2yr DD diagnosed coeliac needs to gain weight

[offbeatgirl]

My DD has always been on the lower end of the weight centiles, but her weight plummeted after a stomach bug just over a month ago. After a worrying few days in hospital a blood screen revealed coeliac disease.

We know it'll take months before she fully recovers but we're struggling to get her to eat anything and her stomach is still really bloated. The hospital want to put in an ng tube if she doesn't start to gain weight soon. Does anyone have any experience and can give me an idea of how long it'll take from removing gluten from her diet before she'll start feeling like eating again? I'd love to avoid tube feeding if possible!

Many thanks

It took me a couple of weeks from full blown coeliacs (undiagnosed) to wanting to eat anything again. From this point a ng tube might not be a bad idea if she is dangerously underweight.

Beyond that, what does she like to eat? A very damaged gut can cause temporary lactose intolerance so that's something to watch out for. Try offering food little and often but I'd stick to a fairly normal range of foods if I were you. 2 is a time when they eat like sparrows anyway and food can also become a huge battleground - esp if she can sense you are worried (of course you are worried) and desperate for her to eat.

Honestly a ng tube so she can put on weight whilst regaining her appetite might not be the worst idea.

Thanks for the reply Barbarian. We did wonder about lactose intolerance and have tried switching her to lactose free milk and cheese. She seems to have a problem with chewy textures and we've not had much luck with gluten free pasta (she used to be a big pasta fan). We are having a bit more luck with the schar bread, and risotto.

I know an ng tube isn't the end of the world but she was distraught just getting bloods taken and it seems quite an invasive intervention if her appetite is going to return soon, so I'd be pleased if it wasn't needed. She does seem to be picking up a little now so I'm hoping a little weight will have gone back on when we're back in for our next appointment.

DD1 has coeliac disease and at the beginning we found potato (in various forms) really useful for helping her get back on track with eating. She was diagnosed at 8 years old and said it took about 3 weeks for her tummy to start to feel better so I do hope that your DD continues to pick up.

Here's my list of child friendly gluten free foods that my 2 year old eats

Birds eye potato waffles
Heinz baked beans
Heinz beans and sausages
Tilda mild curry rice pouches (for kids)
Chips times a million
Mini Schar gluten free pizzas. Morrison's have also started doing gf pizzas at their fresh counter
M&S gf chicken goujons
Asda chipolata sausages with most of the above - especially in a schar brioche roll to make a hotdog.
Omelette
Cottage Pie
Mash with peas and sausages or mince and gravy
Lasagne made with gluten free pasta sheets (white lasagne sauce in a jar is usually gluten free)
Asda mini gluten free donuts
Asda free from chocolate cake/loaf
Asda gluten free angel slices
Whitby or Tesco gluten free scampi
Asda gluten free chicken nuggets
Baked potatoes
Gluten free fish fingers
Spag Bol with GF pasta (Sainsbury's and barilla are the best)
Meatballs
Burgers, sometimes with a M&S white gf bun sometimes without
Sainsbury's GF triple chocolate cookies
Most supermarket own brand cereals (check with Coeliac Uk) or nestle free from cornflakes/ honey flakes
Nature's Path granola, gluten free yoghurt and honey

Oh and @offbeatgirl it's definitely worth joining the coeliac Facebook pages like Coeliacs in the Uk and nanny and me are gluten free for new meal ideas and a heads up about any new products.

Many thanks Bottomley and pastabest, it's great to get up to some helpful suggestions. We've had a bit of luck with pasta bake and buttery jacket potatoes this week. I do wonder if she acquired food aversions when she was unwell (she was being sick quite a lot) which will take a while to overcome, and that we should have another go at some of the things are rejected first time round, like the schar mini pizzas. She continues to improve in terms of energy, mood and weight gain. I'll take a look at those facebook groups