Should You Put Your Child On A Gluten-Free Diet?

[Scott Adams]

I run into many parents who are in quite a quandary about instituting a gluten-free diet for their child. A typical scenario is that one of the parents is gluten intolerant and is highly suspicious that their child is as well. Due to the child being 'relatively healthy' the non-gluten intolerant spouse suggests that the child be able to 'live a little' and enjoy the cake and pizza that is so prevalent during children's parties and sporting events.

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[Victoria1234]

What's up with all these 5 year old articles?

[Awol cast iron stomach]

1 hour ago, Victoria1234 said:

What's up with all these 5 year old articles?

It might generate based on traffic searches  or posts etc. My guess. I read them and respond because I wasn't on here as a member in 2012. I only use to visit then. So it's new to me V.

happy friday

 

?

 

[ironictruth]

Funny though, my brother and I were just discussing this. He has celiac and both his son and him are gene positive. Both were TTG/EMA negative but never tested for DGP. My brother had damage on endoscopy. They have not scoped his son. He feels his son is symptomatic but not his daughter. 

I have conflicting positive and negative DGP, recent damage on biopsy and negative TTG/EMA. Two years ago my son had negative TTG and DGP. No EMA. I plan to have him gene tested and full antibodies screened again. 

My brother has opted to have his children follow a gluten-free diet. I am currently allowing my son a normal diet. 

But my own chaos with diagnosis, and my brother's too because he was TTG negative, makes me ultra sensitive to the possibility. 

My son's ped doc has a  daughter who was recently diagnosed with celiac.  it was in the family so her mom, my son's doctor, suspected it as soon as she started getting digestive issues and losing weight.  she pretty much told me that she was glad that they didn't put her on a gluten-free diet as a child so she can enjoy eating the things she wanted to Throughout her life.  I have to say I agree to a large extent. There are many diseases that we could get At anytime. we cannot change our lives for that reason alone.

 However that being said, my family has both thyroid disease and multiple sclerosis as well.   I know all too well the naive statements and assumptions that doctors can make in the face of science still working to find conclusions.  There are other types of TTG the doctors don't typically test for.  I am well aware of this, and sensitive to it. As a parent, I'm going to allow my son to continue on a normal diet for now, but we are going to pursue testinG  And I'm going to watch it very closely.

 

[Awol cast iron stomach]

 

22 minutes ago, ironictruth said:

Funny though, my brother and I were just discussing this. He has celiac and both his son and him are gene positive. Both were TTG/EMA negative but never tested for DGP. My brother had damage on endoscopy. They have not scoped his son. He feels his son is symptomatic but not his daughter. 

I have conflicting positive and negative DGP, recent damage on biopsy and negative TTG/EMA. Two years ago my son had negative TTG and DGP. No EMA. I plan to have him gene tested and full antibodies screened again. 

My brother has opted to have his children follow a gluten-free diet. I am currently allowing my son a normal diet. 

But my own chaos with diagnosis, and my brother's too because he was TTG negative, makes me ultra sensitive to the possibility. 

My son's ped doc has a  daughter who was recently diagnosed with celiac.  it was in the family so her mom, my son's doctor, suspected it as soon as she started getting digestive issues and losing weight.  she pretty much told me that she was glad that they didn't put her on a gluten-free diet as a child so she can enjoy eating the things she wanted to Throughout her life.  I have to say I agree to a large extent. There are many diseases that we could get At anytime. we cannot change our lives for that reason alone.

 However that being said, my family has both thyroid disease and multiple sclerosis as well.   I know all too well the naive statements and assumptions that doctors can make in the face of science still working to find conclusions.  There are other types of TTG the doctors don't typically test for.  I am well aware of this, and sensitive to it. As a parent, I'm going to allow my son to continue on a normal diet for now, but we are going to pursue testinG  And I'm going to watch it very closely.

 

Ironic,

We went entirely gluten-free in our home after 2016 for how bad my neurological , joints, mood gets now in addition to my former gi, skin, and other issues . My son shows signs of my early symptoms and voluntarily went off gluten, corn, and milk like me as he did his own food like diary symptom tracking.

My daughter continues on gluten outside the home. We warn her of our concern for at times in toddler hood she was constipated and would bloat. 

We asked their Dr to test them as I was undergoing my testing and she said no until I had my diagnosis. As we know these things take time and my son went gluten-free . He said after watching mom on my gluten challenge that he will not go back on it . 

We await technology further research and we silently watch our soon to be teen girl for we know even if tested negative it can show up one day. 

She says I know mom I know.

The more Whole Foods here in the home we notice she actually craves gluten / processed foods less and is slowly transitioning as well. 

Does your child also naturally eat less gluten and processed as well away from home? I wonder if the taste buds / craving change as the parents diet changes food options. 

Thoughts?

[ironictruth]

9 hours ago, Awol cast iron stomach said:

 

Ironic,

We went entirely gluten-free in our home after 2016 for how bad my neurological , joints, mood gets now in addition to my former gi, skin, and other issues . My son shows signs of my early symptoms and voluntarily went off gluten, corn, and milk like me as he did his own food like diary symptom tracking.

My daughter continues on gluten outside the home. We warn her of our concern for at times in toddler hood she was constipated and would bloat. 

We asked their Dr to test them as I was undergoing my testing and she said no until I had my diagnosis. As we know these things take time and my son went gluten-free . He said after watching mom on my gluten challenge that he will not go back on it . 

We await technology further research and we silently watch our soon to be teen girl for we know even if tested negative it can show up one day. 

She says I know mom I know.

The more Whole Foods here in the home we notice she actually craves gluten / processed foods less and is slowly transitioning as well. 

Does your child also naturally eat less gluten and processed as well away from home? I wonder if the taste buds / craving change as the parents diet changes food options. 

Thoughts?

We do not have gluten in my home other then the bread he  Uses to make school lunch sandwiches.  however I am divorced so he spends a good part of the week at his dad's as well where he can eat whatever he wants. My son is a terrible eater and has been very picky since he was 2 years old, he's now 6.  Up until recently he literally would only eat 5 things. He once vomited all over my kitchen after I insisted that he try watermelon. 

 In the last several months he's been expanding what it is that he will eat however. Unfortunately still no fruits or vegetables, I have to sneak those In via juice.

 it is actually one of the reasons that  I am not in a hurry to get him tested. I have to return to Boston to see my specialist next summer and we are going to take my son with us then for testing.  so it buys me time to expand his food list just in case we have to take half of it away.

 my brother's children however, because he's a farmer, have always eaten a lot of Whole foods.  his house is totally gluten free but his mother-in-law will take his daughter out for treats occasionally. She does not seem to suffer any adverse reactions. My nephew on the other hand was always constipated and bloated when he was on gluten.  The kids will literally just walk out into the garden and grab a cucumber and start eating it basically.  I'm not even exaggerating. I am envious that his kids will do that and I wish that I had  tried harder with my son when he was younger instead of always defaulting to what he would eat.

 I know my nephew will verbalize a memory of not liking some of the changes that were made initially at their house, like with the gluten-free bread. But then he will say he likes it now. So I think kids do definitely adjust  their preferences.  unless of course you're my son, and then the neighbors are wondering whether or not they should call Child Protective Services because  There is an awful lot of screaming next door at dinner time.

 

[cyclinglady]

5 hours ago, ironictruth said:

We do not have gluten in my home other then the bread he  Uses to make school lunch sandwiches.  however I am divorced so he spends a good part of the week at his dad's as well where he can eat whatever he wants. My son is a terrible eater and has been very picky since he was 2 years old, he's now 6.  Up until recently he literally would only eat 5 things. He once vomited all over my kitchen after I insisted that he try watermelon. 

 In the last several months he's been expanding what it is that he will eat however. Unfortunately still no fruits or vegetables, I have to sneak those In via juice.

 it is actually one of the reasons that  I am not in a hurry to get him tested. I have to return to Boston to see my specialist next summer and we are going to take my son with us then for testing.  so it buys me time to expand his food list just in case we have to take half of it away.

 my brother's children however, because he's a farmer, have always eaten a lot of Whole foods.  his house is totally gluten free but his mother-in-law will take his daughter out for treats occasionally. She does not seem to suffer any adverse reactions. My nephew on the other hand was always constipated and bloated when he was on gluten.  The kids will literally just walk out into the garden and grab a cucumber and start eating it basically.  I'm not even exaggerating. I am envious that his kids will do that and I wish that I had  tried harder with my son when he was younger instead of always defaulting to what he would eat.

 I know my nephew will verbalize a memory of not liking some of the changes that were made initially at their house, like with the gluten-free bread. But then he will say he likes it now. So I think kids do definitely adjust  their preferences.  unless of course you're my son, and then the neighbors are wondering whether or not they should call Child Protective Services because  There is an awful lot of screaming next door at dinner time.

 

LOL about the screaming kid at dinner time.  I am happy to report that one of my brothers lived on grilled cheese, Captain Crunch and Bacon and Toast (those foods stick out the most in my memory).  He  eats just about anything now.  If I recall, peers had a pretty dramatic impact on his food behavior as he aged (that and maturing).    So, do not lose hope!  

[ironictruth]

2 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

LOL about the screaming kid at dinner time.  I am happy to report that one of my brothers lived on grilled cheese, Captain Crunch and Bacon and Toast (those foods stick out the most in my memory).  He  eats just about anything now.  If I recall, peers had a pretty dramatic impact on his food behavior as he aged (that and maturing).    So, do not lose hope!  

You have given me hope!