A.D.D and food intolerance concern;
Hi IM sisterhood
Short story: I am seeking some advice on diet for a child with suspected ADD, not diagnosed,
Long story:
my son is 3, I have not seen a professional about my sons behavioral concerns as yet, I am worried I may be reading to much into it all and perhaps my son's behavior is quite normal, how ever he has extreme trouble sleeping, not usual toddler sleeping issues - as in he will be awake for 18 hours on 4 hours sleep - he will be completely exhausted but still can't sleep. He struggles to concentrate and throws crazy tantrums (again i know not uncommon for a 3yo) The reason I am on the fence is A) my husband was diagnosed at around the same age, his mother controlled it through diet alone, she has said for him it was like a switch was flicked and he was a completely different and happy child once his diet was changed, how ever, once he turned 18, he stopped following his eating plan and I have now spent 10 years watching him struggle and be held back from this - so firstly I think I am over analyzing it all and possibly pe-judging it all, as I don't want to see my son struggle as hubby has and, B) my husband now says he, him self, does not have ADD - it doesn't exist and getting our son seen by a professional for this is over his dead body! I think this comes from a place of hubby not wanting our son labelled or bullied etc but he genuinely has said ADD is not a thing- I mean seriously!
so basically at this stage I want to help our son as much as possible but it is up to me to start making dietary and routine changes on my own, which I am prepared to do, but, there is so much info out there, it's overwhelming. So - I am reducing refined sugar and preservatives, plus cutting out things with natural msg, but any advice, suggestions on how to make this easier for an already fussy eater etc - would be amazing thank you
6 Replies
Most doctors wont diagnosis at three anyway. He will probably need an elimination diet to find out what your son is actually set off by, if by anything. So I would find a dietician who can help you do this. Otherwise you just end up going around in circles and not being accurate.
A lack of sleep will cause, ADD or ADHD symptoms, maybe if you start by getting his sleeping sorted, this may correct his day time behaviour (as he will no longer be tired). This was one of the elimination processes I went through with my son (he's now 8, his father would not "let me" seek help for our son while we were together, so when I left him I started getting my son help, it's taken 3years to get him diagnosed turns out he does have ADHD, a mother knows when something's not right). So my son takes Circadian (a form of melatonin a) before bed, and this helps him to stay asleep, though for us that didn't solve our day time issues just the night time issues. I think this would be a better place for you to start. However for your husbands information, not sorting the problem (if in fact he does have ADD or ADHD) WILL also cause your son to be labeled, he'll be the naughty kid that no one wants to play with, then if your son does get to play he may throw tantrums at school when things don't go his way or even become the bully himself, because no one with play with him. In the almost 3 years my son has been at school he's only been invited to one party and that's after he started taking day time meds(3 months ago), because apart of being ADHD in his case he has to be in charge or the leader always has to be first or the winner, and he would do what ever it took to get what he wanted, this caused him to become the bully that no one wanted to be around, he would come home telling me he was being bullied, but turns out the kids were only trying to avoid not having to play with him because he was always so mean. This condition is as REAL as any other condition out there, it's been known about for the past 100 years, your husband needs to stop being in denial about it (I'm no expert but maybe he's feeling guilty for passing on the gene?) and think about what's best for his child! As for food, my son doesn't eat lollies, juices are watered down, and as of very recently chocolate in any form has been banished from the house, we make most meals from scratch, but do notice a negative change when processed is eaten. But I really do think you need to get your sons sleeping sorted first.
Adhd isnt associated with sleep disturbance. However bipolar is.
And in children is often mistaken for ADHD. Its probably a good thing he wasn't medicated for it.
If you are worried about contributors of food. Eliminate chocolate any and all chocolate.
And stick with whole foods.
Minimal sugar although sugar never had that effect on her.
If you can't identify what it is. Meat fish vegetable etc due to the degree of processing, don't eat it. Honestly it is the easiest way to remove the additives and flavours.
A friend found she also had to eliminate gelatine. Her blog is at
http://parentalmeltdown.wordpress.com she deals with Adhd I deal with bipolar but we have been sharing tactics for years and alot of what we do works well for both.
There is alot of debate about ODD if it is just a holding cell for kids they suspect but aren't certain if they have bipolar without diagnosing them with a life long label, just to be able to treat...
http://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-news/sleep-problems-bipolar-disorder-...
This highlights the distinction well.
Reducing to 4 hours is moderate to severe not mild sleep disturbance.
At 3 there isn't a whole lot of help to get. Try to get assessments. But if it's BP is a high risk of misdiagnosis at that age and if adhd then they have it right but the medications are full on. Until you can get assessments throw everything else at him first 10 years of looking everywhere for help these are the things which did help even if a little
Fish oil was recently shown to prevent risk of psychosis in kids if taken for up to 5 years. And it won't hurt him. It also took the edge off my daughters mood swings.
http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/home-page/71-featured-articles/15...
The Bayer 'calm' spray was a brilliant help also.
Vitamin D is important!
http://www.judytsafrirmd.com/vitamin-d-fundamental-to-sleep-and-digestiv...
Get a trampoline, a BIG one!
And dig a veggie patch and grow your own veggies. He will love it. Peas straight off the plant are the potato crisps of the veggie garden I could barely snag enough for salads.
https://thelittlesuperhero.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/10-years-now/
There are other hints and tips on there but they won't help til he is older.
Between bored amethyst and myself we have multiple with bipolar and ADHD all over 11 most in their mid teens.
Oh if you ask I never said this....
Biovea sells 5mg slow release Melatonin. Very good value
The pharmacy sells 10mg phenergan.
Melatonin works for my 14 yo she has adhd but lack of sleep is due to ptsd
Phenergan only when she is completely coming apart.
Phenergan only for my 11 yo with bipolar and the dose at times increases.
I wouldnt give either to a under 5yo. At that age nothing more than the Bayer 'calm' it contains chamomile and passion flower along with Valarian root all of which aid sleep.
Omg and I almost forgot....the most important thing no matter how long it takes to get an answer. Keep a diary! Of his sleep symptoms and Behaviour. Duration is just as important to record as severity.
Oh also....your son's diagnosis is far more likely to be accurate if you have his father freshly assessed and willing FIRST.
This stuff is largely genetic.