Weaning a baby with wheat/gluten allergy

[IWillOnlyEatBeans]

My DS2 is 7 months and seems to have an allergy to wheat and/or gluten.

We have been weaning for about a month now (a mix of purees and finger food) and he has come out in a horrible itchy rash (very similar to nettle rash) after chewing on toast (twice), sucking a tortilla wrap and licking a rusk.

I have taken him to the Dr but they have refused to do an allergy test as he is a big baby (91st centile) - the Dr said they would only do an allergy test if he was failing to thrive. So I am guessing at wheat/gluten allergy rather than knowing it for definite. He has had gf and wf bread without any issues.

I had been hoping to move DS onto family meals quite quickly, but am struggling, as we seem to exist solely on gluten and wheat! Pasta, noodles, tortillas, pastry...

So I was just wondering how others had managed to wean a baby with similar allergies. What alternatives did you use? And do I need to push my GP for a proper allergy test?

TIA

Not had a baby with an allergy but from what you describe I would push the go for testing or a referral to a Paed. Do you have someone you can take to the Gap with you? Its infuriating but our GPs always listen to DH more than they ever Do me.

Have you tried the allergies board for suggestions too? And if you want to get Lo onto family meals, I can recommend Sainsburys Freefrom Korma and Nans

Firstly i am not by any means a medical expert but thought i would share my experience!

I have coeliac disease which is the diagnosed name for people with gluten
/wheat allergy!
I wad not diagnosed till I was six! They told my mother that she was being clucky whenever she took me to the doctors - they only did a test in the end as my dad was diagnosed. My sisters have also been diagnosed in their twenties!

I now have an 8 month old daughter who is being given wheat and gluten on advice from health visitors, GP and coeliac society. I watch for symptoms like a hawk but so far she seems ok......(touching lots of wood) lol!

However the thing about getting a diagnosis for coeliac is that you have to eat wheat and gluten in order for them to see there is an issue. It is double edged sword! The gluten and wheat, if a person has the allergy, will effect villi in the intestine and prevent them from absorbing nutrients and all the other good stuff people need to thrive and be healthy! This leads to weight loss etc... Which would lead to a doctor being able to spot there was an issue in tests.

So as horrible as it is it could be beneficial in the long run to keep your son on a diet that includes wheat - he will very quickly lose weight if he has coeliac. Plus a diagnosis through your GP will entitle him to wheat free products on prescription. You can also tell your GP - "I told you so"!

Perhaps contact the coeliac society for advice and to see what other symptoms to look out for.

And keep pushing the GP! My mum got there eventually ( with a little help from my dad)

Good luck!

Thanks.

Tried him on egg this week and he is allergic to that too, so I think I'll go back to the GP.

I would, sounds like he needs a referral, some testing and to see a Paed dietician.

Best to see a pead but when weaning dd2 who was intolerant to almost everything (or so it seemed - milk, soya, potato, rice, wheat), she was fine on quinoa and polenta (bought the powdered one and added to meat & veg puree). Never bought the stuff before or since well might have done for ds, can't quite remember but it was starchy and got us through a few tough months. Finger food was grim though - organix crisps rings a bell - think that is corn. With mine though it wasn't the gluten which was the problem, so not sure if that is all gluten free.