Growth Spurts After Going gluten-free?

[kbidarch]

My oldest (whom I have long suspected has gluten intolerance, but has not been confirmed) and my daughter (who IS confirmed gluten intolerant) are both near the bottom of the charts in weight & height. They started out healthy, in the 50th-60th% until 12 or so months; now both are in the 3rd-5th%. Now that we're gluten-free, they have been eating SO much. My daughter gained 2 lbs in 5 days. I'm expecting to see them add some weight. What I'm wondering, though, is if they will "catch up" when it comes to height? They are 7 and 3, so still plenty of growing time left, but I'm wondering - especially in the case of the 7 year old - if we're going to be unable to make up some of that lost growth.

Those who have been gluten-free for some time, and had small children thanks to Celiac or Gluten Intolerance --- did you see a noticable change in your child's height and weight? If so, how long after going gluten-free?

Thanks.

[jmjsmomma]

My 6 yo was dx celiac in Jan 09. His only symptom was that he literally stopped growing. He wasn't even close to BEING on the growth chart. By Oct 09, he had grown 5 inches...yes, in 10 months! He seems to have tapered off a bit now and is still VERY small for his age. The weight gain took longer.....even after going gluten-free he stayed 39 lbs until recently when he just hit 42lbs....and this boy EATS. I've read varying stories about how quickly it takes to see growth and weight, I don't think there is any "true" timing.

[Heidi S.]

I do not have many details, but my niece was overweight and always hungry but small for her age. Now diagnosed gluten in tolerance for almost a year she has slimmed down (no more distend belly) and grown several inches! I know my sister was very relieved to get her into the normal range!

[jsmjboertlein]

My 4 year old hasn't grown in well over 2 years. Not an outfit size not a shoe size. He's almost 5 and still in 2t-3t clothes. I am excited to see if he grows. He's been on his diet for a month now and I have already had to buy new shoes, soooooo........

[bookworm2768]

my 9yo was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in December so he has been gluten free for about 5 months. He has gained about 15 and put on two inches in that time!

He used to be a huge off the charts baby and then his size tapered off until, at age 7, he was the bottom 5th percentile of height and weight. He is now a respectable 25th percentile and I can live with this.

His GI specialist says he will never reach his full potential for height (at two we were told to expect a six foot teenager!) since he was malnourished for so long.

What I love most (besides the height) is that fact that the child is packing on muscle at a fantastic rate. Not fat - muscle! He is suddenly running around and trying wild and wacky things that 9 yo boys like and even if he never gets as tall as he would have I am just grateful that we caught it at all!

[melblondin]

Man I'm hoping we get to see some of this growth too!! All 3 of my boys are in about the 5th percentiles, but I just took my 1 year old in for his well child and at 4 mths he was 75th for weight, at 8 mths he dropped to the 10th, and now at 1 year he dropped again to the 5th He's been gluten free since the 8 month appt., so I was hoping for a little more growth than what we saw. His height curve dropped to WELL BELOW the bottom of the chart. He's sensitive/allergic to milk, so any ideas for high fat/high calorie foods that I could give him. I'm already trying egg yolks and avocados. I want to figure this out before he wastes away in front of me Thanks everyone!

[scarlett77]

Man I'm hoping we get to see some of this growth too!! All 3 of my boys are in about the 5th percentiles, but I just took my 1 year old in for his well child and at 4 mths he was 75th for weight, at 8 mths he dropped to the 10th, and now at 1 year he dropped again to the 5th He's been gluten free since the 8 month appt., so I was hoping for a little more growth than what we saw. His height curve dropped to WELL BELOW the bottom of the chart. He's sensitive/allergic to milk, so any ideas for high fat/high calorie foods that I could give him. I'm already trying egg yolks and avocados. I want to figure this out before he wastes away in front of me Thanks everyone!

Sounds familiar. My 2yo was below 3% at the time of his diagnosis which was just before his 2nd birthday. He's on the charts between 5-10% now (he'll be 3 in November). Since going gluten-free he has grown 3 shoe sizes and 2 clothing sizes. He is still very small for his age, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in brains. My youngest recently started slipping a bit on the charts too but is still at the 50% range. But this could be due to his increased physical activity and the fact that the boy still prefers to breastfeed over eating regular food (except for chili and M&M's apparently). My boys just started to like eggs (YEAH!!!!) but they've never been big on avocados. We also eat a lot of cheese at my house, but that doesn't help you. I wonder if they'd like quinoa? Have you tried pork? That was the first meat my boys really liked. Maybe try some fried rice with egg and veggies? My youngest loves rice pasta with olive oil and a tiny bit of garlic. Also beans are good. I make mexican rice and season black beans with a homemade taco mix that the whole family loves.

Good luck!

[Beth03456]

My son was diagnosed at age 3 after not growing between ages 2 and 3. Was at around the 3% for height and weight. He's been gluten-free for a year now. He grew several inches and is now at the 8% for height. He went from wearing 24 mo. to 4T clothes. His weight hasn't increased that much though in the year since diagnosis. We are now giving him Pediasure and more frequent desserts on the advice of the GI just to try and fatten him up a bit, since he eats a healthy variety of gluten-free food, just not that much of it.

[fire1966]

my 9yo was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in December so he has been gluten free for about 5 months. He has gained about 15 and put on two inches in that time!

He used to be a huge off the charts baby and then his size tapered off until, at age 7, he was the bottom 5th percentile of height and weight. He is now a respectable 25th percentile and I can live with this.

His GI specialist says he will never reach his full potential for height (at two we were told to expect a six foot teenager!) since he was malnourished for so long.

What I love most (besides the height) is that fact that the child is packing on muscle at a fantastic rate. Not fat - muscle! He is suddenly running around and trying wild and wacky things that 9 yo boys like and even if he never gets as tall as he would have I am just grateful that we caught it at all!

My son was just diagnosed. The only symptom he had was stomach aches. Our Doctor tested him and he came back positive. He is 10 and also we were told he would be 6 feet as an adult. Is there anyone who knows how much height they can gain back by adulthood. He will be crushed if he doesn't grow to 6 feet he is terrified of being short.

[mmcdaniels]

My son is 10 and diagnosed when he was 8. In the first 6 months on a gluten free diet he went from a size 5/5T to a size 10. Previously, he wore a 4T at age 2 and was still in a 5 at age 8. He is now a little small for his age but not significantly.