its perfectly possible for your child to go to preschool. search around ask the right questions. I work in a preschool your allergens are common ones. many children have safe education. it is not always easy esp as a parent, but it is possible. my son went to preschool with a different but similar long list. Closely examine your reasons,write a list and ask those questions of the preschool staff.

You might be able to find one where snack and lunch are not part of the program. So a half day program. My daughter has a milk, egg and peanut allergy but a secondhand touch doesn't give her a reaction. She went to a no peanut school so that took care of that allergy but at her school they did eat snack and the kids packed lunch. My best guess would be 'maybe'. You should go in and talk to the teachers. They will hopefully be very honest about if they can handle it. Another idea is that if the kids do eat there and it's the end of the day, you could pick her up early??

I understand your concern, but it sounds like this will always be a concern for her in school -- as it is for many of our kids. Preschool is a great starting point to get the whole "food allergy and school" thing down because so much of the preschool day is controlled by the teachers and staff. Both of you can start to develop a plan that will carry her throughout all of her school years: wiping down her spot at the table, washing hands before eating, only eating foods she brought, washing hands after eating, etc. Can she go for the morning session only -- thereby avoiding lunch and post-lunch exposure -- and can the school offer only fruit or other safe foods for the morning snack? You should also ask if the school can institute a "wash hands first" rule for all students and staff upon arriving at school each morning to avoid exposure from breakfast foods. Good luck. With the right preschool, you can do this!!

We are having this debate because my husband wants our tree nut and dairy allergic son to go but I'm afraid, especially since last week that 3 year old dairy allergic child died from being given grilled cheese at preschool. I'm a teacher and know what goes on in schools. When they go to preschool you can get a 504 to protect them, but not nursery. I've looked at programs that are 2 days a week for 3 hours. In New York snack time is required by law, and the places I've called it's always in the middle because I was willing to pick him up early or bring him late if necessary.

Also there are nut free schools but there is no school on this earth that is dairy free, and dairy is hidden in so many things that even if they claim to be dairy free there will still be things with dairy in them. I wish we could find a food free program. I always wanted him to go to Montessori but they prepare snack in the classroom so no way. I'm sad that I have to settle for a safe place instead of a good quality educational place. We will continue looking but if it doesn't seem right then he's not going.

Make sure she understands not to take or trade food with other students.