Why doesn’t my toddler have an appetite? What happened to the good natured baby I used to know? How come my child isn’t growing normally? Have you asked yourself any of these questions? You may have a toddler with Celiac Disease.
When my son had his one year check up the doctor was concerned that he was not growing normally. My wife and I are on the small side so we were not concerned that he was small. But we were told that his growth was stunted and he had fallen off of the growth chart.
We realized that his hair was not growing and even his teeth were coming in slowly. I was at a store with my son and had a complete stranger ask me, “don’t you feed that boy?” I knew something wasn’t quite right but my wife and I just didn’t know what.
After seeing a specialist, we realized that we have a toddler with Celiac Disease. I had never heard of it before. Luckily, a lifestyle change is all that is needed to combat this problem. We changed his diet and have seen a dramatic improvement in his health. He is a much happier child and is growth is back on track.
The MAYO CLINIC defines Celiac Disease as….
A digestive condition which occurs when the body consumes the protein Gluten. Gluten is found in bread, cookies, pizza crust, and other foods that contain wheat, barley or rye.
When the person with this disease eats food containing Gluten, they have an immune reaction in their small intestine. This causes damage to the inner surface of the small intestine and they are unable to absorb certain nutrients.
Check out this SHORT VIDEO explaining Celiac Disease presented by the Mayo Clinic.
There are many places where you can get gluten free food these days. Your local grocery store more than likely will have a section dedicated to gluten free foods. There are specialty stores and online retailers that focus on foods for people with Celiac Disease.
Many foods are naturally free of gluten: meats, most dairy, some cereals, fruits and vegetables.
Your pediatrician may not know much about this subject. We learned more by studying on our own through the internet and books. Starting a new diet for your child can be tough at first, but don’t get discouraged. It is easier to start when a child is young then when they already have their eating habits established later in life.
Find out if anyone in your family has Celiac Disease (not just immediate family). We found out that my aunt has this disease and we suspect that Carson’s grandmother may have a sensitivity to gluten.
If you want a jump start in helping your toddler live gluten free…
HOW TO RAISE GLUTEN FREE KIDS GUIDE is a must read blueprint created by parents of kids who have Celiac Disease.
YOU WILL LEARN:
* What foods you can give your child and which to avoid
* Cheat sheet for shopping at the grocery store
* Links between bad behavior and gluten intolerance
* 3 best tips for starting your child on a gluten free diet from 3 different families
* How to safely take your child to restaurants
* Over 300 symptoms to look for
* Tests a doctor can perform to check your toddler for Celiac
CHECK OUT some suggested reading on how to help your toddler with Celiac Disease live Gluten Free.
