Need Help Please

[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

My 5 year old daughter was just recently diagnosed with celiac disease. I have already got new pans, silverware, cook wear, plastic containers, toaster & containers with lids. I am doing everything I know to do! Trying to read labels & shopping are really overwhelming this is only my 3rd day.. I need some help with her shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, lotion & toothpaste. She already has sensitive skin so I have always used the same brands however I was told by her DR. that I need to change them if they aren't gluten free. I cant find any information on the back of these products and the 800 #s have been NO HELP! If anyone can please help me and give me information about any of the products she uses I would be so grateful!This is what she is currently using, if there not gluten free can you please recommend some products for her for sensitive skin & scalp.

 

Lotion- Johnson & Johnson baby lotion (original scent in pink bottle)

Shampoo- Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo (original bottle)

Conditioner- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration (Blue Bottle)

Body wash- Dove Sensitive Skin ( unscented)

Tooth Paste- Crest Pro Health For Me (kids)

Deodorant- Degree (Sheer Powder)

 

Any Help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Also do you have to switch laundry detergent & fabric softener??

[kareng]

Your 5 year old uses deodorant? I wouldn't worry about that being gluten-free. Nor the detergent. Shampoo and options that can get in her mouth are a concern. Usually, a shampoo or lotion will list wheat germ oil or something like that.

I have never seen a toothpaste with gluten in have US.

Take a deep breathe. I don't know how you did all that on 3 days! It's OK to take a week or two to figure it out. Read the newbie thread for some basic info.

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/page-2#entry892339

[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

Your 5 year old uses deodorant? I wouldn't worry about that being gluten-free. Nor the detergent. Shampoo and options that can get in her mouth are a concern. Usually, a shampoo or lotion will list wheat germ oil or something like that.

I have never seen a toothpaste with gluten in have US.

Take a deep breathe. I don't know how you did all that on 3 days! It's OK to take a week or two to figure it out. Read the newbie thread for some basic info.

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/91878-newbie-info-101/page-2#entry892339

Yes my 5 year old uses deodorant ( both of my kids do) She is a very active little girl & plays sports (soccer season right now) so yes deodorant & Ive had a very busy 3 days.. I don't see anything on the back that says anything that I understand to be wheat :/

[kareng]

Yes my 5 year old uses deodorant ( both of my kids do) She is a very active little girl & plays sports (soccer season right now) so yes deodorant & Ive had a very busy 3 days.. I don't see anything on the back that says anything that I understand to be wheat :/

Then it should be fine. And it's only a concern for things that get in your mouth - so shampoo or lotion might be, toothpaste ( never seen any that aren't gluten-free), lip balm ( a few have wheat germ oil listed ).

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[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

How do I know for sure they are gluten free?? & Thanks for your replies. They are several toothpaste in (TX) that have gluten in them. My daughters GI specialist gave me a list of toothpaste that was gluten free & there was only 3 brands on them. But I was also told that the ingredients change often. Sorry for all of the questions! We only found out Thursday. She has had GI problems since she was born

[Adalaide]

I have called J&J about lotions and soaps in the past and haven't been told of any (as of yet) that contain gluten. They're very helpful if you call them, just have the product at hand to read off the UPC to the person on the phone and they'll tell you if it is gluten free or not.

 

I'm not saying you need to change soaps, but if you do and are looking for something for sensitive skin Eucerin makes a calming body wash that is safe.

 

I'd also not worry about deodorant. Since it is celiac and not an allergy, the only concern is ingestion. Even if she were so inclined, she can't reasonably lick her armpits so it's a non-issue.

[kareng]

How do I know for sure they are gluten free?? & Thanks for your replies. They are several toothpaste in (TX) that have gluten in them. My daughters GI specialist gave me a list of toothpaste that was gluten free & there was only 3 brands on them. But I was also told that the ingredients change often. Sorry for all of the questions! We only found out Thursday. She has had GI problems since she was born

What toothpastes have gluten?

[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

Thanks so much for your reply! & I have tried to call & had no luck. I will try again on Monday! So as long as she doesn't ingest it I should be fine. So i shouldn't need to change laundry detergent, fabric, softner or lotion? Thanks for all of yalls help!

[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

Colgate, Crest & Aqua fresh we're the toothpaste approved by my daughters DR.

[kareng]

Colgate, Crest & Aqua fresh we're the toothpaste approved by my daughters DR.

 

 

And she already uses Crest, so you don't have to change.  Many other toothpastes are gluten-free, too.  Those are the 3 major brands so its easy to choose something.

 

As for "approved by the doctor", you need to be careful of this.  Very few doctors have any idea what is in a product.  You should read the ingredients for yourself.  It sounds like they have made a list to make it easy for you by picking a few major brands.  That does not mean all the others have gluten.  It likely means that whoever made that list didn't check any other brands.

[Adalaide]

Nothing personal against your doctor, and he may be great... but as a general rule unless a doctor personally has celiac they tend to know about as much as the family dog about what is and isn't gluten free. (Maybe less.) Just because the doctor didn't tell you something is safe, doesn't mean it isn't. Doctors live in a world of medical stuff. The rest of us live in the real world and are accustomed to navigating the world and surviving just fine with celiac without the help of some doctor telling us what we can and can't have.

 

My only concern with lotion has ever been that I use lotions on my hands. I don't want to have to second guess myself or just flat out forget if I want a snack. EOS makes really great slip in the pocket lotions if she can tolerate them. I think they all have scents that not everyone may love. (They also have lip balms, less pocket friendly, since winter is coming and chapped lips may be a problem.)

[IrishHeart]

Colgate, Crest & Aqua fresh we're the toothpaste approved by my daughters DR.

 

Those are not the only G F toothpastes, however. I use Sensodyne, for example. Tom's of Maine is G F.The point is:

It's not a common ingredient in toothpaste, honest.

 

Don't get too crazy replacing things, ok?

 

Laundry detergent, things that you would not swallow --are of no concern.

I have never changed my laundry detergent, dish soap, bar soap or my shampoo and I am perfectly fine.

I guess if a child can get shampoo in her mouth, it is of concern, but she would have to drink gallons of it to be an issue.

But if it makes you feel better, avoid shampoos with the terms "hydrolyzed wheat protein"

and "wheat germ oil". 

 

Please, read what a celiac registered dietician has to say about all this before you start changing out things you do not need to.

 

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[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

Is there a list of words besides "wheat" that I need to look for? Or where could i find a list. I have been reading all the labels on everything. Do i only buy food products that say gluten free?! Or can she have them if they list nothing about "wheat"? & can she still have all drinks? I am taking a class with a dietitian that specialise in celiac disease but that's not for another week.

[IrishHeart]

Is there a list of words besides "wheat" that I need to look for? Or where could i find a list. I have been reading all the labels on everything. Do i only buy food products that say gluten free?! Or can she have them if they list nothing about "wheat"? & can she still have all drinks? I am taking a class with a dietitian that specialise in celiac disease but that's not for another week.

Read this:

 

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and please, read the Newbie 101 thread in the coping section.

 

Maybe you should get the book

 

Real Life with Celiac Disease by Melinda Dennis and Daniel Leffler.

 

and take a giant deep breath  because you are doing a good job,  but you need to take one step at a time.

[kareng]

You might find this helpful? I haven't read it but its from a reputable source.

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In the US, wheat has to be labelled as an ingredient. You would also want to look for barley/ malt and, rarely, rye.

I don't know of any drinks that have gluten except for a malted milk shake or some of those " health" drinks with wheat grass or barley. Sodas, juices, milk, etc are fine. Some Celiacs have a hard time digesting milk for the first few months until they heal their intestines.

If she eats only products marked " gluten-free" she will miss a lot of foods like cheese, meat, fruits, etc. It is important that oatmeal or oatmeal as an ingredient, be labelled gluten-free. A weird twist in law that allows regular oatmeal to be contaminated with a significant amount of wheat without listing it.

[bartfull]

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I don't see any gluten ingredients here. Anybody else?

[kareng]

I just thought of this-

Before you and the other kids and the dad go gluten free, get tested. It's really hard to go back on gluten for testing later. That assumes you were planning on everyone being gluten-free, it's not necessary, but easier at home.

[IrishHeart]

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I don't see any gluten ingredients here. Anybody else?

no ma'am 

[bartfull]

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The lotion is tougher. They list "vegetables" and "oils" in their ingredients. That sounds to me like they use whatever is available at the time, and whatever is lower cost at the time. In other words, the ingredients change. This one MIGHT have gluten sometimes.

[kareng]

CeraVE makes hyper allergenic and always gluten-free products. Recommended to our family by different dermatologists. One lotion has a light sunscreen. Every year I email them and every year they act insulted that I would ask if they have gluten. . Oooo! Looks like they make sunscreen now! And kids spray on!

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This would be fun for her:

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[bartfull]

The conditioner and body wash - I couldn't find ingredients. I guess you'll have to call them, or switch to the other brands recommended here.

[Adalaide]

Lots of good advice. Remember, not everything gluten free will be marked gluten free. There are probably a ton of things you already buy that are gluten free naturally that you don't even think about.

 

This is early, but I'm already gearing up for baking so it's on my mind. There is a magazine called Living Without. The holiday issue (it has a turkey on it, not the Halloween one) has lots of recipes to get you through November and December. It should (if it isn't sold out locally) be available in stores, it is also still available on their website in their bookstore. This can help you navigate your first holiday season gluten free without her feeling left out of anything. Especially if there are school events or anything involving food where everyone else will be having cookies and cakes. It does more than sweets, covering whole meals for all the winter holidays. Plus a few wonderful looking bread recipes.

[MommyOfTwinkies<3]

Thank you all so much! This reply is going to be kind of long because it says I am only aloud one more post today :/   

Ok so I am a mom of a set of 5yr old twins (1 boy 1 girl).  My daughter has had GI problems since she was born. She sees a GI specialist. & is on 6 daily meds, has no energy, is always sleepy, says she is hungry takes 2 bites then she is done (because it hurts her stomach),constipated, ect… She was just recently diagnosed with Celiac disease (Thursday)  Reading up on celiac disease & everything I need 2 do & keep separated & all the millions of ways to cross contaminant is freaking me out a little! We already bought her new pans, dishes, silverware, plastic wear, toaster & all her food is in separate new containers on a separate shelf! I also cleaned of a shelf in the fridge & put a basket (new) for all of her stuff! But I'm still worried!! This is all new & a little scary! What if someone touches her stuff that had a gluten product & didn't wash their hands?  Is it safe for me to reheat her food in the microwave? What if? What if? What if? I’m so worried! :’(  & please don’t say well if everyone in the house goes gluten free you wouldn’t have to worry because I would & there is several reasons at this time that isn’t an option for me.  1.) I still have to worry about school {as her school has no gluten free products) & I am providing fun lunches & snacks for during school time, & everyone else’s house. 2.) I can’t really afford to make everyone in the house gluten free. It’s expensive & I am making sure she gets the foods she wants as long as there gluten free trying to make this as easy on her as I can! ( I might not be able to do that if everyone was gluten free) 3.) If she doesn’t learn what she can & can’t have it might be harder for her as she grows up because not everyone is going to be as careful & safe as I am!  & I still want her to be able to have sleepovers & ect in the future. Another thing does anyone know if drinks (tea, juice, caprisuns, ect) are gluten free?  I do have a class with a dietitian that specializes in celiac disease but that's not for another week. I will be taking my daughter with me because I feel like it will benefit her to hear everything & maybe she will understand why we are making all of these changes.( She is a smart little girl)  I’m only a few days into all of this & I have tried calling the 800#s for food products & stuff but they are absolutely NO HELP! Sorry it is so long! Any advice you can give me or help ease my mind would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone!

[kareng]

Yes. Capri suns, juices, tea are all gluten free. The only exception is some malted barley tea but I doubt that is what a kid in Texas is drinking.

Calm down. I think you have a lot more energy than me!

Read on here. All these questions have been answered recently. And coping mechanisms for things like school lunches and sleep overs have been talked about. Make procedures as easy and as clear as possible. Maybe use hot pink duct tape on everything that is gluten-free - top of her Pb jar, bag of Fritos! etc. Keep all food consumption to the kitchen table for gluten or gluten-free foods so you can keep an eye on things. A lot of meals are naturally gluten free and will make it easier on you. for example, chicken and rice soup, chili ( read seasoning packets for flour), BBQ chicken with corn and green beans, etc.

Yes you can use the microwave.....from all that you have accomplished in three days, I am guessing it isn't dripping with exploded food.

[kareng]

See what others are fixing:

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/75238-the-whats-for-dinner-tonight-chat/page-467#entry892633

All recipes are easy and gluten-free on this site:

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Halloween candy:

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Frito lay:

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