Has anyone experienced improvements in sleep since cutting out allergenic foods?

[bodhitree]

I'm currently working on eliminating dairy and gluten from my diet and my DD's diet. I've had a suspicion in the back of my mind that she might have some food intolerances, and after she got a rash that wouldn't go away, I finally decided to try eliminating some stuff to see if that will help. Several different things make me think she might have some intolerances, but what I'm currently wondering about is sleep. She has always been a terrible sleeper. Now, at 19 months, she typically wakes 6 or so times per night. Often she will wake up and stay awake for a couple of hours in the middle of the night. We've tried all the usual stuff: No-Cry Sleep Solution, sleeping in a different place, good routines, etc., with only minimal improvement. So I'm wondering, I've seen in a number of places that frequent nightwaking can be a sign of food intolerances, but how often do people actually see solid improvement in sleep once problem foods are eliminated?

[RMM1117]

Us!  Within two days of cutting out dairy DD (13 months) went from waking 6 times a night to 3 times.  We are having some other food issues too tho. (suspected corn issue) so that has messed with the sleep.  But without that it went from 4 months of waking 6 times a night to 3 times.  HTH!

[mamafish9]

A lot.  I'd say it's one of the first symptoms people often see improve.

[bodhitree]

Thanks, mamas. I'm trying not to get too excited, but the last three days DD has taken easy three-hour naps (before I was having trouble getting her to nap more than an hour and a half) and has only woken three times per night instead of 6+. And now she sometimes wakes up calmly instead of crying! I hope this continues. It could really be a life-changer for our whole family.

I'm sure I'll be back in here to ask some more noob questions.

[kjbrown92]

Made a huge difference for us too. From waking up 12 times a night to sleeping through the night.

[scsigrl]

Within 48 hours we went from up 6-8 times a night to twice!  It was MAGIC!

It's tough but so so sooo worth it!

Good luck Mama!