Food in waiting room - opinions please

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: Another question, how do you feel about allowing snacks in the waiting room at a doctor's office, for your kids? We all know that food is a distraction...which is why I'm asking if you think it's okay or a big no-no.

I took Wesley to his 15 mos checkup today, Wil was with us. There is a HUGE sign on the front door of the ped's office saying "Please no food or drinks allowed in waiting room". So I let the kids go and play in the toy area (gross, I know, but what can you do). I see this mom come in with four kids and one of her daughters is eating one of those crackers with peanut-butter in the middle. She goes directly to the toy area and walks close to my kids. I get really worried, thinking "what if she touches Wil" - you all know he has severe nut-allergy.

So my other question is, do you think it was right of me to say something to the office staff? I waited until I got into our room and told our ped. She said that they allow food like crackers, but that she would tell her staff about the nut thing. But then she also said this "well he's going to run into that problem in school too". I'm sorry, but that offended me some. It's not like I expect people to bend over backwards for my kid and I know that he is going to run into nuts in other areas, it's my responsibility, not others, but I believe if the policy says no food, then there should be NO food. Am I wrong? Not only because of allergies, but just for fear of germs. I felt strange saying anything after that.

Okay, that's JMO...What's yours??

PrairieMom replied: I probably would have said something too. Esp if my child had a nut allergy.
Neither of my children have one, but I am still very aware and careful with the foods that they eat. I wouldn't give them something like peanut butter crackers in a public situation like that, you just never know who is allergic. We don't bring peanut butter snacks to school or parks either.

Not to mention the fact that GROSS! Dr's offices are so dirty and nasty, I would NEVER EVER give my child something that would encourage them to put their hands near their mouths. what was that mom thinking? eew! I'm a big time rule follower. I believe that rules are there for a reason, even if I don't understand why. I teach my children that rules apply to everyone and exceptions will not be made for them.

gr33n3y3z replied: I agree NO Foods in a doctor's office Its kinda gross if you think about it and its for others protection also as in your case

Calimama replied: Lately I've realized people have a hard time following "rules". Anyway I don't want Bella eating in the doctor's office, that's gross. If it says no food, than parent's should follow that.

A&A'smommy replied: I don't give Alyssa food in public places (you know besides the obvious places) because of the nastiness but yeah that would have worried me too.

Our schools are changing our school menus to fit to children who have allergies to nuts and something else I think that all schools should do that!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Yeah, our school does the same. No nut products allowed. So it surprised me that my ped had that type of comment, as if she had no idea that schools are very active in protecting kids with nut allergies. Oh well, I think she was in a hurry today and maybe just making an excuse for the woman with four kids breaking the rules. Giving me sortof a "it's going to happen" type answer. Oh well.

gr33n3y3z replied:
We have 2 children with peanut allergies in our school they have their own table marked Peanut Free Table any students with peanut butter sandwhiches they have to sit at another table
As for our menu goes we didnt have to change anything as to what we were serving bc it was all peanut free except the peanut butter that we stuck in the kids veggie dippers and we stopped that so school do help but we found its important to teach the kids with these allergies and other types of allergies to read the lables.

Kentuckychick replied:

EW for one! Frankly I hate the whole concept of waiting rooms in doctor's offices (with sick people that is) period. And I absolutely don't believe food and drink should be allowed. When we were young anyone not visiting the peds for a 'well' child check-up went directly into an office in the back. You may wait in a small room for a few minutes but there were no toys and depending on symptoms you were you would have priority (for example; a suspected strep case would be seen quickly) They even had certain exam rooms for sick kids and ones for the well checks.

Today you can take your perfectly healthy child to the doctor and have to wait in a room with multiple viruses, strep infections and bugs and no one cares which kids play with the toys. It's gross.

As for the peanut butter crackers. I would have said something too... only directly to the mother, in a nice manner. I would just tell her simply that your son has a nut allergy and you would really appreciate it if she could keep the peanut butter crackers out of the toy area. The doctor's office is the LAST place you should have to worry about something like that!

Kaitlin'smom replied: If its a rule in the peds office then EYERONE should follow it.

I do admit I will pack peanut stuff if Kaitlin's lunch if she asks for it, she has been tought NOT to share her food at school, unless she not only asks the child if they are allergic but to let the teacher know as well. So we have had no problems, but then she rarly takes peanut things. She does have a cousin allergic to nuts so she is very sensitve to the matter. For example she was eatting those cracker with peanut butter in the middle at a pageant and she asked her friend if she was allergic and then her mom if she could have one, totaly supprised the mom. She is good about asking the moms if its okay.

luvmykids replied:

Me too, and I'm that much more annoyed when others don't. Yeah I'd like to break the rules sometimes too but I stick to them and wish others would also

boyohboyohboy replied: as a mom of a child with a peanut allergy. i have learned to speak up, and for someone who used to be very timid, and shy..well it hasnt been easy. but i think i would have gone to the mom, and very nicely said that i was worried about the exposure to peanut butter. and maybe tried to educate her. then i would have mentioned it to the dr...and asked for signs to be put up. for the nurse or whoever you spoke to, to just say that your child would be exposed to it in school was really insensative, for one, even schools now take more precautions then that office was.
i think taking food into an office is yucky...to say the least. and if the office had the sign up, then they should enforce that. crackers are just as messy as any other food.

maybe you could write a letter to the office manager and just very nicely explain how you feel. it might make a difference in the future.

lovemy2 replied: I agree - its kinda like bringing food into a bathroom

My daughter's school no longer allows people to bring snacks - store bought or otherwise for kids birthdays - mainly because of kids allergies, etc. I think it is a good thing - kinda sad in a way but they celebrate it in other ways...

Rules are rules and like Tara said - they are their for a reason even if we don't understand

MoonMama replied: ITA with you Rae! I would have said something too, but to the mom as well. I have a HUGE peanut allergy too (epi pen and all), so I know scary it can be. And aside from the fact there was a sign that said no food or drink she really should have thought about food allergies and other children!

kimberley replied: u were right to say something imo. it is just common knowledge nowadays to be very careful with peanut products. i am ok with snacks in a waiting room but absolutely peanut free and for that matter, fragrance free.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I agree that if it says no food, it should be followed. Our ped's office doesn't allow food in the waiting room either, with the exception of breastfeeding or formula for infants.

I do usually have plain saltines or pretzels in my purse and if one of my kids was REALLY hungry I'd give them a few once we got in the exam room.

Cece00 replied: I agree- NO FOOD.

Not even just because of the nut thing. Kids make such a mess eating, they would probably spill & it would just make the Dr's office even more gross, KWIM?

Brias3 replied: I totally agree with you and I'd be offput by the doctor's comment as well. There are PLENTY of classrooms that make accomodations for the nut allergies. In fact, my kids whole school is peanut-free because apparently we have some very severe cases. That means no art project nuts, snacks, lunch, etc. PERIOD.

I would like to say I would have made a comment to the girl eating the crackers mother, but honestly if I were in the situation, I probably would have been too in the middle about saying anything face to face.

NaturalMom replied: i see im the only one who thinks this but i think its ridiculous and i never listen those signs. If you cant get me in my appointment at the time im scheduled then ill be darn if im not gonna snack and have my kids snack. if we are waiting for you and being inconvenienced, im going to do what i need to do to sit there. not giving the kids a snack and wanting them to wait an hour to get in just isnt happening! lol ive never had anyone say anything to me yet and if they did id tell them the same thing. As for the nut allergy i would of said something politely but only in a case like that. im not sure how eating in the office is anything like eating in the bathroom. i mean you are just sitting and eating in ur chair not bothering anyone. i just dont get it i guess. luckily our docs dont have those rules. they actually have a vending machine. The urgent care is the place where they dont allow snacks.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
You know, I didn't even think about this until you mentioned the nut allergy, which is probably why the office doesn't allow food considering the high number of kids with them. If the sign is there and that is their policy then everyone should respect that, period. Policies everywhere should be respected. To totally disregard a policy (especially if there is a sign and you SEE it) is DISRESPECTFUL and just totally childish! If that happens again I would just politely say..."please be careful, I notice your child has peanut butter and my child is VERY allergic to it and could die if touched with it". Maybe then she'd get the hint. As far as the ped, if they are going to have a sign, then they should be upholding that policy. Why have a sign if they aren't going to enforce it? I agree. You are totally in the right and that makes no sense to me. And if this happens again and you say something, let them know at school they have peanut free tables and some schools are even peanut free, then stick out your toungue...! So, her school theory doesn't hold much water, IMO.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I think it was tacky of your ped to add her last snide comment about how he is going to run into this problem at school. As if you weren't aware of that fact!! Besides, a ped's office should be a lot more sympathetic and accomodating when it comes to these things than a public school. That just speaks volumes for why the staff doesn't enforce their own 'rules' about the no food issue. It's just gross that someone would have food in a waiting room anyway. Ick.

MoonMama replied:
I can see your point and totally understand, and please don't think I am attacking you be any means. I think its one thing if the kids are sitting with their parents eating and not running all over with the food. Like Rae said this child was just sent off the play snack in hand. This is where I have my issue.
My sons ped does NOT have a no food or drink rule, however there are signs asking parents to be considerate of other parents and their children, and also reminding them that a lot of kids do have food allergies. I for one know I wouldn't let my child run around with a snack at a doctors office anyway, talk about gross!

I guess I just understand the extent of Rae's worry because I have to deal with it myself.

NaturalMom replied: oh dont worry im not offended. i see the other side as well. i agree some parents are gross and let their kids rub their nasty food hands all over. Unfortunately they dont know any better or dont care. Im real picky about cleanliness. I clean their hands before they eat, i clean them after and i wipe everything down when we go to the docs before they touch it. especially those gross toys. I usually tell then not to play with those. we bring our own toys. Its just gross if you think about it.

gr33n3y3z replied: i see im the only one who thinks this but i think its ridiculous and i never listen those signs. [/QUOTE]
There is a reason for signs
If kids cant go for an hour w/o a snack then something should be done then parents are using snack to keep them quite or to behave.

kit_kats_mom replied: Ummm, I give my kids dry stuff (cheerios or something usually) if they are hungry. I just keep a bag in my purse and have them sit on my lap to eat them.

First, our peds don't have a sign like that.

Second, I'm just sort of clueless about these things KWIM? It would just never occur to me that my kids having a snack in a public place, could kill another child. If my girls were eating something anywhere (playground, Dr. Office etc) and another mom said "hey, if you don't mind, my son is allergic so please steer clear" I'd be happy to comply. I'd probably even use it as a learning experience for the girls.

Now that I know someone who's kids have severe allergies, I'll try to keep my eyes open to ways I can help or at least not cause more problems. .

PrairieMom replied:
I have been thinking about his all day, and have a question.
In our hospital we have signs banning cell phone use. They show a picture of a cell phone with the circle and line across it. The words read something like "studies have shown that cell phones may interfere with some medical equipment please turn power off in patient care areas"

So, would you ignore it, or turn off you cell phone? I am always baffled at the number of people that totally ignore that sign.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
So am I, and I think it's completely inconsiderate and rude. Policies are policies, regardless if we agree with them or not.

My3LilMonkeys replied:
Turn it off for sure.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I always turn off my cell phone whenever we are at a hospital, doc's office, library, airplane....what others....movie theatre and restaurants (unless we are without kids and need to listen for calls from our sitter). Wesley was in the NICU for several days and YES, I understand that cell phones can interfere with all the equipment in there. I can't imagine what could happen to infants who are on oxygen and any other life support type devices. Makes me sick that people ignore these signs when people's lives are concerned.

PrairieMom replied:
yup.

lisar replied: With the nut allergy then I would have said something to the mother. You were nicer than I would have been.

But dont feel bad, I would have said something also.