Policy:

Wee Care Daycare will ensure that all employees and children will be safe from all hazards, including allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions. Please refer to the following explanation when labelling allergies and sensitivities:

The difference between a food allergy and sensitivity is the body’s response. When you have a food allergy, your immune system causes the reaction. If you have food sensitivity or intolerance, the reaction is triggered by the digestive system.

Symptoms of food intolerance include gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, and nausea.

Food allergy symptoms include hives, swelling, itching, anaphylaxis, and dizziness.

Procedure:

1. Wee Care is a nut-free facility.

2. It is the families' and employees’ responsibility to ensure the child’s allergies, sensitivities and dietary restrictions are known to Wee Care Daycare and are kept updated if they change.

3. Families must provide medical evidence of all allergies by providing a doctor’s note. If families fail to provide notice regarding allergies, the item will be posted as sensitivity or dietary restriction. We will substitute the food if possible or have the family bring an alternative.

4. If a child or an employee has been prescribed an auto-injector (epi-pen) for an allergy, they may not attend daycare unless the auto-injector is present and is not expired.

5. Wee Care Daycare will post an allergy, sensitivity and dietary restriction list in each childcare classroom and the kitchen.

6. The educator must ensure that each child’s allergy, sensitivity, and dietary restriction needs are met.

7. It is the responsibility of the director to update allergy, sensitivity, and dietary restriction sheets and to ensure new employees are made aware of children with allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions.

8. Wee Care Daycare will try our best to accommodate children with allergies. If we cannot, it is the family’s responsibility to provide the child with alternative food, according to the Canada Food Guide.

9. If a child is in contact with a medically proven allergy item, the family will be notified immediately, and a critical incident form will be submitted to the appropriate authorities. Families will be notified if the child is in contact with a sensitivity or dietary restriction.