Kaitlyn, who is nearly four years old, is allergic to eggs and peanuts and just the scent of either is enough to bring her out in hives or even close her airway.

A Christmas encounter with a pavlova when she was just six months old brought Kaitlyn's egg allergy to the surface, her father Gerard said.

``She was sitting opposite a pavlova,'' he said.

``This is before we knew about her allergies and she wasn't eating it, she was just sitting there and she broke out in welts almost instantly.''

The family, who moved to Warrnambool from Sydney in February, want to raise awareness of the risks associated with food allergies.

The call coincides with Food Allergy Awareness Week.

Known as anaphylaxis, the allergic reaction can cause rashes, vomiting and heavy swelling around the face and throat which can close the airway.

An immediate dose of adrenaline via an EpiPen can mean the difference between life and death.

Kaitlyn attends King's College Preschool which recently adopted a ``no nut policy'' to reduce the risks of anaphylaxis.

Kaitlyn's mother was at school on Monday baking egg and nut-free cookies for the children.

Pre-school teacher Petrina Abraham said staff had a treatment plan for Kaitlyn and were soon to undergo formal training on treating anaphylaxis.

Mrs Meares said Kaitlyn had been hospitalised three times with symptoms including vomiting and hives but she was yet to have a serious anaphylactic shock.

Since Kaitlyn's condition surfaced Mrs Meares, who is pregnant, has developed an allergy to nectarines and strawberries which has put her in hospital.

She wants to establish a group where parents of children at risk can discuss the condition.