Help! Sudden erratic, aggressive behavior in 2 year old

[Smalls181]

My younger sister is in desperate need of help with her DD, Z, turning 2 next week. This child has always been the definition of high spirited. But in the last 2 weeks she has become increasingly aggressive, violent towards the parents, very erratic behavior. My sister has even said that she will just get complete manic, bouncing off the walls, with this crazed look in her eye.

Mom had cut her off of nursing completely after this behavior started because Z was being so mean and aggressive with nursing. If she couldnt have it when she wanted, she would punch, pull hair, and throw severe tantrums.

Mom stays at home and dad works but is very involved. Dad is also allergic to just about everything, and has to take medicines to control his allergies. Mom has no known allergies. Is there a food allergy that stands out the most as being a possible culprit for these very erratic behaviors?

[jnet24]

That is how my son behaves when he has been eating Red Dye #40. When we completely cut that out he is still high spirited but not mean. We are getting him tested for other allergies as well but Red 40 made a huge difference for us. You really have to read the label because not just reddish stuff has it. Some mac and cheese and white frosting amoung other non red foods have it as well. Even some blue and green foods.

[kdtmom2be]

ALL reds for me, not just 40, and tartrazine. cut them out, you'll see a normal kid again.

[jnet24]

what is tartrazine and other reds??

[Smalls181]

Originally Posted by jnet24

what is tartrazine and other reds??

Yes, Ive never heard of it either. Is it listed in the ingredients as that?

[ASusan]

DS has food allergies (dairy, egg, wheat, peanut) and he gets aggressive-kicky-flailing while nursing if he's had an accidental exposure. He also flops around and arches and launches himself around the bed.

All of this happens primarily at nighttime. His daytime behaviors don't seem to the that affected. (He no longer nurses during the day, but he does nurse frequently at night, and it's just like nursing and egg beater or octopus when he's had an exposure.)

I can't comment on the food dye issue, as we have no experience or observed effects.

[BubbyBooty]

Originally Posted by ASusan

DS has food allergies (dairy, egg, wheat, peanut) and he gets aggressive-kicky-flailing while nursing if he's had an accidental exposure. He also flops around and arches and launches himself around the bed.

All of this happens primarily at nighttime. His daytime behaviors don't seem to the that affected. (He no longer nurses during the day, but he does nurse frequently at night, and it's just like nursing and egg beater or octopus when he's had an exposure.)

I can't comment on the food dye issue, as we have no experience or observed effects.

ok this might sound wierd but it works sometimes. It worked with my kids. Go buy a caned Coke. Has to be in a can. (don't know why it works but only the canned one does) give her half of the can in a cup when she is manic. Don't know why but with most kids, it calms them down.

[kdtmom2be]

Sorry, didn't see the questions until today. There are other reds than just Red #40 and I react to ALL of them. Red# 2 and Red #4 have been banned as they have been found to be carcinogenic (cancer causing). Red #5, Red #7 and some others are sometimes listed specifically, but often the labelling requirements for foods only require the manufacturer to list them as "color".

I also react to tartrazine, which is a yellow colour but is often listed on labels as "tartrazine" (Koolaid for example) but is sometimes just listed as "color".

Speaking of labelling requirements, if it is below a certain level the manufacturer can sometimes get away without listing thier colors because they are considered a "manufacturing aid". There are several manufacturers that I know add colour because I have tried to drink thier juices and react to them. Ocean Spray is one of the only juices I drink now because I KNOW that they don't add colour. I have cut artificial dyes of all sorts out of our diet here in all foods and it has vastly improved my quality of life. I don't know if my kids react to dyes like I do because they've never had any. Smarties has gone to all natural derived colours (which is why there are no blue Smarties any more) and we buy organic coloured pasta that is coloured with vegetable dyes. Other than that our food is pretty bland color-wise except for fruits and veggies! (and my Doritos addiction)