weaning ?

[cadon's mum]

I have just read the book CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA A PARENTS GUIDE. and in it it gives a very long list of food that i should avoid feeding cadon, eg;tropical fruits,citrus fruits,chocolate, tomatos, cola etc... i understand this is to prevent latex allergy and to keep his bladder healthy. How strict do i have to be with his diet? he is not ready to be weaned yet but i am starting to worry already! he also tends to gag a lot especially at night when he is lying down,is this normal?

[LisaJoy]

Does Cadon have Chiari? That could affect swallowing.

[Summer25]

I have just read the book CHILDREN WITH SPINA BIFIDA A PARENTS GUIDE. and in it it gives a very long list of food that i should avoid feeding cadon, eg;tropical fruits,citrus fruits,chocolate, tomatos, cola etc... i understand this is to prevent latex allergy and to keep his bladder healthy. How strict do i have to be with his diet? he is not ready to be weaned yet but i am starting to worry already! he also tends to gag a lot especially at night when he is lying down,is this normal?

The stuff regarding the latex which mostly are bananas, avocado, tomato, and water chestnuts are the main thing to avoid. I think I was like 7-8 the last time I had a banana. The other stuff I eat all the time.

[bcain]

Regarding Cadon's gagging while laying down, it could be reflux. My older daughter had this, and she slept on an incline till she was about 7-8mos old, once her stomach muscles got stronger and she could sit up by herself this was no longer a problem.

I haven't read any books on Spina bifida, and I haven't heard of the diet restrictions in any of the literature given to me by my SB clinic. My Sarah has been eating bananas steadily since she was 7mos. old. Is this old info? Or new info? Has anyone had problems with foods? How about elastic in your clothes? Anyone have to not wear clothes with elastic? Or just make sure it is not directly against your skin?

[XoBLoNDiE85]

Bcain, I never thought about the elastic eeeek. Well its hasnt been a problem i guess....hmmmmm. oh and Hannah eats bananas too just not alot cause oi try to avoid constipation and have been successful =) Lets just say she eats alot of prunes and oatmeal LoL

[bcain]

Yep Sarah eats lots of oatmeal (and pears) too! Fingers crossed.... no problem with elastic thus far.

[cadon's mum]

The book was edited in the U.S.A by Marlene Lutkenoff in 1999.

[rachiebaby]

I've never had a problem with ANY of these things

[Gymp]

I've eaten/drank all of the above mentioned all my life with no ill effect.On the elastic thing,I wore non disposable diapers up until grade 6,on top of those I had the rubber/plastic shorts/underwear thing over top of the diapers,they had elastic around the waist and around the top of each leg,no problems with that either.

Gymp

[Summer25]

Regarding Cadon's gagging while laying down, it could be reflux. My older daughter had this, and she slept on an incline till she was about 7-8mos old, once her stomach muscles got stronger and she could sit up by herself this was no longer a problem.

I haven't read any books on Spina bifida, and I haven't heard of the diet restrictions in any of the literature given to me by my SB clinic. My Sarah has been eating bananas steadily since she was 7mos. old. Is this old info? Or new info? Has anyone had problems with foods? How about elastic in your clothes? Anyone have to not wear clothes with elastic? Or just make sure it is not directly against your skin?

It is very old info. I know when I was about 7-8 it came about that some fruits and vegatables are related to latex. I am allergic to tomatoes and like I said I haven't had a banana or any type of banana taste since 7-8 years old. I also have a severe latex allergy, but never have had issues with elastic. Some bras make me itch, but it could be just because they are tight. I actually became allergic to tomatoes after my anaphylatic episode with latex. I also can eat a whole thing of strawberries and be fine. They say they are related as well. Oh and I am also allergic to pineapple which I'm not sure if it is related or not.

[Barb]

Carter is highly allergic and the thing with any allergy is that the more you are exposed, the more likely you are to react. I would def. cover the elastic. Carter was a toddler when he first reacted and had been on 'precautions' since birth.

He says banana's make his mouth feel funny. None of the others affect him. I would absolutely look more into Chiari.

[cadon's mum]

Thank you all for your advice, regarding his gagging he seems to have stopped it now, he is due for shunt review with neurosurgeon on the 12th so i'll mention it then just to be on the safe side. We have had a busy week this week with immunisations and a visit to the paeditrician. cannot tell you how relieved i was to hear him cry when the needle went in. paeditrician says his legs are strong, and he has no club foot. ( i thought he did.) so no need for any physio at the moment just lot's of tummy time, i'm feeling ON TOP OF THE WORLD at the moment, as things are looking really positive for him.:26aa:

[mackley]

I have not had any problems with latex. i am alergic to sulfer.I wear diapers and plastic pants.

[NEMOM]

My 4 year old daughter loves bananas! I would stop her at 3 a day.
When she learned to roll over she found her sister's tennis shoe and "chewed" on it. I watched but never saw a reaction. She has since been around balloons and even played with them. We didn't do this all at once.

Not all children with sb will be allergic to latex and anyone can develop an allgery to latex or anything else at any time in their life.

Watch for reaction, but it is possible to not be allergic.

[usolyfan]

With Latex, the more exposure you have to items/foods with latex properties, the more likely you are to develop the allergy. There is a current (just released) 2009 Latex Allergy list on the SBA website. http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.liKWL7PLLrF/b.2642297/k.5F7C/Spina_Bifida_Association.htm

As far as foods are concerned. Here is a graph that does a fantastic job of explaining more clearly the latex associations.
http://www.latexallergylinks.org/GreerLabs.html

[valerie]

Hiya, my son cian is 11months & he was slow to start on the lumpier foods but will eat anything now. They do say, cut out chocolate & all that kind of treat, more for the weight issue later on & for the bowel movements. Dairy especially is something to watch out for as Cian has two petit falous yoghurts every day which he loves but his bowel movements are in balls so will try every second day & see how it goes. Also they say food like potatoe/veg/pasta, wholemeal breads are all good for them.