Holidays

My third and youngest is our peanut allergic child. Now that he is older, at Halloween, he sets up his own little "store" and his sisters trade safe items or buys them from him! Then he can use the money to buy a safe substitute. Ideas for the Easter basket are pencils, erasers, tiny notebooks, super balls, Hot Wheels cars, modeling clay, Silly Putty, baseball, bubbles, paints, markers, sunglasses, etc. Anything and everything, really. The science stores can have cute little things like magic trick items, or bugs and dinosaurs if he is in to that sort of thing. Girls could always use jewelry,hair ties/clips, lotions, perfumes, etc. depending on their age. And a new toothbrush always helps!

Hi! For the past three years I've been fooling my son with a "Substitute Pumpkin" that I hide at Halloween. It's pre-stuffed with little trick or treat bags filled with safe, individually wrapped treats (some homemade cookies), safe lollipops, and tons of little trinkets that I buy from a company called "Oriental Trading". They sell little things - like finger puppets, erasers, jewelry, activity pads, etc. in bulk, cheap! I use the extras as "give-outs" on Halloween (I also give out almost everything my son receives. Very little Halloween candy is safe). Use Halloween as a learning experience - I tell my son things are "not safe" and show him the packaging. Remember --somewhere, someday, your child is going to be offered this stuff, and you won't be around. You should also check out the Food Manufacturers board for tips on safe and unsafe products. Good luck!

I also have a peanut/egg allergic child (age 4). So far he has been surviving quite nicely on Skittle, Starburst, Sweet Tarts, Gummy Bears, etc. I have recently begun using Vermont Nut Free Chocolates so he is happy to be able to have something different. Overall, I don't give much candy in the Easter Basket. I ordered a $2.25 bag of chocolate easter shapes for both kids. Besides that they will get a few small bags of easter gummy candy, some starburst, lollipops, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, etc.
Christine

For the last couple of years when there is a special occasion we have a party. We often invite all of our little peanut allergic friends over (they're getting pretty big now) and they make hand painted safe chocolates. (This is easier than finger painting, you'd be surprised!) I get the chocolate melting wafers that Wilton makes in a variety of colours. I put a bit of water in an electric frying pan and place some coffee mugs 1/2 full of melting wafers inside. Each cup gets a spoon, stir occasionally 'till melted, dry bottom of cup and let the kids use some paint brushes to paint plastic tray of shapes (from craft shop for this purpose). Fill backs with brown or white chocolate 'till level, pop in freezer for about 2 minutes, then empty onto wax paper. I have done this with tons of kids (classes etc.) and they are often surprised at how talented they are. We also have a Christmas gingerbread making party where I purchase all ingredients. This is easy as most people would rather put in a little money than have to do the safe shopping. I think it is important for Charles to know that food can be silly and fun as long as it is safe. We also host Hallowe'en parties to which each guest brings inedible goodies (trinkets). The kids love to make witch's brew in a big black pot(everyone gets to choose a gruesome ingredient like rubber rats, spiders etc.) and do a toilet paper mummy wrap contest. At the end of the party we have a trick-or-treat circle where 2 kids go around circle at a time collecting the trinkets. This party is very inexpensive and a lot of fun.

For Easter this year I told all my kids that I wrote the easter bunny and asked him to not bring any candy because it would be easier for us. I told them I asked the eater bunny to hide change in the eggs so they could buy a little toy at the store. They are thrilled with this idea and I will hide dimes, nickels, quarters etc. For their baskets I bought little odds and ends (Legos, beanie babies, trading cards - I also use oriental trading for birthday party grab bags) but no candy at all. The new rugrats movie is coming out at the end of the month too, so I think that will be a good basket item. I just feel better not including candy at all.
Patti