Behavior in 2yo & food allergies

[MamaChick]

My little girl will be 2 this week. I have done no dairy for her since she was 2 mos and I was EBF b/c she was getting eczema and colicky. I tried when she was older giving her little bits of cheese which she absolutely LOVES and goes nuts for...it seemed to make her ever present constipation problems worse so I cut it back out. For the past few weeks we've been eating yogurt here and there. Today is about the 3rd time she has gone nuts and hit me and really seemed crazy and out of her head when she did it. I finally realized - duh the yogurt! She watches no TV other than NickJr. sometimes and has never seen anyone hit anyone, so it's so shocking coming from her. So I am cutting it out FOR GOOD. Now I'm just starting to wonder is this also the cause of her chronic constipation? And she has never been a good sleeper. Fights sleep like no other and also wakes several times a night. Could this all be related? Could this also be why she had colic?

She gets very little wheat/gluten but I assume I should also try to cut that out completely. Anything else?

She eats a mainly fruit/veggie/seeds diet. Very little meat or wheat b/c I think that makes the constipation worse. No sugar. No artificial dyes. Strictly organic and mostly fresh foods.

Can someone help me get started on an elimination diet? What foods CAN she eat?

Other question, she is still nursing. Does this mean I need to cut all these foods out of my diet? That would be really, really hard.

Any help is very appreciated.

[kjbrown92]

I would start out by cutting all dairy (even hidden) from your diet and hers. And see where that gets you. Also start a food journal to see if you can ferret out the other foods that may be a problem. But if you haven't gone off milk and she's sensitive to it, that could just be the only problem (wouldn't that be nice). If there are still issues, then I would eliminate gluten (for both of you), then soy, then corn. That seems to be the order for most common food intolerances.

For your food journal, write down to ingredient level, and write down all symptoms on each day. You are looking for patterns. She may get symptoms directly and through you.

But yes, it can definitely all be related.

[JaneS]

She is continuing to fight sleep on her current diet?

For my DS, it is food chemical intolerance to salicylates that causes eczema, behavioral issues, urine leakage, diarrhea (although constipation is also a reaction in some kids too) and sleep fighting. I think with a mainly fruit/veggies/seeds diet this could be likely as that diet would be very high in salicylates.

(Also kids need cholesterol for brain and nerve development and fat soluble vitamins, does she eat eggs? I'd be concerned with a child on this diet but I'm not trying to be critical, I used to be veg*n so I understand.)

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.in...actallergy.htm
http://failsafediet.wordpress.com/

Epsom salts baths help a great deal, he is up to 1 cup per bath most nights. We also do high magnesium baths too. He has issues with calcium regulation which can also be a factor in behavior. Other supplements discussed in the Salicylates, Amines, Histamine Tribe thread.

[MamaChick]

Originally Posted by JaneS

She is continuing to fight sleep on her current diet?

For my DS, it is food chemical intolerance to salicylates that causes eczema, behavioral issues, urine leakage, diarrhea (although constipation is also a reaction in some kids too) and sleep fighting. I think with a mainly fruit/veggies/seeds diet this could be likely as that diet would be very high in salicylates.

(Also kids need cholesterol for brain and nerve development and fat soluble vitamins, does she eat eggs? I'd be concerned with a child on this diet but I'm not trying to be critical, I used to be veg*n so I understand.)

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.in...actallergy.htm
http://failsafediet.wordpress.com/

Epsom salts baths help a great deal, he is up to 1 cup per bath most nights. We also do high magnesium baths too. He has issues with calcium regulation which can also be a factor in behavior. Other supplements discussed in the Salicylates, Amines, Histamine Tribe thread.

Oh yes, lots of eggs. Sorry I left that out. I worry too much sometimes because I know they are a common allergen too. She does get meat/grains as well, just when she gets costipated I take it back to just fruits & veggies...and she loves pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, etc. She is a tough one to figure out. I am positive now that dairy is a problem, I just don't know what else. I just can't stand to think that something is bothering her or going on in her body that I can't figure out!

What do the Epsom Salt baths help with?

[JaneS]

Epsom salts have magnesium and sulfur and help process the salicylates in fruits/veggies, they are calming. Although when I first tried them with DS he got hyperactive, I had to start slow and build up. Maybe b/c they were jumpstarting his detox or something.

[MamaChick]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

I would start out by cutting all dairy (even hidden) from your diet and hers. And see where that gets you. Also start a food journal to see if you can ferret out the other foods that may be a problem. But if you haven't gone off milk and she's sensitive to it, that could just be the only problem (wouldn't that be nice). If there are still issues, then I would eliminate gluten (for both of you), then soy, then corn. That seems to be the order for most common food intolerances.

For your food journal, write down to ingredient level, and write down all symptoms on each day. You are looking for patterns. She may get symptoms directly and through you.

But yes, it can definitely all be related.

Thank you. Day 2 of absolutely no dairy for either of us. It's fairly easy for her but I really miss my cheese and ranch dressing! She has definitely not shown any aggressive behavior so that is a big positive.

[MamaChick]

Originally Posted by JaneS

Epsom salts have magnesium and sulfur and help process the salicylates in fruits/veggies, they are calming. Although when I first tried them with DS he got hyperactive, I had to start slow and build up. Maybe b/c they were jumpstarting his detox or something.

Thanks, I have some and think I'll try it tonight. How much would you suggest starting with?

and I didn't answer you other question, yes she fights sleep pretty much always. She has been this way as long as I can remember so maybe it is just in her nature but I'm hoping after a few weeks of no dairy I'll see some improvement and we'll both get a little more sleep!

[JaneS]

It wasn't my DS's nature, he sleeps great now so there's hope!

I re-started with an 1/8th cup in a bath, soak 20 mins. because my DS reacted so strongly at first.

[kjbrown92]

My DS was the same way -- fighting sleep forever, until we finally got all the food triggers out. Then falls asleep within 5 minutes. Amazing really!