Is 2 Too Young?

[K8ling]

I don't know if this counts, but my 2 year old has been getting sick randomly for the past month. It began as carsickness and for the most part stays there (yesterday it was like I had carted a tiny drunk around in my backseat- it was an epic mess). He did not start getting carsick until we all went gluten-free, and most times he has gotten sick has been a PBJ made with Udi's, although yesterday he had a few bites of Udi's Cinnamon bun and a few cheese stars. Is it possible I am hurting him by not feeding him wheat? I am afraid to take him anywhere after he has eaten because...dang...I don't want to take apart the carseat again. It's bad enough we are thinking about getting a wetvac and a carpet cleaner JUST for the car.

[ravenwoodglass]

I don't know if this counts, but my 2 year old has been getting sick randomly for the past month. It began as carsickness and for the most part stays there (yesterday it was like I had carted a tiny drunk around in my backseat- it was an epic mess). He did not start getting carsick until we all went gluten-free, and most times he has gotten sick has been a PBJ made with Udi's, although yesterday he had a few bites of Udi's Cinnamon bun and a few cheese stars. Is it possible I am hurting him by not feeding him wheat? I am afraid to take him anywhere after he has eaten because...dang...I don't want to take apart the carseat again. It's bad enough we are thinking about getting a wetvac and a carpet cleaner JUST for the car.

You wouldn't be hurting him by not giving him gluten, unless he is gluten intolerant and is being glutened or CC'd. It is possible he may be intolerant to something in the Udi's products, I have never seen them where I am so I don't know the ingredients.

Have you taken him to the doctor? He may just have motion sickness but he may also have something like an ear infection or something else that is making him ill.

[GlutenFreeManna]

There are other parts of the world where people don't eat very much wheat at all (and what has crept in is from processed products or western influences) so I don't think you are hurting him by keeping him gluten free. I would look at something else like raven suggested. Either another food intolerance or an inner ear infection. All I know is I used to get very car sick before going gluten-soy-dairy free. I can't pinpoint which was causing it, but I have not had car sickness since.

[kareng]

It could be something not agreeing with him but if not ... Both my boys have been car sick. The older one had more trouble. 2 or 3 seems to be the age this popped up. Make sure there is cold air blowing on his face. Back seats and kid car seats can be hot and stuffy. Peppermint, Ginger or lemon help some people. I know he can't suck on a whole peppermint but you could smash them into little bits. I think you live in a flat state, but changes in alltitude of even 1000 feet can bother some people. Don't let him look at books or tv in the car until you figure this out. Those sometimes make it worse.

We got a small upholstery and stair carpet cleaner but didn't like it. We use the cleaner that came with it and a little water and a shop vac to suck it up. Febreeze is your friend. The worst is when it seeps down between cracks and you have to take door panels and such off. (Rental car in mountains at Tahoe, curvy roads, 2 bigger boys....). The joys of parenthood!

[K8ling]

Oh my goodness Kareng....UGH! It was pretty bad yesterday, I was just running around getting errands done, we came home, he had a snack and then it came back all over my car. And his PBJ. And his cookie. And his milk. Luckily, it was mostly on him but holy Mother Mary there was a lot for such a little guy. Good thing College prepared me for this haha.

Well I did call the pediatrician, we are scheduling an MRI and he's going to get his ears checked. I HATE taking apart his carseat and I am bound and determined not to have to for a while lol. I have a spouse function to go to today and husband said "NO MILK NO CHEESE ONLY TOAST!" lol. He only has soy milk on occasion but he was on soy formula as a baby as well.

Thanks for the reassurances guys, I HATE that I am afraid to go anywhere because I am afraid he'll barf on me/the car/himself. Dangit, I finally get over MY fear after being diagnosed and here comes the kiddo!

[Monklady123]

When you're at the doctor also ask about dramamine for little ones. We would not have survived my daughter's childhood without it.

[kitgordon]

Benadryl may be better than dramamine - it gives some kids hallucinations. My daughter had some truly psychotic episodes on long car rides with dramamine.

[celiac-mommy]

Benadryl may be better than dramamine - it gives some kids hallucinations. My daughter had some truly psychotic episodes on long car rides with dramamine.

I don't think you're really supposed to give 2yo's Benadryl. The issue of that came up last week with that and our 4 yo. Pediatrician said no. Even the children's bottle says 6 and up.

[scarlett77]

I have had terrible car sickness issues ALL my life. It does start to pop up around 2 or 3 so this is the age when you will see it. I don't think it has anything to do with gluten, although it certainly could be possible that he may be sensitive to some other ingredient commonly found in gluten-free foods. There should be no harm in feeding him gluten-free as long as you are making sure that he's getting enough fiber and whole grains and things that gluten-free diets tend to lack.

If it is just car sickness plain and simple here are some tips:

1) Make sure the temperature is on the cool side.

2) Not sure if he will be quite old enough for this one: keep a cool compress of sorts in the car that he can use on the back of his neck, ears, forehead, and hands. These are the hot points that you need to focus on keeping cool.

3) If you will be in the car for a good period of time do not give him food or drink an hour before leaving if at all possible.

4) This may or may not backfire: move his carseat to the middle of the back seat. Looking out side windows can make car sickness much worse that looking out the front window. The catch on this is that then he is not next to the window in case he needs fresh air.

5.) If he feels queasy let him sip on some ginger ale. I don't normally like soda for a 2yo but the ginger ale does help.

6.) Talk to him and ask him how he's feeling. You may be able to work with you on giving you a signal when he starts not feeling good. Once you figure it out and see the signs or he tells you, pull over and get him out in some fresh air for a few minutes.

I can tell you one thing I do NOT like dramamine. The stuff made me sick every time my parents gave it to me. I do not recommend medications. I would try ginger before anything else.

Poor guy... I hope he is one of the lucky ones that out grows this.

[kareng]

Might I suggest cheap plastic table clothes from the party store. Even trash bags might be big enough. Cover the seat under the car seat. Cover the car seat. Could wrap some duct tape around the seat belt portion that goes on his chest so it doesn't interfere with the belt hooking in.

A big beach towel on his lap for "spillage" is easier to clean up. It can be a bit hot tho. If you give him Ginger ale, use a warm can so there aren't as many bubbles.

If he looks queasy, getting out and walking in the shade can help. Found with mine they must stand and if possible walk a little.

Good luck. Maybe it's something as simple as an ear infection. My older, more prone to car sickness boy, had some with no symptoms.. Wouldn't know until his ear drum burst or were at the doc for something else.

[polarbearscooby]

K8ling: Try putting him in the middle seat, and get some of those blinds for the windows (the suction cup ones) I only get motion sick if I have to sit in the very back of the van or if the light 'flashes' past me. (Or if I travel way early in the morning) Sometimes I have to turn around and sit in the floor of our van, and cool air helps. (Esp if the windows are open) Also try some gluten-free crackers I get way sick if I travel on an empty stomach...(also maybe some juice, Gatorade, etc. anything but water)

Hope this helps....

[K8ling]

Thanks guys! I went to the pediatrician today, he prescribed a quarter tab of dramamine before getting in the car for errands. He said that it's more than likely not the gluten-free stuff, but rather the major quantity of fluid in his ears. He said it sloshes, makes him dizzy, and then he throws up. I lined my seats with towels, his seat is in the middle now with air blowing on him (down side? If he DOES barf in the car it's hitting my console bleeeh). We'll try the dramamine tomorrow but I am leaning towards NOT if I can help it.

The Benedryl thing depends on the pediatrician, my son has strawberry allergies and he breaks out in hives all over his body so he gets Benedryl sometimes. We use dye free and it's only 3/4 tsp. It DID help with the carsickness but it also knocked him out. The doctor also wants me to cut out milk. Cheese is ok but I was lactose intolerant when I a child so I think that may be contributing.

Thanks again for all the help guys, I am ordering a waterproof car seat cover, the all weather mats for my car that I can just pull out and spray off, and bench seat covers that I can pull out and wash easily. I predict he'll have tubes by December if this keeps up.

[YoloGx]

Oh my goodness Kareng....UGH! It was pretty bad yesterday, I was just running around getting errands done, we came home, he had a snack and then it came back all over my car. And his PBJ. And his cookie. And his milk. Luckily, it was mostly on him but holy Mother Mary there was a lot for such a little guy. Good thing College prepared me for this haha.

Well I did call the pediatrician, we are scheduling an MRI and he's going to get his ears checked. I HATE taking apart his carseat and I am bound and determined not to have to for a while lol. I have a spouse function to go to today and husband said "NO MILK NO CHEESE ONLY TOAST!" lol. He only has soy milk on occasion but he was on soy formula as a baby as well.

Thanks for the reassurances guys, I HATE that I am afraid to go anywhere because I am afraid he'll barf on me/the car/himself. Dangit, I finally get over MY fear after being diagnosed and here comes the kiddo!

Could it be the milk and cheese made worse by the moving car??

By the way, I contracted celiac at age 4 months old -- so 2 is not too young. I found out just recently not only am I lactose intolerant, I am also casein intolerant. This could be happening to your child... Soy can also be an allergen too...and is here for many.

At age 4 they put me back on gluten foods. Previously I had stopped growing, but did not react the same later when challenged at age 4. I think that is when I started to get car sick however if my memory serves me right... as well as a lot of other kinds of sick too. Plus visions etc. Before that (i.e., in the interim between getting really sick at age 4 months and later after age 4)I almost never got ill...

Good luck!

Bea

[ravenwoodglass]

I predict he'll have tubes by December if this keeps up.

I would strongly advise you to take him to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor or ENT. My DD had the major fluid build up in her ears and the results on her speech and behavior were severe. Our ENT did tubes, the poor thing had the most intubations that the doctor had ever done. But before we got that referral she had lost all her speech and started doing nothing but screaming and biting because of the great frustration she felt. The ENT said the fluid effected her hearing by making it similiar to trying to listen to something while swimming underwater. It took years of speech therapy to get her speech back on level with her peers. IMHO it is best to head off this issue by seeing the specialist sooner rather than later. I also think the advice to curtail dairy as well as the gluten is a good one. It could be related to the excess fluid.

[K8ling]

I would strongly advise you to take him to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor or ENT. My DD had the major fluid build up in her ears and the results on her speech and behavior were severe. Our ENT did tubes, the poor thing had the most intubations that the doctor had ever done. But before we got that referral she had lost all her speech and started doing nothing but screaming and biting because of the great frustration she felt. The ENT said the fluid effected her hearing by making it similiar to trying to listen to something while swimming underwater. It took years of speech therapy to get her speech back on level with her peers. IMHO it is best to head off this issue by seeing the specialist sooner rather than later. I also think the advice to curtail dairy as well as the gluten is a good one. It could be related to the excess fluid.

We've already been to the ENT, 4 times already. He refuses to put tubes in. I am calling on Monday to get a second opinion because EVERYONE even the pediatrician was like "you need to put tubes in his ears". I am OVER this.

And we cut out milk but he woke up this morning with a fever AND barfed on me. Nice. Unrelated to previous problems, now he's sick lol. Poor kid.

[kareng]

We've already been to the ENT, 4 times already. He refuses to put tubes in. I am calling on Monday to get a second opinion because EVERYONE even the pediatrician was like "you need to put tubes in his ears". I am OVER this.

And we cut out milk but he woke up this morning with a fever AND barfed on me. Nice. Unrelated to previous problems, now he's sick lol. Poor kid.

Thanks for taking me down memory lane!

[K8ling]

hahaha you're welcome. My husband said "did you give him milk?!" right after and I said no, his stomach was empty and husband goes "well, so much for ANY food today, let alone Dairy!" lol. He's been eating gluten-free crackers and some thai Kitchen soup (oddly he refused chicken broth- I even said he could eat it with the straw!).

SO glad I had a gluten-free "sick box" because it really came in handy!

[ravenwoodglass]

We've already been to the ENT, 4 times already. He refuses to put tubes in. I am calling on Monday to get a second opinion because EVERYONE even the pediatrician was like "you need to put tubes in his ears". I am OVER this.

And we cut out milk but he woke up this morning with a fever AND barfed on me. Nice. Unrelated to previous problems, now he's sick lol. Poor kid.

Poor little guy and poor you! I hope you can get him in to see another ENT, maybe your ped can give you the name of another one and perhaps even a direct referral.

[polarbearscooby]

SO glad I had a gluten-free "sick box" because it really came in handy!

Oh My Gosh!! That's such a good idea!! I need to make one! I mean it's not like I can pop into the local grocery and get some gluten-free crackers, I have to order online or drive 40 mins....

Bril idea

[BethM55]

Just an FYI: Most 'ginger ale' has no real ginger in it. Look for a brand that does have real ginger in it, for the best results. Reed's Ginger Beer comes to mind. It does NOT contain alcohol!

[K8ling]

Oh my goodness Thanks for the tip on ginger beer! I just called the commissary and asked that they order it for me. I'll keep it in the sick box.

PolarBearScooby- here is my sick box. It was born out of necessity when my husband was deployed, I had a 5 month old, and I caught a stomach bug. It is a big tupperware bin that has:

8 pack of mini sprite

3 boxes gluten-free crackers

4 cans gluten-free chicken soup

2 shelf stable gluten-free chicken broth

BRAT juice (it's an gluten-free organic thing that I found that is basically rice milk and apple juice and banana puree and probiotics? I dunno but it works great for sick

toddlers)

Pedialyte

Gatorade

The mini sick box lives in the bathroom. It is a blue tupperware bin containing:

Dramamine

Benedryl

Motrin (and Weight conversion chart for motrin dosing)

Tylenol

Zofran

Ibuprofen for me

Thermometer

baby medicine dropper

These two things are always fully stocked and ready to go, with enough stuff to take care of everyone for at least 2 days. I hope this helps, I got so sick of having to hunt for gluten-free stuff while I was sick. gluten-free soups are darn near impossible to find with a raging fever!