Preparing for the Christmas Holidays With a Peanut or Tree Nut Allergy Child
The Christmas season is magical, but for parents of children with peanut or tree nut allergies, it can also feel overwhelming. Holiday parties, baked goods, school celebrations, travel, and well meaning relatives often mean increased exposure risk and emotional stress.
The good news? With the right preparation, your child can safely enjoy the holidays….and you can feel more confident navigating them.
Why the Holidays Are Especially Hard for Food Allergy Families
Parents of children with peanut and tree nut allergies consistently share the same holiday concerns:
Hidden allergens in baked goods and desserts
Cross-contact during family gatherings
School and church parties with shared food
Feeling like the “difficult parent” who always has to speak up
Fear of accidental exposure during busy, distracted moments
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong.
5 Holiday Safety Tips for Peanut & Tree Nut Allergy Families
1. Plan Ahead (and Say No When Needed)
Know which events involve food and decide in advance how your child will participate. Sometimes that means bringing safe food; sometimes it means skipping food altogether.
2. Communicate Early
Let hosts, teachers, and caregivers know your child has a food allergy well before the event. Clear, calm communication builds trust and reduces risk. Sometimes, you may be the only one that doesn’t want your child to build the gingerbread house with a variety of candy, and that is ok.
3. Bring Safe Alternatives
Having your own allergy safe treat helps your child feel included and prevents last-minute scrambling.
4. Create Food-Free Magic
Holiday joy doesn’t come from food alone. Movie nights, light walks, Advent activities, crafts, and service projects can become meaningful, safe traditions.
5. Stay Emergency-Ready
Carry two epinephrine auto-injectors at all times, review expiration dates, and make sure supervising adults know how to recognize and respond to an allergic reaction. Ask for medication refills in advance of trip or travels as there may be delays at the pharmacy.
Supporting Your Child Emotionally During the Holidays
The holidays can highlight differences, especially when kids notice what they can’t eat. Validate their feelings, practice polite ways to decline unsafe food, and remind them that their safety matters.
Confidence grows when children feel supported and when parents are confident too.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
If the holidays leave you feeling anxious, exhausted, or unsure how to keep your child safe without missing out, that’s exactly why I created The Food Allergy Survival Course.
This self-paced course is designed specifically for parents of children with peanut and tree nut allergies and walks you through:
Understanding the diagnosis
Allergy-proofing your home and daily life
Emergency preparedness and epinephrine education
Partnering with schools, caregivers, and family
Building confidence so fear doesn’t control your parenting
The holidays are a reminder: food allergy management doesn’t pause, and neither should your support.
