Gluten removal - specifics

[nayma]

cross posted in special needs...
hi, mamas! i recently removed gluten from my dd's diet - she's 3 and was diagnosed on the autism spectrum. so, of course this is a dumb question (humor me), but do tiny amounts of things like barley malt in a tea tend to really throw everything off? also, do you not allow kids to play with anything like playdough, even if you know they won't eat it? i'm trying to be thorough, but i'm trying to be realistic, too. oh, and like her favorite bread. it's gluten-free, but made in a factory where "wheat products are produced." what to do?? thanks so much!!

[changingseasons]

I think, at least in the beginning, it's best to make sure you are avoiding gluten completely- including those "made on shared equipment" foods. After you've been gluten free for a few months (3+), you could start trialing different foods (or other gluten-containing products) to see if symptoms change with trace amounts.

[TanyaLopez]

It's hard to know you'll see a reaction until you do. Early on GF (and CF) I reacted to very, very small amounts of gluten, I had to replace the plastic food storage containers I used to have, the gluten sticks into the plastic even through the dishwasher and can leach out with wet foods. As time has gone by, my son and I are noticing reactions less and less--I mean, we're not eating gluten-containing food on purpose, but I've gotten less careful about potential x-con and we haven't reacted.

And I took playdough out of our lives because although my son doesn't generally put stuff in his mouth, occasionally he will put his fingers in his mouth and playdough really sticks under the fingernails. I didn't feel like I could wash it all of thoroughly enough and consistently enough to make that safe. But there are GF playdoughs out there and if it's something your DD really enjoys, I'd seek those out.

[Manessa]

I teach preschool and last year I had a girl who was gluten free. Her mom really felt that even tiny amounts absorbed into her skin. She would make playdough for the class using rice flour, or I would buy gluten free playdough. HTH

[crunchy_mama]

If you are doing gf you really need to avoid all gluten, even small amounts and yes playdough is a no-no- even if they dont' purposely eat it as Tanya said it gets under their fingernails etc.

[nayma]

i really appreciate your replies . were there any other less obvious places/things where you discovered gluten in your lives?? for example, i heard stickers have gluten on them, but i never knew that before. TIA.

[JacquelineR]

Originally Posted by nayma

i really appreciate your replies . were there any other less obvious places/things where you discovered gluten in your lives?? for example, i heard stickers have gluten on them, but i never knew that before. TIA.

shampoos, soaps, cleaners. glue and other school/craft supplies

[TanyaLopez]

x-con at home: cutting boards, toasters, stuff with plastic that the food stays in contact with (the Ziploc brand plastic containers were bad for me, but my large plastic stirring spoons and spatulas have been fine)

x-con other places: beyond stuff that has wheat on the label, stuff made in wheat-y places, which is probably mostly smaller facilities--we got glutened by some hummus made at a local company (packaged and sold in local grocery stores) that was also well-known for their bread

DOG FOOD! Beware, even if your kid has never eaten dog food before, you never know the day they'll try it. And except for some really high-end brands, almost all of them have oats or barley. I have no idea about cat food.

If you need storebought broth, Pacifica brand is GF, most (all?) others have gluten.

I never knew about stickers, I knew they were an issue for corn, but didn't know gluten. I guess that's below our reaction threshold, we haven't had a problem.

[jewellz]

envelopes that you have to lick
huggies baby wipes
tooth polishing paste that they use at the dentist
medications
beauty products

cant think of others right now