multiple food allergies/slow weight gain

[alderson_gal]

My dd has multiple food allergies and sensitives and my question is does anyone else have a child with food allergies who is having trouble gaining weight? We typically do not give her any of the foods she is "allergic" to and minimze exposure to her sensitivities, most of which we cut out altogether. she has only gained about 2.7-3.5 oz in the last four months and she does eat well for her age and size. I am wondering if this is common with other children with food allergies.

[JaneS]

Yes, we have a friend IRL with a 2 year old who has celiac disease (gluten intolerance). The gut is damaged, cannot digest food properly and therefore nutrients cannot be absorbed.

She went on a gluten free diet and gained 4lbs in a month, she looks like a totally different kid. However, she didn't like to eat and had digestive problems.

From our experience with DS, food allergies are the result of problems in the gut. So I would guess that there *could* be something going on with the breaking down/absorbing of your little one's nutrients if her digestion is not working properly.

Has she always been small? This is hard to say what weight gain is normal for a particular child. Growth does slow down after a year. But I do agree with you, only a few ounces seems unusual. What are her allergies? What does she eat?

[alderson_gal]

my dd has always been on the small side but well within "normal" she was around 15.5 lbs at 6 months and 18.4 at 9 months and then 19.75 at 1 year now at 16 months she is at 20 even...with a cloth diaper on. She can't do milk(or any other dairy products), any food dye, wheat(sometimes we can get away with a little, but in larger quanities she spits up constantly), and she flat out refuses to eat meat 90% of the time.She also can't have citrus and a few random fruits and veggies that jst don't agree with her stomach. She drinks alot of soy and almond milk, eat brown rice and lentils, tons of peas and brocolli, berries and bananas, stir fry vegtable and sometimes chicken. Avacados and ssome nut products are also in her diet so that she can get more fat in her diet. We are trying cod liver oil aswell. It has been more recently that I realized her growth and wieght gain are changing. She is still growing taller but not much. The ped. might actually have something on this one, as much as I hate to admit it. I took her in last month and they complained about her size as usual but I just said that I was not concerned that she has always been tiny, but I think this is a big change.

[Panserbjorne]

So sorry. We went through this as well with dd. Turns out she had celiac disease and MULTIPLE food allergies. As soon as gluten was completely eliminated she started seating like you wouldn't believe and sleeping and smiling etc. She is actually gaining weight now after being FTT. She is 20 mo. and not quite 21 lbs. I hope you find your answers soon.