Eliminating gluten then dairy while bf - what do I need to stop eating?

[EmmaLL25]

Out of desperation I'm now checking if good sensitivities are having an impact on LOs sleep (11 month old).

Starting with gluten - I've got him all sorted with gluten free food and alternatives but do I need to go gluten free too as I'm still bf?

If that has no impact we will try dairy free. Am I right in thinking I need to go dairy free in advance so the milk proteins are out of my milk?

Thanks for advice.

If you're still BF and your child has CMPI, yes, you'll need to go dairy free as well as the protein passes through into breastmilk - someone more knowledgeable than me can probably tell you how long it takes to clear your system. Quick Google search indicates that gluten may pass into breastmilk as well.

Have you had any tests or any other indication other than bad sleep that your child reacts to dairy and gluten? It's a big restriction to make in both your diets if your child doesn't actually have an intolerance/allergy, and anyone I know who reacts to either has a range of symptoms (quite serious ones in the case of those with full-blown coeliac).

I think if anything we're talking about a sensitivity rather than intolerances because no severe symptoms - and really I'm just getting desperate about his sleep and am willing to try anything now.

LO is windy in night and is farting a lot when we're trying to settle him.

Tummy often looks bloated.

Frequent night wakings despite being able to self-settle.

Smelly pops that are very soft (when first weaned and not having bread they were a putty consistency, now they are usually mushy).

I know these could all be normal things for a baby or due to other things but I'm willing to try anything now!

Yeah, they do all sound within the bounds of normality, including mushy poos. Actual baby diarrhoea is pretty unmistakable, IME - very liquid, pale yellow/greenish, and absolutely foul smelling.

Hope you get some sleep soon.

I would have thought by 11 mos you would have had more serious symptoms tbh
Elominating either of those things is really hard work andpptentially restrictive.nutrition wise, so wpuld need careful planning and use of supplements

My DD is similar but also comes up with a small rash, so we are also gluten, dairy, soya free and I'm really hoping it will improve her sleep, as she can also self settle.

I've got replacements for all the wheat things he would normally have. Also give a Multi-vitamin. Think it might be harder with dairy.

He does have mild excema on his face and sort of rough skin elsewhere which is responding well to creams.

I just feel something isn't quite right but I don't know what. Could just be my sleep deprivation making me deluded though. I know I don't respond well to too much bread and there are a lot of stomach issues on my side of the family (IBS etc.)

We've seen the doc a lot over past few months with ear and chest infections and they've not spotted anything else medically wrong.

When I've spoken to HV about sleep its all about self-settling, which he can do. So not sure what else to do!

Sounds like a plan, i may be wrong but isn't it more likely to be the allergen is wheat? In breastmilk it is only the proteins from foods you eat that are transferred, so as I understand it you would be dealing with a wheat allergy. Not a gluten intolerance - that would be from eating the food directly. Could be wrong there though!
I would keep a really careful food diary for both yourself and your son, noting rashes, eczema flare ups, poos, mood and sleep. A month would be a sensible duration to test, to allow you to see any pattern emerge. If there is improvement, eat a small amount or give him some directly. This is a food challenge and the only way to prove foods and symptoms are linked.
I reccomend the allergies board ,lots of knowledgeable people on there
Good luck

There are lpts of knowledgeable p

Thanks for advice.

A few days in and poos have stopped being mushy, they don't smell as much.

Not much change in sleep though, but he's got an awful cold so not expecting it to improve through that.

I found cutting dairy from my diet and DDs resolved her poos and eczema problems. Ours started from birth and resolved quickly after cutting dairy. It's not as big of a change as some people say it is...there is plenty of things out there and you can cook a ton of stuff using almond and coconut flour.