Tips for the Journey
Lessons We Learned (and Are Still Learning)
Navigating developmental delays, gut issues, or neuroimmune challenges can be overwhelming — especially when the answers aren’t clear. These tips are based on our personal experience and countless hours of research, trial and error, and conversations with other families and professionals. We hope they help you feel less alone and more empowered.
1. Start with the Gut
We learned (the hard way) that gut health can have a major impact on everything — from sleep and regulation to speech and social engagement. If something feels off, trust your instincts and explore options like:
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Food sensitivities or Celiac screening before going gluten-free
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Stool testing (e.g., Tiny Health) to look at microbiome imbalances
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Supporting digestion with probiotics, enzymes, or addressing inflammation
2. Don't Wait to Explore Root Causes
While waiting lists for evaluations can be long, you can start exploring medical causes like:
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Autoimmune or inflammatory responses
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Nutrient deficiencies (especially iron, zinc, copper, folate, and B12)
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Possible subclinical infections or exposures
Even without a diagnosis, supporting the body can help the brain.
3. Track Everything
It can be hard to remember what happened last week, let alone tie it to a new supplement or food. Having even a simple daily log can help you notice patterns that might otherwise go unseen.
We found it especially helpful to track:
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Mood and behavior
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Sleep quality
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Diet and supplements
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New words or skills
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Symptoms like eczema, hyperactivity, or GI changes
4. Don't Dismiss Regression
If your child loses skills (speech, eye contact, motor coordination), it’s not “just a phase.” Regression is a clue — not a normal part of development. Document it, and consider medical evaluations for underlying causes like:
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Immune dysfunction
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Encephalopathy
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Gut-brain inflammation
5. You Know Your Child
If a provider dismisses your concerns, keep going. No one sees the full picture like you do. It’s okay to ask hard questions. It’s okay to change doctors. It’s okay to push for answers.
6. Don’t Get Boxed In
A diagnosis can be helpful, but it’s not the whole story. Some children are misdiagnosed with ASD when the root issue is medical and treatable. Others have overlapping symptoms that improve dramatically when the body is supported.
No matter the label — your child is still your child. And progress is always possible.
7. Protect Their Spirit
Therapies and interventions are helpful, but so is joy. Don’t forget to protect your child’s happiness, curiosity, and confidence. The goal isn’t just to reduce symptoms — it’s to help them feel safe, seen, and loved.
8. Balance Matters: One Change Affects the Whole System
It’s easy to think of supplements as isolated fixes — “low in zinc? just add zinc.” But the body doesn’t work in silos. Every nutrient affects others. For example:
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Zinc and copper compete for absorption — too much of one can deplete the other.
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Folate, B12, and iron interact closely in neurological and metabolic pathways.
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Adding one vitamin can unmask deficiencies or create imbalances elsewhere.
Tip: Every supplement you add should be considered in the context of the whole system. Recheck levels periodically, especially after major changes or regressions. Sometimes it’s not about adding more — it’s about restoring balance.
If you’re seeing unexpected side effects, consider whether it’s not what you added — but what it disrupted.