If your child has a food allergy, ask about meals before the first day. Ask how allergies are recorded, how food is handled, and how staff respond to a reaction. You should also ask how new foods are introduced. A calm, specific conversation on your visit helps you know what to expect. This is general guidance, not medical advice.
Why allergies belong on the first tour
It is better to raise allergies early, before your child starts. Children may be exposed to foods at snack time, lunch, and celebrations. The center needs to know what your child can and cannot eat. Your questions also show the staff how seriously you take your child's needs. A short, friendly conversation at the start sets a good tone for the rest of your child's time at the center.
Questions to ask about allergies
Bring a short list of questions. Good ones include:
- How do you record a food allergy, and who can see that information?
- Where is the allergy information kept, and how do staff check it before serving food?
- What is your plan if my child has a reaction?
- How do staff learn about each child's needs before a meal?
- What forms or medical notes do you need before my child starts?
Listen for clear, specific answers. A center that has a system will explain its steps without hesitation.
How food is handled and recorded
Ask how meals are prepared, stored, labeled, and served. Find out whether food comes from the center or from families, and how labels are checked. Ask how staff keep track of what each child eats. A clear answer tells you the center has a real system, not just good intentions.
Meals are coordinated with the Florida Department of Health. Ask what that coordination means for your child's day. A helpful question is whether the meal plan is shared with parents each week, so you can plan at home.
Introducing new foods at home and at daycare
Parents often wonder how new foods are introduced. Ask whether staff will offer a new food only after you have tried it at home. Share a list of foods your child already eats, so staff can build on that list. Tell them about any food your family avoids for cultural, religious, or personal reasons. Keep the conversation open, so you can adjust the plan as your child grows and tastes change.
Ask how staff handle a child who refuses a food. Gentle, repeated exposure is a common approach, but ask what the center does in practice. Consistent routines help children feel safe at mealtimes. Patience helps, too. Some children take many tries before they accept a new food, and that is normal.
What to look for on the tour
During the tour, look at the kitchen area if you can see it, and notice how food is stored and labeled. Check whether allergy information is easy for staff to find. Watch a snack or meal time if the center allows it. Calm, organized routines are a good sign, and so is a staff member who explains each step without rushing you. Ask to see a sample daily schedule, so you know when meals and snacks happen. Ask how staff handle hand washing and table cleanup before and after meals. Those routines matter for every child, especially those with allergies.
Notice how staff talk about children. Do they know each child by name? Do they speak to families with respect? Your gut feeling matters, too. Trust what you see and hear.
After the tour
Write down what you learned, including the names of people you spoke with and any written plans they shared. Compare answers from each center you visit. Vague answers are worth a second question. Keep your child's allergy forms and doctor's notes in one folder, and update them when anything changes. You can also check our frequently asked questions for common topics before you visit.
Talk with your child's doctor
Your child's doctor knows your child's health history best. Ask the doctor what an allergy plan should include, and share it with the daycare. Ask the doctor about introducing new foods, too. If your child has had a serious reaction in the past, bring that history to both the doctor and the daycare. This article offers general ideas to help you ask better questions. It does not replace medical advice. Bring your written questions to your visit, and write down the answers you hear.
About My First Place Academy
My First Place Academy is an owner-run bilingual English-Spanish daycare and preschool in Port St. Lucie. Complete bilingual immersion happens in every classroom, from infant through VPK. Our owners, Veronica and Aracelly Forero, are involved day to day. We offer programs for infants, one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and four-year-olds, plus VPK, before and after school care, and summer camp. We are open Monday to Friday, 6:30am to 6:00pm. Read our health and safety information to see how we care for children every day.
We welcome parents to tour and ask questions. Call (772) 446-4011 to ask about our programs and plan your visit. Calling is the best way to learn whether a specific class has space right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I tell the daycare about my child's allergy?
Tell them as early as possible, ideally on your first tour. Ask how they record the allergy and what plan they will use for meals and reactions.
Will the daycare need a doctor's note?
Ask the center what forms and medical notes they need for allergies before your child starts. Their policy will guide what you bring.
What should I ask about meals at daycare?
Ask how food is prepared, stored, labeled, and served. Ask how staff track what each child eats and how meals are coordinated with the Florida Department of Health.
Is this medical advice?
No. This is general guidance to help you ask good questions. Talk with your child's doctor about allergy plans and introducing new foods.
Call (772) 446-4011 to ask about your options
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