https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 17:56:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833871 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:17:25 +0000 Mrsbells 2833871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: oh sounds like you are doing everything you can do! Fingerscrossed you figure out the specific culprit </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833866 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 15:41:18 +0000 caitcat 2833866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: We tracked her water intake for a while because the pediatrician was sure she just wasn't drinking enough water. And she drinks at least 50-60 oz a day of mainly water, but also some almond milk with meals. She has a water bottle on her at all times and loves to refill it from a dispenser thing we keep in the kitchen. I mean, she could certainly drink more, but I feel like she's doing okay. I'm just grateful she'll willingly drink water...she fights me on almost everything I suggest she do, so I'm glad she decided she likes doing that on her own. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833833 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:58:17 +0000 Mrsbells 2833833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: hopefully you figure it out soon! Does she drink a lot of water? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833827 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:40:40 +0000 caitcat 2833827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: Yes, we love that trick! You can get a lot disguised in a smoothie. :) It was never enough to really make a difference for her though, unfortunately. She's been on Miralax for the last year - and that was the biggest difference maker so far, along with eliminating dairy. I know the Miralax isn't not a long term solution though, and each time we try to back off, she runs into major problems again. It might just be that it takes more time and will work itself out. I'm hopeful we'll get there one day soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833823 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:36:31 +0000 caitcat 2833823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: Absolutely! I'm a bit worried my regular pediatrician will think I'm overreacting pushing for her to be tested - and I might well be going down a rabbit hole that doesn't get us anyway. But if it's something pretty non-invasive like a blood test, I'd feel better even just ruling an issue out. We've tried so many things to help with her myriad of tummy troubles...and I'd love to find some answers. It's hard when they're little and can't totally tell you what's going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833821 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:30:19 +0000 Mrsbells 2833821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does she like smoothies or icepops? I used to make prune juice pops for my toddlers or smoothies full of fruits and veggies that alleviate constipation and they think of it as a treat </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833813 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:20:41 +0000 Pollywog 2833813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: I'm not sure if it matters, but if it was my kid I'd absolutely get tested. No need to give up pizza and cupcakes and all kinds of good food without knowing for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833805 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 12:05:57 +0000 caitcat 2833805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: Good point. I would want to know the scope of what we're dealing with if there is something going on here. The doctor we saw this week seemed surprised we hadn't tested for it yet since so many of the other fixes we've tried haven't been particularly successful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833801 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:58:39 +0000 caitcat 2833801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: Thanks! Yeah, I don't remember hearing anything about gluten or celiac as a kid - definitely much more of a buzzword today. How fortunate you came across useful info and were able to take steps to feel better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833795 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:47:10 +0000 kiddosc 2833795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask for the antibody blood test prior to eliminating gluten. They need to still be eating gluten for the antibodies to show up and I would want to know if Celiac was the true culprit. If it truly is celiac, then she will need to eat gluten free for the rest of her life, or risk damaging her digestive track. I think that's valuable information that will be harder to get once she goes gluten free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833791 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:36:05 +0000 Pollywog 2833791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: this was before gluten was a popular buzz word. My grandmother heard about celiac on day time TV and thought it sounded like what I had. I gave up gluten for two weeks and felt so much better. When I went back to the doctor for a follow up they told me I could eat bread for a month which would make me sick, get an endoscopy, and be diagnosed with a preexisting condition (this was pre -obamacare) or I could continue to do what I was doing and skip all of that. I chose to skip testing. </p> <p>Interestingly enough, I took a similar approach when breast feeding my sons and was able to accurately identify allergens and intolerances that were later confirmed by an allergist </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833787 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:25:39 +0000 caitcat 2833787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, did you have any kind of testing to confirm that gluten was the culprit, or was it a trial and error process with an elimination diet? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833784 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:22:12 +0000 caitcat 2833784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Baby Boy Mom: Thank you! I kind of dread that since aside from fruit and non-dairy yogurt, bread-y things and pasta are some of her go-to foods. But it'd be totally worth it if it helped her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833783 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:20:44 +0000 caitcat 2833783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Thanks! Yes, the picky eating makes harder. I'm glad to hear your son is starting to get it a little bit that what he eats makes a difference in how he feels. When I try to talk to my daughter about it, I still always get something along the lines of: "That's okay, Mommy. My tummy says it doesn't mind feeling bad" back. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833762 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:48:12 +0000 Pollywog 2833762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not with my toddler, but as a teenager constipation was my primary sign of a severe gluten intolerance. I had the same symptoms as your toddler and eliminating gluten made a world of difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833759 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:43:36 +0000 Mama Bird 2833759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not gluten specifically, but flour products. It's common for them to contribute to constipation, and picky eating magnifies the effect because there's not enough fiber to balance it out. We had to be really strict about intake of bread, pasta, etc. for several months, especially with DS because he went through a worse picky phase, and wasn't drinking enough on top of that.</p> <p>Thankfully he was old enough at 3.5 to understand when we told him his tummy will get better if he doesn't inhale every cookie he sees, and makes an effort to eat veggies. It still took a while though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833756 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:29:27 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2833756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Short answer yes it made a difference. I’m on my phone but just wanted to say I would definitely try eliminating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-constipation-and-gluten-connection#post-2833755 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:21:05 +0000 caitcat 2833755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone have experience with toddler constipation linked to a gluten sensitivity? </p> <p>I had my three and a half year old in to the doctor for something unrelated this week and we saw a different doctor in the practice than we usually do. He was glancing back through her chart and saw lots of notes on her ongoing constipation, frequent complains of upset tummy, and very, very picky eating struggles and mentioned it as something to look into. We've been focusing on eliminating dairy, pushing fluids, fruits, fiber, whole grains, probiotics, etc. and gluten isn't something we've looked into so far. </p> <p>We have an appointment with her regular doctor next week, but in the meantime I'm curious if anyone has experience with gluten making a difference or being a concern linked to constipation? </p>