GAPS diet - can anyone share experience?

[WoriedMama]

Hi, we are currently in the pathway to figure out if our DS (3) has autism or ADHD, he has speech delay and issues with social communication, lack of focus and other not typical neurological behaviours. We are staring early intervention ABA therapy soon (privately, just to catch up with other children regardless the diagnosis). Remembering all our experiences, I started thinking that DS could have a "leaky gut", he is very picky eater and had continuous issues like constipation and facial rashes when he was a baby up until 2,5 years. In my research I keep noticing that alternative path to reversing developmental delays is taking on GAPS diet, as it is proven to help children (and adults) to overcome difficulties.
Can anyone have any experience with GAPS diet ? Was it very difficult to get your child on it? Especially the child with picky eating habits.

Not heard of the GAPS diet. Have you tried asking in the SN Children section to see if anyone in there has tried it?

I'd suggest caution with any significantly restrictive diet like this. There doesn't seem to be any independent peer-reviewed evidence to show that it is effective at healing the conditions it claims to treat, and its restrictive nature means a person on that diet could develop nutritional deficiencies, as well as potentially a disordered relationship with food.

Have you spoken with an NHS or private paediatric dietitian, independent from the GAPS or other diet plans? They may be able to help you address any concerns you have aboit your child's diet.

I'd also suggest that, while some people find ABA helpful, it could be worth looking into the different perspectives on it to consider whether this feels like the right route for your child, especially if you haven't yet received a diagnosis and therefore presumably don't have a formulation of why and how his difficulties are arising. Some people like the idea of it for teaching their child to be 'less autistic' in their behaviours, but there are concerns about the approach and about the potential longer-term consequences of teaching a child at an early age that they have to modify so many aspects of their behaviour or be 'wrong' (being wrong can feel very scary). Again, I'd suggest speaking with professionals not involved with the private therapy (eg NHS clinicians) to see if they think this is the right intervention at the right time for your child.