Some children are just not ready to settle down at 5 but often diet is a trigger for symptoms of hyperactivity. Science had shown that food dyes and other additives are behind it. Do look into the Feingold diet. There's an awesome support group - www.feingold.org Watch the video there, read what the Program is and the symptoms that are helped. It's what we di and the results were quite amazing.

Here's the link to the Feingold Program: www.feingold.org It's an awesome group and if you decided to give the diet a try, do join. Too many mistakes are innocently made without it.

Are you following the Feingold Program with the membership materials? If not, that's the way to do it. If you are, have you used the HelpLine: Help@Feingold.org The Feingold diet is the answer for some and the beginning for others. The HelpLine can really help find the missing pieces.

There are natural dyes - India Tree. You can find them at places like Whole Foods.

I hate seeing families ignoring the salicylate part of the Feingold diet. It can make such the difference between success and failure and it is only until you've had success for a month or so. Then you add them back one at a time. Most people can have all them or rotate them.

It's not nearly as hard as dealing the behaviors! Also, eliminating the salicylates is really important. Most people can add them back, but do to the diet as instructed by the Feingold Assoc using the membership materials.

Start with the Feingold website: www.feingold.org and watch the video. It will give you a good overview. Then join the org. so that you have the right materials. The support you will get is really great and so important.

I would also look into the Feingold diet and if it isn't working to your satisfaction, to look further. That is what is so good about the Feingold support group. Their Helpline will talk to you, give you suggestions to fill in the missing pieces. The website is awesome: www.feingold.org

Children need to be able to know how to refuse something nicely. I try to get mine to just say, "No thank you." Or to take the treat and then bring it home for a trade. Do you belong to the Feingold Association? If not, do join. It's a support group for families like ours. It was organized by parents and run by parents. The website is www.feingold.org There's also a great Yahoo group and a Facebook page.

People may not have the expected success on the Feingold Program due to simple errors, not using the Feingold Program as directed, etc. If you feel that could be you, try it again, use the Helpline: Help@Feingold.org, the message boards for members, etc. There is always someone to help you put the missing pieces together. I don't know who you mean by "they." If you mean the Feingold Association, it is recommended one begin the program eliminating the salicylates listed in the materials.When you are ready to begin Stage Two, you start with that list. THEN when if you need to tweak the program further but first looking at other things, you might want to start with the the salicylates from the Swain study. That list is also in the Feingold materials. If "they" refers to the other lists, all are based on the Swain study of 1985http://www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/research/students/1988/AnneSwainPhDThesis.pdf

Yes, it works but be sure you do it right. People often think they just have to read labels. My son started it when he was 4 after a trial of meds. The diet worked so much better because it got to the reason for the problems he was having, lasted 24 hours (did not wear off), etc. There are different lists for the salicylates. Those lists came out after the Swain study in 1985. Dr. Feingold passed away in 1982 and the Feingold Association, after much study with its advisory board, decided to keep the list as it because it worked. The Feingold materials do address this newer information, how to use it, etc. Here are resources: www.feingold.org The only place to get accurate info about the diet. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feingold-Program4us/ Discussion group Feingold Association Facebook page.

I would encourage you to join the Feingold Association. You might find that some of those things in your pantry ARE okay. This wonderful organization, run by parents just like all of us, researches the packaged foods to see if they are free of those additives (reading labels isn't enough). There's also a great Yahoo group plus a Facebook page.

Staying away from the food additives eliminated on the Feingold diet shouldn't cost you a lot of money. It's eating a lot of processed foods that is costly. If you mean the money it costs to join the support group, the Feingold Association, then it may seem like a lot of money but it is so worth it. I joined many years ago and it was the best money I could have spent. Read up on it, try it, see how your family does. It's definitely not a "maybe." There is a good Yahoo group to get you started: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feingold-Program4us/ There is also a Facebook page. Two suggestions further: Take a look at the 14 minute YouTube video on the Feingold Assoc. home page (www.feingold.org) Read the first 50 pages of Why Can't My Child Behave? which is also available on the website.

A really good books is Jane Hersey's Why Can't My Child Behave? Part one is online http://www.feingold.org/why1.html

You can't rule out a mom's gut feelings, right? We are a Feingold family. I've known kids that don't react until the 3rd day but I'd say most react within a few hours or the next day. A study in 2007 shown (Lancet) that all kids react. Her random reactions could be a build up of things you hadn't thought of or circumstances around her. Another good place to look into, ask questions, etc. if you are on the fence about joining the Feingold Assoc (best money you can spend, btw) is the Yahoo group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Feingold-Program4us/