Families with Autism Helping Families with Autism

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Starting the the gluten-free/casein-free (GFCF) diet is one thing, enforcing it is another. If your child gets exposed to ONE bite of regular bread, ONE gold fish cracker, ONE small piece of cheese, play with play-doh there will be issues and often it will affect your child. This is called a diet infringement or infraction.

Here are some suggestions on battling infractions.

How to prevent them in the first place:

1. Tell family and friends about the special diet. Allow no one to feed your child without your approval.
2. When at family gatherings, parties or events, watch your child closely.
3. Share your GF CF foods with other party goers so your child does not feel left out or the desire to cheat (bring GF CF cupcakes or a cake that is brightly decorated.)
4. Bring your own GF CF foods for your child to ensure the safety of the food.
5. Write the special dietary requirements in your IEP (Individualized Education Plan) with your school district, care providers and therapists. Make sure they all know not to feed your child.
6. For young children when at preschool or outings have them wear a specialty T-shirt. For example “DON’T FEED ME ANYTHING! I HAVE MANY ALLERGIES! THANK YOU.” You can make these are buy them from National Autism Association www.nationalautismassociation.org.

Personal Experience: What I say to people in contact with my son, Jeff:

Sorry to blunt and make it simple but these suggestions have helped my family enormously. For people I barely know or really don't want to have a long discussion with (i.e. school district employees primarily) I keep the diet needs and explanation very simple. Here is what I say:

I just found out what was bother Jeff, we just got the test results back. Please note: My son is HOSPITAL / 9-1-1 allergic to wheat, dairy, soy, corn, egg, etc. Which is pretty much EVERYTHING YOU BUY AT THE GROCERY STORE. PLEASE do not feed him anything. Do not let him touch anything from anyone else.
Do not let him use glue, play-doh or other crafts without verifying them with me. If you give him these things you will accompany me to the hospital and spend the next 3 days with our family. You must follow these instructions or deal with me.

Pretty much this scares them to death. After their WIDE EYES come back to normal they say, " OK – Mrs. Ackerman. Thank you for letting me know."

Case closed.

For family members or close friends, I go into details and give them articles and information on the gluten free / casein free diet so they can understand how important it is to our family and ask questions.

The infraction has happened, what is to be expected:

1. Change in behavior
2. Change in bowel movements
3. Rash on face, bottom or anywhere on the body
4. Change in sleep patterns

Typically these changes occur immediately after ingestion or as far as 2-7 days after ingestion or access of the food or products.

What do you do to minimize the affects?

1. Know that the next few days are going to be hard
2. Therapies may be hard to provide to your child. DO not do any testing on your child after an infraction or for at least 3 days!
3. Try giving your child:
   • a. Epsom salt baths
     You can buy these at any drug store. Follow the package directions! You can give baths every night if you desire to minimize the affects.
   • b. Enzymaid (we always have some on hand from Kirkmans labs: www.kirkmanlabs.com) or try Serenaid.
   • c. Pepcid AC
     Note: There are dyes and artificial flavors in PEPCID AC! This may not be tolerated by your child! Try Epsom Salts and Enzymaid first!

NOTE: Check with your doctor first before administering any of these options.