Has anyone had any experience with gluten allergy or intolerance?

[Ana Gram]

We are going through another awful eczema outbreak and are beginning to suspect it may be a food allergy. This past week, we have been trialing oat baths which are supposed to be great but now DD is almost covered head to toe in eczema.
And of course the only things she will actually eat are other gluten things like wheat etc.

Does anyone else have any experience with gluten free diets for a toddler??

[Briannabear]

All of us (DH, DD and I) are gluten and wheat intolerant, and its so frustrating!!
What sort of recipies are you after Chelle? We've been on this diet for quite a few years now so have come across some good products and recipies.
The hardest thing I find for my 18 month old DD is when we are out and about or at friends houses. She wants to eat whatever they are eating and sometimes its not possible.

[Ana Gram]

At the moment, just looking for an idea of what we can feed her. The only things she eats are Weetbix, bread, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, pasta, tiny teddy biscuits.... basically everything with gluten in it I am told.
Do you have to make everything from scratch?
Do you find shopping to be expensive buying gluten free products? We are on a single income and can't afford much more than $100 a week on groceries now. DP and I are wondering if he and I are looking at a life on two minute noodles so we can afford stuff for DD :gloomy:

[almond eyes]

My DS has no wheat allergies but I DO and yes, I get eczema when I have too much!!! I've recently seen an allergist and am currently on a vaccine and a 12 week elimination diet. Fortunately, my doctor gave me a list of alternatives so I don't miss out on some food too much. Instead of regular bread, he suggested that I have spelt which is meant to be gluten free. Spelt bread is available in kosher bakeries. It's actually very good. You can also try kamut bread. He suggested it but I couldn't find it anywhere, maybe you'll have better luck. If your bub likes pasta you can try rice pasta. It's stickier than regular pasta but if you cut it up for your little one, it really shouldn't matter. For snacks, there is always rice crackers. :)

Hope I was able to help. By the way, my allergist treats babies as young as 9 months so if your bub's eczema becomes unbearable (i know how itchy and uncomfortable it can get!) for her then you can always see one. :)

[Kari_Adel]

Hi there Chelle,

My little man Jake (now nearly 3) suffered terribly from eczema since he was about four months old (once introduced to solids).

We were referred to a paediatric allergy specialist (by our GP) to find the actual culprit of the allergy.. and found there to be a long list.. including wheat. There is a difference between WHEAT allergy and GLUTEN allergy. If your DD is reacting to GLUTEN, then she will be allergic to things such as wheat, rye, oats and more (all contain gluten). If only wheat, those other things can be OK.

I understand how frustrating it is.. to have a doctor simply say "don't give your baby gluten-products" when they are being introduced to solids. How many bubs do you see munching on milk-arrowroot biscuits, teething rusks, fingers of toasts, other snacks wrapped in bread crumbs!?

Also, my plump healthy boy started to thin out with a diet of rice crackers, rice biscuits, rice rice rice rice rice and yoghurt! Doesn't help that these products are usually 99% fat free!

Don't know if I've helped much.. but I can say with the right advice, Jake can basically eat anything now and his eczema is manageable as he rarely has outbreaks. Speak to your GP about being referred to a paeditrician specialising in food allergies - your DD may have to have a "p.rick-test" :( but its worth it to know EXACTLY whats causing the prob so you can have a plan of action and manage it properly if possible.

I've rambled on enough for now.. :ecomcity: :ecomcity: sorry guys..

Kari xo

PS: QV Body Wash in the bath was great for Jake.. and Dermaveen is a good cream also (spreads and soaks in easily). Keep in mind D/Veeen contains oatmeal so I think if your DD has a gluten allergy it wouldn't be suitable.. but if only wheat allergy then should be OK..

Also, keep in mind she could be allergic to milk which would also be in most of the products you listed..

Good luck! :kiss:

[Imgoingnuts]

Instead of regular bread, he suggested that I have spelt which is meant to be gluten free. Spelt bread is available in kosher bakeries.:)I am pretty certain Spelt flour does have gluten. Just looked it up.

"The gluten in this grain is "softer" and more gentle to the digestive system and many people who experience such symptoms as "bloating" and skin rashes, find that this provides an excellent alternative to normal wheats."

The best rice crackers I have found are Sakata. The only brand without gluten. Some of the other flavours do contain gluten (and milk too which is a prob for my boys). Reasonable substitute for teething rusks.

It's a toss up about pricing. I find I have to do more fresh food cooking (which is not such a bad thing). Initially the costs are more only to get yourself set up. Cereals are pricier ($5.70 for a small box of my son's favourite cereal). Rice pasta is quite nice but again a little pricier than wheat pasta.

A great alternative to chicken nuggets are to cut your own chicken breasts, flour (rice flour), egg and then crushed plain potato chips. You could even do that with fish as an alternative to fish fingers. Also this way you know exactly what is going into your child and less preservatives too which also may help with the exczema.

Look for a couple of good cookbooks and join the coeliac society which have good resources (www.coeliac.org.au (http://www.coeliac.org.au)). A cookbook called 'Friendly Foods' put out by the Royal Prince Alfred hospital is a great cookbook. HTH and feel free to ask any more questions.