22 Month having challenges

[Trenamt]

Hello. I'm new to the forum, so this may have been addressed before, so please forgive me if it has. I have a 22 month old who still nurses as his primary food source. My challenge has been that he will not eat, and when he does he gets constipated. I didn't even begin to introduce solids until he was 8 months, but I kept having to stop giving him solids because he would get constipated. I also have a 4 year old, and when my youngest decided to eat - it was not foods that are best for constipation. He will eat Heart to Heart cereal, and things like couscous, quinoa, spaghetti - so to those dishes I add flax oil and flax seed. Other foods that I give him he chews up and spits out - things like apples, bananas, pears, raisins, carrot, cucs... I do give him raw apple juice - usually 8 oz per day. He did okay with the carrot juice, but my pediatritian said that the carrot could be causing the constipation due to the high starch content.
Any suggestions or thoughts would be helpful as I would like to begin weaning, but am concered about him getting enough to eat. Thanks!
Trena

[kjmckenzie]

How about using high fiber pasta in your spaghetti, and pureeing veggies in the sauce if he eats sauce. Also, I would try to get him eating lentils, beans, and hummus since he seems to like starchy foods, and those are high in fiber.

Maybe also try some smoothies with fruit (and veggies )in them? I put a little orange juice and plain soy yoghurt in mine and they taste like creamsicles.

I would also wonder about the apple juice because it is high in sugar which I think helps to constipate. Water is best to drink and helps with constipation as well.

Lastly, you could try making high fiber muffins and make sure any bread he eats is 3 grams of fiber per slice.

Hope this helps!

[vegma]

I've read that children that delay solids often have food allergies and this is their way of "protecting" themselves. I definitely wouldn't wean at this point. At least you know your little one is getting a well-balanced diet through breastmilk! If the fruit gets chewed up and spit back out, can you try fruit smoothies? Don't peel any fruit with nutritious peels, don't add sweeteners, just use fruit and maybe a little water for a more drinkable consistency. Good luck!

[Trenamt]

Thanks for your input so far. It's interesting that allergies were mentioned because I suspect a wheat allergy, and have just begun to eliminate that from his diet. It is terribly difficult to do that, but I've replace pastas with those made with quinoa and rice, and have cut out the couscous. I'll see how that changes things.

I had tried smoothies once before, but he didn't respond very well. I think maybe the berry seeds he didn't like (rasperry and strawberry). It may be that they are too thick and he cannot get them out of his sippy cup. He has started drinking from staws, so maybe I can try that.

Thanks again.

[vegma]

I know removing wheat from the diet can seem very daunting, especially when we're vegan! We've been gluten-free for a year now (not counting the gluten challenge on ds), and it does get easier with time! Tinkyada makes a good whole grain brown rice pasta too. Believe it or not, my son enjoys the following green smoothie! 1 cup water, 2 small oranges, 3 bananas, and enough spinach to top up the blender. Its a beautiful green color and really very sweet ... and no berry seeds! It makes enough for 2 mugs and 1 cup. You can always add water to make it thinner.

[shai]

I'm not sure what you mean by constipated, like he won't go at all? Or when he goes is it hard and does he have to strain a lot? Some people think their children are constipated when really it's what is normal for them. From what I know about breast fed babys they don't poop as much as babys who are not breast fed...but we aren't talking about a baby any more, he's a toddler. He should be on solids, and should have been awhile a go. you might want to take him to see a pediatric gastroenterologist and a feeding clinic at children's hospital.
As for food allergies, if he is not displaying signs I would not see why you have any reason to suspect it. I have multiple food allergies and so does my son, and we both also have GERD. Our diets are very restricted and it is not much fun, believe me. Symptoms of food allergy are: hives, eczema, astham/weezing/coughing, blood in stool, vomiting, swelling of the tongue and throat. A wheat gluten intolerance is not an allergy, and is very rare. I would not start on a restricted diet until a diagnosis is made. Blood tests for food allergies and gluten intolerance can be done in your doctors' office. They just take a tube of blood, send it away, and a week later you will know. Be certain not to have your child eating gluten when the gluten intolerance blood test is done. In order for the blood test to be accurate your child has to be exposed to the gluten.
Let me know how it turns out.

[Trenamt]

By constipated I mean he will not go for 3-7 days and when he does it is a very hard stool. It is very traumatic for him. He strains, and screams and cries. It has gotten to the point where I think he is witholding his bm because it hurts so much and he is fearful.
I'm not sure I want to do all kinds of allergy testing right now. I'd rather eliminate the wheat and see if that helps. He does also have eczema, and when he was a baby he frequenly had yeast under his arms and in the rolls of fat. The Dr. just thought it was because of his fat not staying dry, but I'm not sure now. Although my dr is not opposed to my vegan diet, I really don't think he has a clue about nutrition and such.
If we do continue to have problems I will get testing done, but I want to hold off on that for a little bit. I didn't know what kind of speciallist to go to, so thanks for your input.

[vegma]

Originally posted by shai
A wheat gluten intolerance is not an allergy, and is very rare.

I must disagree with the "rareness" of the condition. It is estimated that 1 in 133 people in this country have Celiac. There are many more people with sensitivities (not necessarily allergies) to gluten. My son's personality changes (from easy going to angry/teary) and I get fatigued when we consume gluten. Why continue to eat something that is so obviously damaging to us? I think mom's are more than qualified to determine if their child is reacting to a food!

Trenamt, I've read that its very common for children to withhold bm's which then leads them to be constipated (or further constipated as the case may be). Sorry, I can't remember what to do about it!

[kjmckenzie]

I was exactly the same as your son when I was little. As soon as I went vegan everything changed because I ate so much more fiber. I also have to stay away from anything white: bread, pasta, rice etc. and just eat whole grains. This is the most important aspect for me, even one day eating out can make or break me. Also, cutting out juices and eating the whole fruit and just drinking water helps.

Have you tried whole oatmeal? It has lots of fiber in it and stays with you. My son was a picky eater, but now he loves oatmeal for breakfast. You can put fruit in it and cinnamon to make it special. You could also try whole grain pancakes with applesauce and maple syrup for breakfast. Most kids like sweet things.

I have also heard that lots of people have wheat sensitivities. I too am trying to reduce the amount of wheat we eat. We eat kamut pasta, I bake with whole spelt flour, barley flour, and kamut flour (although I know some of them have gluten). So by all means I think reducing or eliminating wheat is a good thing.

Good luck, and I can't stress enough: fiber, fiber, fiber!

[kjmckenzie]

question for vegma:

how do you put oranges into a smoothie, just by the sections? Does the "skin" of the sections puree ok? I was going to add a grapefruit to mine this morning but wasn't sure.

thanks!

[Trenamt]

In cooking with other types of flours, are their other things you have to add to the recipe or is there a recipe book for those trying to eliminate wheat? I've made bran muffins several times using bran, spelt and flax seed. He likes everything but the raisins. I really think the challenge to is to get him to eliminate and not hold on to it., and with the other things I'm doing it will help.
Thanks,
Trena

[azroc]

I would strongly recommend seeing a homoeopath, but make sure it is a real, classical homoeopath - one who takes the whole case (life history) and gives only ONE dose of ONE remedy. This is very important as long-term use of a remedy can lead to the remedy "proving itself" which means causing the problem it is supposed to be treating. The remedy then runs its course, often taking months, before another will be prescribed. A good homoeopath will be happy to be asked questions about the way they practice. Sorry if I sound a bit preachy, but homoeopathy is so misused - in its true form it is amazingly, unbelievably effective. If you struggle to find one, let me know and I will see if my homoeopath can recommend somebody in your part of the world. Good luck and I really hope you find a solution soon! Alison.

[Trenamt]

I'd be interested in knowing about a homoeopath. I have been skeptical because so many have bad experiences with them. I do think in other countries they are used more widely than in the US, and I also think they are better creditialed. But I'd be open to that - I've just never persued it because I don't know what to look for to make sure they are valid and really know their stuff.
Thanks,
Trena

[kjmckenzie]

Vive Le Vegan has a lot of wheat free recipes. I love the stork muffins and the spelt chocolate chip cookies although I don't put in the dry sweetener they call for-too sweet for me. I also made a wheat free cake from that book that was good. I used whole spelt flour in all of the recipes and they turned out fine, it didn't say whether to use whole or white spelt flour.

[azroc]

I'm on the case. Just trying to find my homoeopath's email address, then will ask him who he can recommend.... I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[vegma]

Originally posted by kjmckenzie
question for vegma:

how do you put oranges into a smoothie, just by the sections? Does the "skin" of the sections puree ok? I was going to add a grapefruit to mine this morning but wasn't sure.

thanks!

Yes, I just peel the oranges, leaving as much of the white as possible on them since it has so much of the nutrients. I have a high-powered blender so it has no trouble with them. :)

[kjmckenzie]

Thanks! I am not sure how high powered my blender is. But I will try it. I added pineapple the other day and some of the "threads" were still there. Blech, I hate chunks in my smoothies! Hopefully someday I will be able to buy a Vitamix...sigh...

[azroc]

Sorry it took a while to get back to you. I've just had a reply from my homoeopath. He says he only actually knows of one in America who he would be happy to recommend, although I'm sure she would know of others if she is too far away from you. It's well worth getting in touch. The contact details are:
Janice McGrady
11384 Longbottom Road
Traphill
North Carolina
28685
Telephone:001 336 903 0076
I really hope this helps!!
Best of luck, Alison.

[Trenamt]

Thanks Alison. North Carolina is close enough. I'll contact her and see what the situations is with appointments and such. Thanks again. Trena

[shai]

Originally posted by Trenamt
By constipated I mean he will not go for 3-7 days and when he does it is a very hard stool. It is very traumatic for him. He strains, and screams and cries. It has gotten to the point where I think he is witholding his bm because it hurts so much and he is fearful.
I'm not sure I want to do all kinds of allergy testing right now. I'd rather eliminate the wheat and see if that helps. He does also have eczema, and when he was a baby he frequenly had yeast under his arms and in the rolls of fat. The Dr. just thought it was because of his fat not staying dry, but I'm not sure now. Although my dr is not opposed to my vegan diet, I really don't think he has a clue about nutrition and such.
If we do continue to have problems I will get testing done, but I want to hold off on that for a little bit. I didn't know what kind of speciallist to go to, so thanks for your input.

I understand your frustration, but the problem with pulling stuff out of his diet is it could be multiple allergies causing his distress. Pull wheat out he might seem to get better, and then worse, and that may be because he is also allergic to soy or corn. Then it gets confusing and more frustrating because you begin to feel that everything is causing an allergic reaction. If you are refusing medical testing, then diving into a full blown elimination diet is a better course of action then pulling things here and there and hoping to see an improvement.
Yeast in the skin folds is from too much moisture. I'm surprised at 20+ months your child still has rolls! Corn starch might help keep him dry. As for the eczema, medicated tar ointment is the greatest topical treatment I have found yet. I have suffered from food allergis and eczema for years. I speak from experience. I have been to all kinds of doctors in many states, even to the Mayo clinic for my multiple allergies. I eat vegan out of necessity more than anything. I'm deathly allergic to milk and eggs. Even eating things made in the same factory as milk and eggs will cause anaphelectic reactions. I'm mildly allergic to beef and poultry. Most people don't believe me when I tell them the things I have to avoid because of my allergies, even allergy medcations have milk in them, like Advair for asthma, and zyrtec. Most medications I have to get compounded or in an oral suspension. Even a lot of coffees will cause asthma symptoms in me because the beans are often clarified with eggs or milk ingredients to keep them from being water soluable. I live in an apartment building and if someone is cooking animal products I can get extremely ill.
Food allergies are rare, and I know this because a lot of people who claim to have them don't have to avoid everything like I do. It can be debilitating. And wheat, it's in more things that youprobably realize! Don't let your son drink dark colas, the caramel flavoring is made with wheat as an ingredient. It's not as easy as avoiding pasta and bread, you got to look at every ingredient in every thing your child ingests and know labeling.
As for taking wheat out of your sons diet, you really need to get a professional medical opinion. Your son is worth the extra expense.
Good luck.

[Trenamt]

Wow Shai. That must be so difficult for you with all of the allergies that you have. I'm so sorry, and I understand where you are coming from. We are self insured and my husband really does not believe it warrants the extra expense. I'm also hesitant, becuase although I feel like Drs can be useful, I don't always take what they say to be "gospel" and my husband does. We already have a pretty strict diet - no dairy, no eggs, no animal products, no corn (except for my husband and older son), no soy, no sugar (again except for my husband and older son), about the only thing I have not eliminated is the wheat, and I'm not sure that it is an allergy, but just too much of it in his diet - it was THE only thing he would eat, and I think too much of anything can be harful for the body. We have been making progress. He is drinking banana milk, he ate 1/4 of an apple 2 days this week, he has eatten some shredded, cooked veggies, some quinoa and millet. And he has not had a difficult stool in about 10 days, and his bms are more regular. I would say definite improvement!! Thanks so much for your concern and giving me something to think about.
Trena

[kjmckenzie]

Hooray! that is fantastic news. You deserve all the credit and I am so glad your son is feeling better. Keep it up!

[shai]

Trena, I can relate to the restricted diet. My son has food allergies and reflux, like me. We both don't eat spicy or greasy foods. He is allergic to dairy and soy, and I am allergic to dairy and eggs. He's not eating any of the top allergens yet except wheat. We started him on wheat at about 18 months and he does well. We will not give him any other allergens until he is old enough to understand allergic reactions and how to express his physical discomforts to us. I have life threating anaphelectic reactions, so we are playing very safe with him.
I have to stress though, we see a specialist at children's hospital and they are very good. I don't take what doctors say as gospel, but I use them as part of my sons allergy 'program", and mine. Your husband should care enough about your son to know that he is worth the added expense. I would be pretty mad if my husband said something as cold and insensitive about our son.
I hope everything works out for your son and that he improves with age.