What does a paediatric dietician do?
I get to talk about food all day. And poo. And sometimes vomit. But mostly food!
1. I ask lots of questions about what your baby or child is eating (or not eating!) and drinking and/or tube feeding.
2. I find the trend in their growth by weighing and measuring them and plotting this (and previous measures) on growth charts.
3. I consider intake and growth and wonder if and how this needs to be optimised.
I wonder together with you – we talk about priorities and the whole of family eating. We talk about the easy to make, bang for your buck changes – the ones that are going to make the biggest difference to your child. My focus is on pleasurable mealtimes and increasing the variety of a child’s diet, not restricting it.
Yes! I provide advice on starting solids, fussy eating, sensory preference eating, constipation, optimal growth, allergies and lots more. I do this by
· Optimising appetite
· Making every mouthful count (for growth and nutrients)
· Integrating target foods and fluids with your baby’s / child’s skills and preferences
· Integrating target foods and fluids into food therapy with your Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist