EpiPen Junior Questions...

[QM]

DD1 has a severe peanut/nut allergy, and I have a few questions...I'm hoping that a few of you had or have had a young child in the same situation so I can get some ideas as how to handle things.

1) At what age did you teach your child how to use his/her own EpiPen?

2) At what age did you let your child carry his/her EpiPen in a fanny pack?

3) Did/Does your child use a fanny pack or something else? If so, what?

DD1 turned 5 years old in March. Because DD1's allergy is so severe, the hospital personnel recommended us keeping two EpiPen's together at all times. What I've done (to avoid forgetting EpiPens) is left them in various locations...2 in her school classroom, 2 in the school office (where most kids' EpiPens are), 2 in her Sunday School room, 2 in the church AWANA room, 2 at her grandparents' house, 2 in my diaper bag and 2 in our home medicine cupboard. The problem is...that's 14 EpiPens in total and very excessive. Thankfully we have 100% extended health on prescriptions, but I know that if everyone used their plan this excessively we'd all have higher fees...if you know what I mean. Do you have any suggestions so that we don't have EpiPens everywhere and to keep her safe? I'm not sure a 5 year old should be running around with a needle in a fanny pack.

Any suggestions and advice would be greatly appreciated.

[2ndGenGranola]

My kids are not Epi carriers but I am.

Every second counts during an ana reaction. It is not that uncommon for a child that age to keep the Epi with them. They make all kinds of cutesie Epi packs for that(marked so people know - you can google for a gazillion marked and unmarked options). I don't know that I would have the child self inject. You have to have a respectable "hit" to fire the thing properly especially if going through clothing such as jeans or cords.

At 3 mine were old enough to know they had allergies (though not ana level) and could tell an adult "no" and that they were sick. One of mine could run his own nebi treatments. (He had premixed meds and I would leave 1 vial by the machine). I would have let them carry an epi at that age if they needed it.