How To Put Weight On A 2yr Old?

[LadyAshleyR]

I found out I have celiac disease this last year.

It runs in my family.

And I'm thinking my 2yr old might have it as well.

She's just not gaining weight.

I looked up a BMI calculator for children today, and it puts her under the 5% percentile for her height.

She weighs 25lbs.

She looks like she's getting the blisters on her elbows and knees.

She also has frequent runny poop that smells similar to vomit.

I've been trying to wait for her next dr's appointment which is monday, but I called him to leave a message voicing my concerns anyway.

What I want to know, is if anyone has suggestions for putting weight on a two year old that possibly has celiac. Diet plans, etc.

I'm also lactose intolerant due to celiac, and my doctor told us to take my daughter off of milk products as well, because my husband is lactose intolerant as well, and she wasnt gaining weight even at that point.

So gluten, and possibly lactose free high fat/calorie diet?

[sunnybabi1986]

Hi!

I'm no professional, by any means, but I can make a few educated guesses based on what I know so far. If she is having frequent runny poop, I wouldn't add a lot of fat to her diet right now. If she DOES have any damage to her intestines, fat will make her stools runnier because it will pass through her without being absorbed. I would wait until she heals to add fat, but eventually she would probably need a diet with some extra good fats. Good luck, let us know how it goes with the doctor!

Janie

[OptimisticMom42]

When she can tolerate fats..... peanut butter and rice flour thinned with coconut milk...... I saw this on a documentary about saving children in third world nations where a lot of the children were lactose intolerant.

Keep a big bowl of cooked rice in the fridge. You can add coconut milk, sugar and cinnimon for cereal or chicken broth and canned or frozen veggies for a quick microwaved soup. Make smoothies with coconut or rice milk and fruit. Mashed potatoes, yams, carrots - these starchy veggies are high in carbs and calories and will help replace breads and crackers in her diet. My kids found that they could replace the wheat flour and crisco (soy) in Grandma's cookies with rice flour and lard without a problem. Use M&M's and natural (no soy) peanut butter and you have Monster cookies! Those are very fattening, I promise! Spartan tatter tots are a winner around here - finger food - bananas faces with raisin eyes! Grapes are high calorie but you have to be careful, cut them in half so she doesn't choke. Rice Chex is easy for little ones to eat on the go and little ones are always on the go...

Good luck, RA

[one more mile]

Weight on kids is over rated. If your child is active fattening them up may not be a healthy idea. Offer healty gluten free foods and see what she eats. fruits are good. but not if she is having the runs.

A sick child can be the biggest worrie in the world. My child vomited at will, and in every new car till she was 5. I was told her digestive trac was not developed enough, possiably a cop out. It was not till she was 20 that we figured out she was gluten intolerant. Kadous that you are trying to find a solution.

[ChemistMama]

I found out I have celiac disease this last year.

It runs in my family.

She looks like she's getting the blisters on her elbows and knees.

She also has frequent runny poop that smells similar to vomit.

I've been trying to wait for her next dr's appointment which is monday, but I called him to leave a message voicing my concerns anyway.

What I want to know, is if anyone has suggestions for putting weight on a two year old that possibly has celiac. Diet plans, etc.

I'm also lactose intolerant due to celiac, and my doctor told us to take my daughter off of milk products as well, because my husband is lactose intolerant as well, and she wasnt gaining weight even at that point.

So gluten, and possibly lactose free high fat/calorie diet?

First off, do NOT put her on a gluten-free diet until she's been tested for celiac. I know there is some question about the accuracy of blood tests for young children, but my son was diagnosed at 17 months and his levels were obviously above normal. After the tests, go totally gluten-free and lactose free. My Dr. recommended 6 weeks for the lactose free diet Kids that young will also naturally avoid what makes them sick, so don't be surprised if she doesn't eat much at first. Don't worry about making her put on weight, it will happen naturally as her intestines heal, you'll be surprised at how her appetite will change!

After she's gluten-free make sure you let her know that the foods you'll be giving her won't make her sick. "This cracker won't hurt your tummy" type stuff. That worked great with my son, and now he's a healthy 3 and 1/2 year old who knows not to eat anything without asking me first. At first he wouldn't even eat gluten-free chocolate chip cookies!!! Teach her not to eat anything outside home wihtout asking, and always bring snacks with you .Always!!! Good luck!

[nmlove]

First off, do NOT put her on a gluten-free diet until she's been tested for celiac. I know there is some question about the accuracy of blood tests for young children, but my son was diagnosed at 17 months and his levels were obviously above normal. After the tests, go totally gluten-free and lactose free. My Dr. recommended 6 weeks for the lactose free diet Kids that young will also naturally avoid what makes them sick, so don't be surprised if she doesn't eat much at first. Don't worry about making her put on weight, it will happen naturally as her intestines heal, you'll be surprised at how her appetite will change!

After she's gluten-free make sure you let her know that the foods you'll be giving her won't make her sick. "This cracker won't hurt your tummy" type stuff. That worked great with my son, and now he's a healthy 3 and 1/2 year old who knows not to eat anything without asking me first. At first he wouldn't even eat gluten-free chocolate chip cookies!!! Teach her not to eat anything outside home wihtout asking, and always bring snacks with you .Always!!! Good luck!

Second this! It's ultimately up to you but start with the testing. Both my boys had very positive blood tests and while not severely underweight, their growth had slowed way down (especially my two year old). But now we've been gluten-free for just over 2 months (the 2 year old just over a month) and already both have gained a few pounds and gotten a tad taller. Both are eating well - one is eating less (he was my addicted to gluten one) and the other is eating more (my 2 year old had been slowly not eating as much over this last year, even "goodies" he'd take forever to eat - now he gobbles them up in seconds flat!). So I guess take it one step at a time. Good luck!