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

Growth Problem?

mom2lucas

Recommended Posts

mom2lucas Rookie
mom2lucas
Posted

Hi! My 2-year-old son has been on the gluten-free diet for 2 months now after being diagnosed a celiac through a biopsy. He has gained 6 pounds in these 2 months which put him back on the 95th weight percentile, from where he had started to fall about 8 months ago. However, he hasn't grown a single inch, and is now on the 50th height percentile. My question is: after the gluten-free diet, is it normal for the height growth to take its time to gain speed? I thought that by now with his very obvious weight gain, he had grown, but we checked it yesterday and he hasn't. He has always been a tall baby, and we parents are tall, so I'm starting to worry that he might have something else causing this growth delay. Anyone has ever experienced this with your celiac toddlers? Thanks for any input.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Ridgewalker Contributor
Ridgewalker
Posted

Hi there! I'm mom to a Lucas as well! (Mine is 7. :D )

I have a few questions that may help clarify the situation...

How long has it actually been since he gained any height? If it's only been a few months, this is normal even for a child without Celiac.

Has he gained NO height, or only a tiny bit? Even a 1/4 of an inch counts.

Does he look well-proportioned? Ignore the charts for a moment, and look at your son-- does his weight seem to fit his height and bone structure?

If he has always been a tall baby, even before he was diagnosed, that is excellent. Dropping to the 50th percentile shouldn't be anything to worry about-- since 50th percentile is average for the nation. In other words, I'm not sure I would consider this to be a growth delay (unless it's a been a LONG time since he's gained no height.) What was his doctor's reaction to the height measurement?

Kids go through fast and slow periods in their growth, and that's normal. Last year, my Lucas was the tallest kid in his kindergarten class. This year, there were 4 or 5 kids that were taller than him.

I hope this helps!

mom2lucas Rookie
mom2lucas
Posted
  • Author
Hi there! I'm mom to a Lucas as well! (Mine is 7. :D )

I have a few questions that may help clarify the situation...

How long has it actually been since he gained any height? If it's only been a few months, this is normal even for a child without Celiac.

Has he gained NO height, or only a tiny bit? Even a 1/4 of an inch counts.

Does he look well-proportioned? Ignore the charts for a moment, and look at your son-- does his weight seem to fit his height and bone structure?

If he has always been a tall baby, even before he was diagnosed, that is excellent. Dropping to the 50th percentile shouldn't be anything to worry about-- since 50th percentile is average for the nation. In other words, I'm not sure I would consider this to be a growth delay (unless it's a been a LONG time since he's gained no height.) What was his doctor's reaction to the height measurement?

Kids go through fast and slow periods in their growth, and that's normal. Last year, my Lucas was the tallest kid in his kindergarten class. This year, there were 4 or 5 kids that were taller than him.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for your reply. He hasn't grown a thing since December- his celiac sintoms and ordeal began in January. He does look fit, even a little plump having gained 6 pounds in 2 months, but it's just that I would have expected that since he was so obviously gaining weight, meaning his gut was healing, I thought he would have grown something... his GastroPedi says she's not worried as bones take a longer time to get back on track, but his Pediatrician seemed a little worried, told me to get back to her if he didn't grow by September. That's what got me all stressed up about this... :(

Ridgewalker Contributor
Ridgewalker
Posted
Thanks for your reply. He hasn't grown a thing since December- his celiac sintoms and ordeal began in January. He does look fit, even a little plump having gained 6 pounds in 2 months, but it's just that I would have expected that since he was so obviously gaining weight, meaning his gut was healing, I thought he would have grown something... his GastroPedi says she's not worried as bones take a longer time to get back on track, but his Pediatrician seemed a little worried, told me to get back to her if he didn't grow by September. That's what got me all stressed up about this... :(

Remember that I'm no doctor, "just" a mom-- but I'm betting he's got a nice big growth spurt coming up really soon! Try to take a breath and not worry until it's time to worry. (I know that's easier said than done!)

Keep feeding him good, healthy foods, and put him on a gluten-free children's multivitamin, if you haven't already.

If he had a lot of intestinal damage, then even as his gut heals, it's going to take time for his body to catch up. A very important thing to remember is that it can't take care of everything at once. I've learned that the body can and will prioritize when it has multiple jobs to do. Sometimes the body's priorities make sense to us, and sometimes they don't.

There's a lot of healing going on in his body right now, and to me, the fact that he's gaining weight so well seems like an excellent sign that his body is doing its work!

Keep asking questions- of us, and of your son's doctors. Don't hesitate to call them with questions, too! That's what they're there for, and I think sometimes we get these weird ideas that we shouldn't "bother" our doctors too much. Forget about that! Keep them in the loop, and ask them anything you're wondering about.

I hope you stick around the forum, this is an excellent place to learn about Celiac and the gluten-free diet.

Darn210 Enthusiast
Darn210
Posted

My opinion . . . I don't think you need to worry yet. It's fantastic that he's gained 6 pounds in two months!! A friend of mine has a 95% kid (not celiac - just sharing a kid story) and she was complaining about the growth pattern because she ends up having to buy a lot of clothes. Anyway, she was saying that her daughter would alternate her growth in height and weight . . . meaning, for a while she would just put on weight, then she just gets taller but quits gaining weight, then she gains weight but doesn't grow taller . . . etc, etc. You might find that your child just needs to be gluten-free a little longer before he takes off or you might find his growth pattern does something like my friend's daughter.

Aleshia Contributor
Aleshia
Posted

hi, I agree about the growth spurt, kids usually get a bit on the chubby side right before they shoot up. you could look at his feet to see if they have gotten larger. I've heard that the feet grow first then the lefts then the hands then the arms. so if his shoes are getting tight you can bet he will get taller.

my son is 18 1/2 mo. and had only gained 2 lb in 12 mo. then I put him on a gluten-free diet and he gained a lb in a month. he is just now growing out of his 18-24mo. clothes that he has been in since 4 mo. old!

don't worry his growth will get better :)

mom2lucas Rookie
mom2lucas
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your words, I feel more relieved now... ;)

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Krystens mummy Enthusiast
Krystens mummy
Posted

My doctor told me that weight always perceeds height. The body will store the weight fat and nutrients it needs first before it will use them to grow. This is for self preservation. Your child may need to put on a bit more weight to catch up before the growth starts

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,333
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Nicolah
    Newest Member
    Nicolah
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • 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.