I don't know what to title this, possible gluten issues in 2yo...

[crunchy_mommy]

DS has been GF for 2 weeks now & until yesterday, he seemed better than ever. However it's really hard to be sure because his main symptoms -- crying/screaming, poor sleep -- could easily be the result of anything from a missed nap to a new tooth. How do you know for sure if it's gluten?? I guess I'm really asking because he had a rough day/evening yesterdayfor the first time since starting GF, and slept horribly all night. But he also missed his nap (well, he slept 10 minutes in the car) -- totally my fault... He did play with playdough for a few minutes yesterday evening but he's played with it before too and seemed fine.

This is just frustrating. When *I* went GF for my own issues when he was 18mos old, I did notice a big improvement in him, and there does seem to be a loose correlation between him eating gluten & having a bad day. He's now 2 & since I had him go completely GF a couple weeks ago, I felt like I had a whole new kid... but maybe it's all just coincidence & he just happens to often have 'good' days and 'bad' days??????

[lessmith23]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

since I had him go completely GF a couple weeks ago, I felt like I had a whole new kid...

This was our experience when we went completely GF with our DD (18mo).  Prior to she was clingy, whiny, lethargic, constantly wanting to be held and a truly awful sleeper.  We also struggled with terrible constipation.  Within 2 days of being GF she was pooping on her own without pain, sleeping good long stretches at night without waking and acting much happier overall.

After seeing it first hand I would never discount the affects food allergies can have on all facets of life. 

[crunchy_mommy]

OK that makes sense... but the last 2 days he's been a mess!!! He's been nursing non-stop and threw up twice (but he isn't sick??? once was carsick and I'm not sure about the second time) and he hasn't had any gluten... So I'm so confused and don't know what to do!!!!!

[lastrid]

Maybe he ate a little of the play-doh this last time?  I would skip the play-doh and get some Crayola modeling dough (I think that's what it's called) or make your own GF dough while you're trying it out.  You never know what a toddler's going to do with a food-like substance.

[crunchy_mommy]

Yeah, it's possible he ate the playdough, we were at a friend's house & he was in the other room. However, he's been a bit of a wreck for 3 days now, which obviously wouldn't still be due to playdough. I'm thinking it's a bizarre reaction to nightweaning (just started a few days before he went downhill)... I guess I will give him a few more days to adjust to the nightweaning before evaluating whether GF is affecting him in any way... *sigh* (This would be so much easier if he reacted with a rash or something... mood/behavior/etc. can have so many varied causes...)

[lastrid]

Actually, a gluten reaction lasts 3-4 days for me, so I wouldn't rule it out totally.