Blue Bear Aware: Review and Special Offer for Readers

The kind folks at Blue Bear Aware sent me a special care package recently full of an assortment of allergy aware products. This photo highlights one of their shirts ("Some Bunny Doesn't Eat Peanuts" - so cute), a peanut allergy patch, stickers to identify allergies, and play date cards.

For those of you unfamiliar with this company, I linked to them in one of my epi pen posts (they make carriers), here's a brief description from their website:

Welcome to Blue Bear Aware, where you'll find fun and fashionable t-shirts and accessories for kids with allergies and anaphylaxis. Every product in our store is designed with your child's safety and self-confidence in mind.

The shirt they sent is excellent quality (so soft!), and B absolutely LOVES it. I had intended on getting a photo of her in it, but she's worn it almost every day since she got it (it's been in and out of the laundry a number of times and it's still looking great)! They have a variety of adorable shirts for both girls and boys - check them out here. I'm not a big fan of products that scream "Look at me! I have an allergy over here!". These are different. The shirts call attention without looking sterile or too bright and embarrassing to the wearer.

I especially like their play date cards though. Even though I would never just drop B off at a friend's house to play without a rundown of what she could and couldn't eat, an epi refresher etc, these serve as a good reminder for caregivers and, well, moms at play dates!

As a special offer for Peanut Free Mama readers, Blue Bear Aware is offering readers 10% off their orders of $30.00 or more. Place the code PFM9 in the coupon box at checkout.

Thanks Blue Bear Aware!

Preparing A Child for a Blood Draw

Parents of kids with peanut allergies eventually face the dreaded RAST. I can't say that our experience went as smoothly as possible, but I guess we did something right since B doesn't freak out every time we walk through the doors of the medical clinic.

At our monthly support group meeting last night, a mom was asking for advice on her child's upcoming RAST. They had such an awful experience in the past and this mom was trying to find a reputable lab with experienced staff who would make it as painless as possible (for both of them). She's definitely not alone. I felt the same way last year.

So what's a mom (or dad) to do?

What's the best way to prepare your child for a blood draw and possibly try to make it a (gasp!) semi-enjoyable experience? Who am I kidding? How about just getting through it without too many tears and permanent emotional scarring?

Here are some suggestions I found online for preparing for an upcoming draw (are the wrong? are they right? who knows!?!):

• Heat packs applied to the crook of the arm can help to dilate the veins (which results in an easier target for the draw).
  
• Make sure your child is well hydrated prior to the draw. It increases volume in the veins, which helps phlebotomists find the vein more easily.
  
• Take your child when you donate blood - you can explain the process to them and show them that it may hurt just a bit at first but that it only lasts a second and that they'll be ok.
  
• Don't be afraid to ask for another person if they just aren't getting a vein by the second try (see the first link below for a great way to address this possibility before it even happens).
  
• Ask your pediatrician to do the draw themselves (yeah, uh, I don't think B's pediatrician would do this - she's super cool too)
  
• Ask for numbing cream (EMLA) to apply to the arm 30 minutes before the draw to avoid some pain with the needle stick.
  
• Bribery (heck, a big ol' lollipop and pinwheel worked wonders for B). Of what I've read it's really important not to dangle a treat in front of your child and promise it only if they don't cry. I think the stress of the experience is enough to make you weepy, let alone the actual needle in your arm.
  

There are a countless number of sites online that have additional advice. This one is great. Dr. Greene is answering a question about kids who have to get blood work done alot, but considering that allergic kids need to go back each year in many cases, his tips apply (although I'm not sure that our doctor's office would accept 'goodies'). He has some fantastic advice - I highly recommend that you read it.

A few other sites to check out:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/testtips/kidtips-2.html
http://www.developmentalspectrums.com/index.php/Testing/tips-for-blood-draws.html

What's your advice? How do you get through blood draws?

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

Are you near a Whole Foods?

Yes?

Then get yourself over there and buy a box of these heart shaped frosted sugar cookies from Little Rae's bakery. Now THIS is my kind of Valentine's Day treat.

Your family and friends (and especially your peanut or tree nut allergic child) will thank you.

Your hips, not so much.

(photo courtesy of cakespy on flickr).

Progress, We Have Progress!

Big news in the PFMama household!

B had an allergist appointment this morning: she had a skin prick test (which my crazy daughter thinks is worse than a blood draw - go figure).

We were hoping for a smaller reaction than last year...and we got it!

She still reacted, but it was reduced enough for us to talk about food challenges (yes, even with a positive result - with a negative RAST, our allergist was ok to move forward now since her wheal size has reduced significantly over the years).

The doctor gave us the option to do it right away, but after weighing the pros and cons with him, we decided to wait until the fall to give her body a little while longer to gear up and (hopefully) grow out of the allergy.

So we're so excited! We're still avoiding just as diligently as we have been, but to see a possible end on the horizon is great.

I hope your Monday was just as good.

G