suggestions for getting a 2 year old through an elimination diet

[audenough]

My DS is 2 and we have several reasons to suspect food allergies: Persistent diaper rash with every bowel movement, big sleep problems (up every 60 minutes or more every single night, and I mean every), and what seems like mild silent reflux.

We've been down a long road and I think it is time for an ED. We did eliminated dairy, wheat, soy and citrus when he was little with no results, and his allergy tests are coming up negative, but something is causing that rash and such horrid sleep. I just don't know how to get a 2 year old to accept an elimination diet. he is already in the 3rd percentile for weight and not gaining - all the more reason to find the problem... but will he lose even more weight? When I eliminated things last time he was only 8 months and barely on solids. It was pretty easy other than me giving them up.

Any input on coping would be helpful. Also, a good place to learn more about doing an ED with a toddler would be great.

Thank you for the support.

[mamafish9]

Are you still nursing? That has helped my little guy (26 months) a lot while we totally mess with his food world.

I also had to adjust our ED foods pretty quickly to include things he would eat, even if they weren't strictly ED. In retrospect, I probably would have spent a couple of weeks introducing some new foods to him before I pulled all the old familiar ones. And I would have been better equipped with decent substitutes of some of his favorite foods (like it took me 5 days to try making a gluten free, egg free pizza crust - duh! - naked, but he was so happy to see it).

[audenough]

Oh boy

I've been in denial for a long time because I just get so little sleep that I can't imagine cooking decent food let alone allergen free food. at 60 minutes or less sleep in a row for 2 years I barely make sense when I talk. But I know it is a vicious circle, either cook more and do the ED or stay like this forever. I also have an eating disorder that I work hard in a 12 step program to keep in check and I have a hard time changing our food. I just kept praying these issues would resolve in time, but they aren't and all fingers point to food.

[kjbrown92]

I put my 14 month old on an elimination. She had weaned around 13mo and that's when I noticed the trouble. I followed Doris Rapp's guide in "Is This Your Child?" but altered it a little. Now I would take out the big 4: dairy, gluten, soy, corn for a week. If no change, take out one more food every 4-5 days. Next eggs, then nightshade (white potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, eggplant), then legumes (peanuts and beans/peas), then citrus. Or whichever order works for you. Keep a very detailed food journal during this time (noting everything he eats/drinks and all symptoms). Make sure to record all supplements and look at the ingredients on everything. It's easier to put the whole family on it (so that others aren't getting something "better" than what he's having) though I didn't do it, and she was fine. For my DD2, she ended up with about 20-25 foods that she could have. The GI doctor we saw said it was a very balanced diet though and she was okay to stay on it for at least 6 months before trialing anything new. I actually left her on it about a year and a half because I was scared to add any new foods. You can do this. Growth hormone is released when you sleep. For my kids, when they started sleeping, they had a big growth spurt. My DD2, at 4yo is still on a restricted diet. She started out at 50th percentile and even though she dipped for a while, she's at 60th percentile now. And sleeping and eating. And generally a very happy (non eczema) baby. And much healthier than her preschool counterparts. If he's not gaining, it may also be malabsorption issues (possibly stemming from intolerances).

Also I just read the Magnesium Miracle (by Carolyn Dean, MD) and I'm pretty sure there was something in there about magnesium deficiency and eating disorders. You might want to look into that for yourself.