Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Traveling With Celiac Tots

AMQmom

Recommended Posts

AMQmom Explorer
AMQmom
Posted

Greetings! We are traveling from Michigan to Colorado on Thursday. Both of my girls are celiac. My eldest is 7 years old and also has EE. She is very oral (still sucks thumb and licks hands - I was hoping that this would go away with her anxieties once gluten free, but only diminishing). Here is my question: we will be on an airplane and in rental cars, etc. Have any of your children gotten gluttened just by being in that type of environment? My 3 year old is not oral - I don't worry about her too much with fingers in her mouth, but she is just 3 years old. I was considering gloves for them or masks. Am I going overboard? This is my first trip with them as celiac. Any suggestions are appreciated!!! (P.S. I am not worried about their food - I will pack snacks and already located stores where we will be staying - just worried about contamination while traveling).

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

Don't go overboard with things like masks or gloves, you will raise them to be paranoid if you do that. But take along travel wipes and wipe down the surfaces in the car, and the armrests in the plane, things like that. But don't make a big deal out of it, either.

gfpaperdoll Rookie
gfpaperdoll
Posted

IMO, the plane will be worse because most everything they serve on there is wheat. & I saw a lady get on the plane with a box of donuts in her hand!!!! I thought OMG if she sits next to me I am moving!! - so yes, take wipes & wash their hands & wipe off the area where you are sitting. Also, that is where you get the germs on a plane is from touching things that 30,000 other people have touched - in the plane & in the airport.

rental car should not be so bad - I mean really how many of them actually have had anyone ever sit in the back seat ! much less eating there - I bet not many.

shan Contributor
shan
Posted

i fly regularly, 4 times a year, and we have never had a problem with gluten - neither with the plane nor with rental cars. I make sure to bring with PLENTY of food for the plane, coz when everyone else gets, she also wants, and i also take with, and don't rely on, snacks to keep in the car. Thats for when we are stuck in traffic and stuff - Your dd is gonna know that you are stressed about it, so you have to make sure that you are relaxed about it ;)

I also make sure to wash her hands after the play area in the airport, coz everyone gives their kids lunch there, so there is bread crumbs all over...

Just a little tip, bring all food with in containers or bags that you can leave on the plane - it'll be easier when you leave the plane to get off with less luggage and cranky kids :D

dandelionmom Enthusiast
dandelionmom
Posted

I do a quick wipe down before DD sits down and we do a lot of handwashing. You're probably already doing something similar to this but thought I'd mention it because it has really helped my DD: we came up with a quick phrase to let her know that I'm worried about gluten exposure, we call it "gluten-hands" and that tells her that she shouldn't eat or put her hands in her mouth until we've had a chance to wash them, it is our way of telling her to be careful. It also helps my other child to remember that she needs to wash her hands when she comes home from school before touching anything of her sister's and other things of that nature. They know that when I say that phrase I mean business. :)

Kibbie Contributor
Kibbie
Posted
Greetings! We are traveling from Michigan to Colorado on Thursday. Both of my girls are celiac. My eldest is 7 years old and also has EE. She is very oral (still sucks thumb and licks hands - I was hoping that this would go away with her anxieties once gluten free, but only diminishing). Here is my question: we will be on an airplane and in rental cars, etc. Have any of your children gotten gluttened just by being in that type of environment? My 3 year old is not oral - I don't worry about her too much with fingers in her mouth, but she is just 3 years old. I was considering gloves for them or masks. Am I going overboard? This is my first trip with them as celiac. Any suggestions are appreciated!!! (P.S. I am not worried about their food - I will pack snacks and already located stores where we will be staying - just worried about contamination while traveling).

My daughter was diagnosed when she was 18 months old. Exactly 1 month to the day of diagnosis we were on a plane to Arizona headed for a family reunion road/camping trip. I feel your pain the first trip is always the hardest! My daughter is 3 now and has only been glutened 2 times 1 was her own doing and the other was a mess up at a restaurant.

Anyhow I try my best to let her be as normal as possible and gloves and masks are something that I would not consider at all. Personally I think its going overboard.

For rental cars: I check cup holders, and open all the little storage places, plus check the floor to see if it had been cleaned and vacuumed before I got in there. If not I request that they either clean and vac. it or give me a clean car. (This is something I would do with or without having a Celiac kid) I also clean off the areas most likely to be touched by my daughter and food. (again something I would do anyhow just because other people germs gross me out) We've never had a problem with a rental car.

On planes if you tell them your child has an allergy they will either clean off their seat for you or offer you wipes to clean it off yourself. We've never had a problem with flying even when the person next to us is eating glutenful pretzels.

Staying healthy the rest of the trip is really just a matter of washing hands... a lot

Enjoy your trip!

AMQmom Explorer
AMQmom
Posted
  • Author

Many, many thanks to you all! I have calmed down after reading your responses. No masks, no gloves. I went into full protection mode instead of just mommy mode. Thank you. I will follow your tips and hope for the best. I really want them to live life to the fullest and travel is one of those elements that I don't want them to miss out on. Thank you for all of your tips and personal examples.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,144
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jenny0384
    Newest Member
    Jenny0384
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By trents · Posted

      My migraines generally have their onset during the early morning hours as well. Presently, I am under siege with them, having headaches all but two days so far this month. I have looked at all the things reported to be common triggers (foods, sleep patterns, weather patterns, stress, etc.). Every time I think I start to see a pattern it proves not to pan out in the long run. I'm not sure it's any one thing but may, instead, be a combination of things that coalesce at certain times. It's very frustrating. The medication (sumatriptan or "Imatrix") is effective and is the only thing that will quell the pain. NSAIDs, Tylenol, even hydrocodone doesn't touch it. But they only give you 9 does of sumatriptan a month. And it doesn't help that medical science doesn't really know what causes migraines. They know some things about it but the root cause is still a mystery.
    • Scott Adams
      Tamale ingredients

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      These are labeled gluten-free: https://www.amazon.com/Corn-Husks-Tamales-Authentic-Flavorful/dp/B01MDSHUTM/
    • Wheatwacked
      GI DX celiac despite neg serology and no biopsy

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Just a gluten free diet is not enough.  Now you have to identify and replenish your malnutrition.  Celiac disease is co-morbid with malabsorption syndrome.  Low vitamin D, Low Thiamine caused Gastointeston Beriberi, low choline, low iodine are common the general population, and in newly diagnosed Celiacs in the western culture its is more likely.  It takes time to heal and you need to focus on vitamins and minerals.  Gluten free foods are not fortified like regular processed foods.  
    • Sarah Grace
      Headaches / Migraines and Hypoglycaemia

      By Sarah Grace · Posted

      Dear Kitty Since March I have been following your recommendations regarding vitamins to assist with various issues that I have been experiencing.  To recap, I am aged 68 and was late diagnosed with Celiac about 12 years ago.  I had been experiencing terrible early morning headaches which I had self diagnosed as hypoglycaemia.  I also mentioned that I had issues with insomnia, vertigo and brain fog.   It's now one year since I started on the Benfotiamine 600 mg/day.  I am still experiencing the hypoglycaemia and it's not really possible to say for sure whether the Benfotiamine is helpful.  In March this year, I added B-Complex Thiamine Hydrochloride and Magnesium L-Threonate on a daily basis, and I am now confident to report that the insomnia and vertigo and brain fog have all improved!!  So, very many thanks for your very helpful advice. I am now less confident that the early morning headaches are caused by hypoglycaemia, as even foods with a zero a GI rating (cheese, nuts, etc) can cause really server headaches, which sometimes require migraine medication in order to get rid off.  If you are able to suggest any other treatment I would definitely give it a try, as these headaches are a terrible burden.  Doctors in the UK have very limited knowledge concerning dietary issues, and I do not know how to get reliable advice from them. Best regards,
    • knitty kitty
      High DGP-A with normal IGA

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @rei.b,  I understand how frustrating starting a new way of eating can be.  I tried all sorts of gluten-free processed foods and just kept feeling worse.  My health didn't improve until I started the low histamine AIP diet.  It makes a big difference.   Gluten fits into opioid receptors in our bodies.  So, removing gluten can cause withdrawal symptoms and reveals the underlying discomfort.  SIBO can cause digestive symptoms.  SIBO can prevent vitamins from being absorbed by the intestines.  Thiamine insufficiency causes Gastrointestinal Beriberi (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or constipation).  Thiamine is the B vitamin that runs out first because it can only be stored for two weeks.  We need more thiamine when we're sick or under emotional stress.  Gastric Beriberi is under recognised by doctors.  An Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test is more accurate than a blood test for thiamine deficiency, but the best way to see if you're low in thiamine is to take it and look for health improvement.  Don't take Thiamine Mononitrate because the body can't utilize it well.  Try Benfotiamine.  Thiamine is water soluble, nontoxic and safe even at high doses.  I thought it was crazy, too, but simple vitamins and minerals are important.  The eight B vitamins work together, so a B Complex, Benfotiamine,  magnesium and Vitamin D really helped get my body to start healing, along with the AIP diet.  Once you heal, you add foods back in, so the AIP diet is worth doing for a few months. I do hope you'll consider the AIP diet and Benfotiamine.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.