Paediatric Assessments

Parents gift their offspring the genetic hardware for life but the software to keep it running depends on what is swallowed. Children thrive on good nutrition. Dietitians are the help desk to call when there is a melt down.

Lea works with children of all ages to help establish healthy eating patterns that promote growth and development. In most cases this process also benefits the whole family’s nutritional status through education.

Using individual assessments and computer analysis Lea will help parents to identify their child’s current food intake and prioritise areas for change.

Parents of over or under weight children often complain that their child is being teased at school. Using ‘Empowerment Coaching’ methods Lea will assist a child to ‘grow’ into a healthier body weight.
» For more on weight issues visit Weight Control

Whether discussing diet for allergies, food aversions, iron deficiency etc, Lea will offer the necessary practical dietary guidelines, meal and snack ideas and commercial product information to help parents to cope.

For children of all ages with feeding problems… Lea is happy to discuss the following issues:

Infant nutrition

The first few months of a baby’s life fly by like a blur as new parents cope with sleep deprivation and adjusting to a new lifestyle. If you are a breastfeeding mother then we can help to check that your diet is adequate to meet the needs of you and your child.

If your baby advances onto bottle feeding methods or you wish to discuss the introduction of solids or childhood illnesses then we can help. Dietary changes may be necessary in the cases such as colic, food allergies or intolerances and as paediatric dietitians we are qualified to offer practical advice and support.

Pre-school & school age

The pre-school and early days at school mean a change of routine for the household. This is often when children can become fussy feeders, tired and irritable and parents may worry about their children’s rate of growth. If you would like to know more then contact us.

Adolescent nutrition

As children pass through adolescence dietary factors can become more important. Evidence is clear that nutrition can impact on learning but this is  also the time when teenagers may decide to try out different dietary regimes which can compomise their energy and nutrient intakes.

As more meals are consumed away from home and peers become an important influence on food intake, it is important that young people have the knowledge to make healthy food choices if they feel so inclined. While most young people are body conscious we have found they respond better to healthy food messages that relate to sporting and academic performance than to their long term health. Do contact us if you would like to know more.

Weight control

Parents often worry about their children’s weight, concerned that if they address these issues they may set up psychological issues later on. While it is important to take care when discussing shape and size we find that young people do respond well to honesty. If your child has a weight issue and you would like to discuss our approach then contact us.

Individual assessments and computer analysis

When there are concerns that a child is not consuming an adequate diet a computer dietary analysis can help to identify areas of deficiency quickly. With this information your dietitian can then,  in a practical way, offer recommendations for change.

Diet and dental health

Children need to chew in order to strengthen their jaw and develop their teeth. We can offer practical help if you have a young child who is teething and would like to know how to modify their diet to suit. Also if you have a child with excessive dental caries or one undergoing dental surgery or orthodontic treatments we can discuss ways to maintain nutrient intake to maintain their growth.

Meal and snack ideas

Filling children up without spoiling their appetite for main meals is often a dilemma facing parents. Visit our recipe section for more ideas.

Commercial product information

If you have a child with allergies or intolerances then we can put you in touch with commercial product information and recipe ideas to keep their diet varied.

Specific diseases and health concerns

Like adults, children are often affected by specific health issues that require dietary treatments. These are just some of the areas that we can offer you help with.

  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Hypercholesterolaemia
  • Iron deficiency
  • Allergies & intolerance
  • Anorexia nervosa & bulimia
  • Fatigue

We do make referral to other specialists if necessary.

If you would like to discuss your child’s nutrition then contact us today.

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