Looking for specialty items for a child with food allergies? Consider these online stores run by parents of children who are also allergic to nuts and other foods. They've taken what worked for them and marketed it to help other parents; maybe their discoveries will work for you, too.
Allergy Apparel
Photo by blue in the stream photography
Proprietor/Parent: Theresa Marie Green
Business Description: "In addition to offering hip clothing and other products for children with food allergies, Allergy Apparel offers moms resources such as links that offer support and advice, an event calendar, other products that may enrich their lives, a blog, and more," Green reports. "My products also give parents of children without allergies an opportunity to ask questions and to better understand food allergies." ... Read more
ALLERGYONBOARD.COM
Photo courtesy of Carey Shoemaker
Proprietor/Parent: Carey Shoemaker
Business Description: The mission of ALLERGYONBOARD.COM is "to promote the empowerment and positive self-esteem of children with food allergies. We offer books and apparel that are informative and effective, and do so in a creative, engaging way. We focus our products on helping children learn the self-management skills they will need to master a variety of challenging situations." ... Read more
Awearables
Photo courtesy of Awearables
Prioprietor/Parent: Iris Shamus
Business Description: Awearables offers "kid friendly allergy awareness accessories" featuring characters called AllerMates -- P. Nutty (peanut allergy), Nutso (tree nut allergy), Detective Fin (fish allergy), Soy Cool (soy allergy), Eggy (egg allergy), Pint (dairy allergy), Professor Wheatley (wheat gluten allergy), and Crabby (shellfish allergy). The characters appear on wristbands and dog tags to help kids make their food allergies known in a fun and upbeat way. ... Read more
Check My Tag
Photo courtesy of Check My Tag
Business Description: "Check My Tag offers food allergy management resources to parents of young children with food allergies," says Sharon. The company's main product is shirts and dresses with a tag on the inside back that can be filled out with the child's name, allergies, and other precautions. A "Check My Tag" label on one sleeve alerts helpers. ... Read more
Fiddledee IDs
Photo courtesy of Fiddledee IDs
Proprietor/Parent: Christina Henry
Business Description: "We hand-make medical ID bracelets, necklaces, charms, and dog tags," Henry says of her business. "Each piece of jewelry is engraved to alert others to the wearer's medical condition. We also sell medical temporary tattoos, bag tags, and bike-helmet tags." ... Read more
Gak's Snacks
Photo by Catherine Robertson-Souter
Business Description: "Gak's Snacks' mission is to make it easier for children and families with food allergies to enjoy wholesome, delicious baked goods with everyone else," explains Robbins. "We offer organic cookies and apple coffee cake for convenience, cookie dough (soon) for a quick homemade feel, and a cookbook and ingredients for those who bake. We are mostly web-based, but have started to offer our products in stores, restaurants, schools and other institutions as well." ... Read more
Mind Flight
Image courtesy of Dina Clifford
Business Description: "Mind Flight LLC specializes in fun interactive educational products designed to create awareness and help provide a safe environment for children with food allergies," Clifford explains. "Beyond A Peanut allergy flashcards were designed to teach children and those who care for them that staying safe with a nut allergy goes beyond the nut products themselves. My primary goal is to create a safe environment through education. My hope is also that the education will create a better understanding of the challenges around food allergies, and in turn create a more compassionate environment." ... Read more
Star Allergy Alerts
Photo courtesy of Star Allergy Alerts
Business Description: Star Allergy Alerts is "an online home-based business selling allergy awareness T-shirts, badges and stickers," says Rendell. Since she works at home, "it's my morning and night-time job -- before Stella wakes, after she goes to Kindy and after she goes to bed!" ... Read more
Sweet Alexis Bakery
Image courtesy of Sweet Alexis Bakery
Prioprietor/Parent: Michele Fellows
Business Description: "Sweet Alexis Bakery manufactures and specializes in delicious and safe baked goods made without dairy, eggs, tree nuts or peanuts," says Fellows. "In addition, Sweet Alexis products are made without preservatives or fillers, contain no cholesterol, are vegan and, although delicious for everyone, are prefect for those with food allergies or on a special diet." ... Read more
