy and we’ve noticed that the new social distancing measures … Continue reading Guest blogpost by Jasmine Watson: What does lockdown-easing mean for allergy sufferers who eat out?

We got a letter today from my son’s allergy hospital to say that he had been discharged from their care, because of the unprecedented pressure they’re facing from the global pandemic. It’s undoubtedly the right decision.  The letter carries the same date as the Government’s announcement that the daily death toll had reached 980 people.  … Continue reading The coronavirus crisis has exposed the risks of underfunding our NHS, and children – including allergy children – will pay the price.

We’re facing an epidemic of childhood and teen anxiety… but what if there’s a way to raise your kid so they avoid it? What if the answer is really simple? What if it’s… child’s play? Parents of kids with allergies are no strangers to anxiety – it’s a pretty stressful thing to have to check … Continue reading What if… muddy puddles were the answer to childhood anxiety?

If you have a kid with allergies, Halloween can be a time that’s scary in all the wrong ways. If I had had my way we Just Wouldn’t Do It. But for the kids it’s up there with Christmas and Birthdays, so it’s one of those moments when we decide not to let allergies get … Continue reading Taking the ‘eeeeee’ out of Trick or Treeeeeat

The phrase “we take allergies very seriously” sets my teeth on edge. I suspect it’s a bit like “some of my best friends are gay” in that it's intended to sound impressive and reassuring, and like the person speaking isn’t being a nob at all, honest. But it’s followed by a silent “and that’s why … Continue reading Why the phrase “we take allergies very seriously” gives me the heebie-jeebies

It’s been a year since my little boy was diagnosed with multiple severe allergies and in that time I have been really lucky to have a number of totally excellent friends around me. Getting used to life with an allergic kid is a steeper learning curve than it first seems. “Ah, well just think of … Continue reading The 9 things that great friends of allergy parents do