I Think My Son Has Celiac

[B'sgirl]

My son is almost 17 months old. I have suspected that he has celiac disease on and off for awhile, but I think I'm really convinced this time. My husband's sister has the disease although she didn't find out until she was 20 years old. There is no record of it on my side of the family but I have an autoimmune disease that affects my thyroid and eyes, which I read can be a genetic risk factor.

On and off my son, Barrett, has had really grainy bowel movements that look like he has been eating sand, and it gives him extreme diaper rash. I didn't think much of it, but this time I realized the only difference in what he had eaten was whole wheat pizza. I did a search on his BM's and it took me to a thread of this forum where several parents had complained about this problem when their children had eaten gluten. I haven't had him tested because I read that tests are really unreliable at this age. My plan is just to take him off gluten for awhile and see if it helps.

I am VERY open to any advice or suggestions you have for me, as this is all very new and unfamiliar to me. Also, good food/snack ideas for a child this young would be very helpful. Particularly replacements for things like crackers, goldfish crackers, and breakfast cereal/foods.

[RiceGuy]

In short, I think you're suspicions are correct. It does sound quite possible that your son has Celiac. You are also right in that the tests are highly unreliable for young children. Heck, even many adults get false negatives. So yes, the best thing would be to take your child off all gluten and see how he does. It most certainly cannot hurt.

As for the snacks and cereals, there are plenty of gluten-free grains which make wonderful hot cereals, though I won't be the only one to say breakfast need not be cereal. Amaranth is loaded with protein, fiber, and various other nutrients, and it cooks up to a creamy consistency similar to hominy grits or cream or rice. Millet can also be made like a cereal. But I think my fav for cereal is buckwheat (not related to wheat). It cooks faster than the others I mentioned, and the flavor is really good IMO. Add a little raisins and cinnamon if you like.

I don't eat a breakfast in the conventional sense. It's usually vegetable stew of something hearty like that, but I don't suppose that would be so appreciated by a small child.

You can make crackers, but there are gluten-free crackers out there on the market too, usually found in health food stores or online. Lots of opinions on which are best, so it may take a little exploring to find ones he likes.

Welcome to the board!

[Ridgewalker]

I am very familiar with those "sandy" diapers you're talking about. Thick, pasty, and just like it had sand it in-- where DOES that stuff come from??? And the diaper rashes... my younger son frequently got open sores. It was horrible.

I think you are right to try him on a gluten-free diet. For the trial period to be valid, it needs to be 100%. This means looking at the ingredients in every single thing that goes near his mouth, including: toothpaste, vitamins, medicine, chapstick, even baby bath and shampoo. If he kisses on you, you should also check your make-up, etc.

Also be aware of cross contamination (cc) issues. Don't cut up his food on a cutting board that has ever been used to cut regular bread. (Regular clean dishes are fine, but cutting board get things caught in the digs and scratches.) Scratched non-stick pans can also be an issue. Get a separate toaster to be used only for gluten-free breads. Even sponges and dishcloths can contaminate dishes and countertops.

Click here for a couple helpful lists of safe and unsafe ingredients.

Here are some of my kids' favorite foods, some of which you need to look for at Whole Foods or a health food store:

* Trix Cereal

* Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles

* Dora's Cinnamon Stars and Disney Little Einsteins Cereals

* Envirokids Gorilla Munch Cereal (Whole Foods)

* Rice Chex is now gluten-free! But check the box, because the older shipments still have BARLEY malt in them, which is a source of gluten.

* Pancakes made from Pamela's Pancake and Baking Mix (WF)

* Tinkyada pasta tastes just about like regular. They have spaghetti, lasange noodles, elbows, spirals, etc. Easiest gluten-free pasta to cook, in my opinion, also. (WF)

* Many spaghetti sauces are gluten-free, but you need to look on the company websites to find out which varieties are safe.

* Trix yogurt

* Ore Ida french fries. Look up the website for a current list of gluten-free varieties.

* Heinz ketchup and Wal-mart Brand ketchup is safe. (Hunts is NOT.) French's mustard is safe.

* Oscar Meyer regular all-meat franks and beef franks are safe. Ballpark beef franks are safe, not sure about the all-meat ones. And I don't know about the "fat free" versions.

* Bacon is usually ok, check the labels. We also like Jimmy Dean sausage.

* Hillshire Farm polish sausage.

* Utz brand chips. Be very careful with Frito-Lay products. They are notorious for being contaminated (at the factory.)

* Glutino pretzels. (WF)

* Kinnickinick makes a good animal cracker, but they are impossible to find near me- we have to order them online. They also make an excellent Oreo type cookie called Kinnitoos.

And of course, there's lots more naturally gluten-free foods that they eat all the time: Eggs, cheese, apples, carrots, cucumbers, bananas, sunflower seeds, raisins, popsicles, rice (white or brown, NOT rice mixes), peanut butter, fruit preserves (check the label), green beans, corn, etc.

People here are really good at making recipes over into a gluten-free version. Just ask! Welcome to the board, this is the best place to get info on how to live gluten-free.