18 Month Old <3rd % Weight

[jennyo]

He has not been formally tested for celiac, but the doctor wants to put him on a gluten-free diet to see if it helps him gain weight, as he is technically considered failure to thrive. I myself just posted in another topic area (pre-testing / symptoms) about my own problems, weight loss and other symptoms, but I have since tested negative for celiac. The coincidence is there though, we are both going gluten-free to see if it makes a difference.

My son is pale and appears malnourished, with a big tummy, normal head size, but very skinny arms, legs, and hiney. His poop is normal and does not float, or anything like that. He is 18 months old and wearing 6 month size clothing.

Anyone with a similar experience? We have been gluten-free for 2 weeks now and no apparent change. It now occurs to me that I'm sabotaging his chances for getting an accurate test because I have already removed gluten, but that's okay, if it works I guess I don't need an official diagnosis. The doctor assured me that if gluten is in fact the issue, we should see some weight gain in a month after going gluten-free.

Any other ideas other than celiac? Does it sound like it could be celiac disease even though his poop is normal?

[ShayFL]

It certainly is worth a try since gluten intolerance is in the top 10 reasons for failure to thrive. Have you considered removing dairy as well?

[Bridy]

It certainly is worth a try since gluten intolerance is in the top 10 reasons for failure to thrive. Have you considered removing dairy as well?

I would consider removing dairy as well.

We are going through some issues with our daughter who just turned 2.

We started by taking dairy out of her diet, and have now just started to take gluten out of her diet as well.

I have to say it has proved to be very challanging trying to feed her since dairy and gluten were her two favorite foods.

But I did a big gluten free shopping yesterday of all her favorite foods and not so favorite. She would not touch bread in the past and she seems to just love the high fiber corn bread I bought for her.

If you take dairy out make sure you get calcium vitamins to suplement your babys diet.

[jennyo]

Thank you for your replies. I'll try dairy-free as well.

[MarsupialMama]

Definitely try the gluten-free diet. It can't hurt and if that is the problem, you will find out.

In 3 weeks we noticed the following changes in our 18 month old (who was 16.5 pounds or so): BIG change in appetite (went from force-feeding to can't fill her up!), finally sleeping peacefully through the night without waking up to cry, and major change in attitude - happy and smiling, not whining.

We have been 3 months into the diet and I think she might have gained a pound, maybe even 2. But we have had two gluten accidents which caused some setback. Many people experience more weight gain than that, but I will warn you - it may not come overnight. I would try for at least 3 months. It takes time for the intestines to heal to properly absorb nutrients and build the weight back. If you only go for a month based on weight gain, that might not be sufficient. Also, you might end up having some "accidents" like we did. Ana seemed to start doing better, then she got glutened by her older sister, and now I just found out today that the cornstarch we use from time to time not gluten free. Ack!

Maybe we would have had more success with weight gain if there had been no accidents or cross-contamination. After a gluten accident her improvements (including weight) would reverse for another 2-3 weeks. My friend's baby took about 6 months to 1 year for all the weight to creep back on - it was slowly over time, but now he is doing very well.

After three months we are just noticing that her belly is starting to go down and her constipation improving.

Some heal fast, others slow, so it really depends on the individual.

(Just FYI, we are dairy-free too)

[taweavmo3]

I just wanted to add that I would give it more time too.....I think everyone makes little mistakes in the beginning. My little girl was tiny as well, she was 3 years old and weighed less than she did at 12 months. She was only 20 pounds, had the big belly and skinny arms. It is only now, looking back at pictures, that I can see how sick she really was. Since I was with her everyday, I didn't notice it as much back then.

If I remember right, it took a good 3 months for us to get a real handle on the diet w/out mistakes, and that is when the real weight gain started. Height came later, we never did see a huge growth spurt, but she is at least on the charts now!