It is normal for any parent to experience a roller coaster ride during feeding time with their kids. Remember those TV commercials where moms are chasing their kids with a whole entertainment production just to get their child eating a proper meal? It’s not really surprising that these happen in real life. Moms out there can testify.
But what we don’t know is that there are parents who have to make even more effort than others, especially when their kids have special dietary needs. This is perfectly the case when a child has Celiac disease.
Though most of the symptoms of Celiac disease are identical to both adults and children, some are more generally observed with children. These include growth problems, delayed puberty, dental problems, and iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
If you have a child who has Celiac disease, here are some tips to consider:
- Always check the food label of your groceries. It would really be helpful to scrutinize the ingredients indicated before serving those to your child. Good thing that the law requires that allergens such as gluten should be specified in the food label to help concerned consumers track the ingredients they are avoiding[2]. It pays to know what to watch out for since gluten sources are not always readily recognizable.
- Personally prepare their baon to school. That way, you will be able to make sure that your child will be eating the right food.
- Teach your child what gluten is and its sources. That way, they will understand even at a young age why it is important to be more watchful with what they eat. Encourage them to gradually adjust to a different lifestyle, for them to be able to cope easily with the non-conventional approach to food as they grow up.
- Always listen to your child when they share something about their condition. No one would know what they really feel but themselves. And it will be showing them the support they need.
- Medications recommended by the physician should be strictly monitored. It would also be beneficial to you and your child if they would develop the habit of tracking meds time.
- Did you know? Even some children’s toys may contain gluten especially play doughs[3]. So better make sure that their play area is also a safe spot for them.
Celiac disease in children might be rare to a lot of us. However, if you think that your child is experiencing some discomfort and irritation, diagnosing Celiac disease or as other allergies or food intolerance should be considered.
Moms and dads, would you like to share some other tips and your experiences while raising a child with celiac disease? Leave us a comment below!
Sources:
1.) D. Hill, MD, Ivor, and Ann Roland Lee, EdD, RD, LD. “Celiac disease in children.” uptodate.com. n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.
3.) Adams, Jefferson. “More kids’ toys going gluten-free.” Celiac.com. 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2016.
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