Dietetics and nutrition support for children

Good nutrition is important for healthy and growing kids. As parents it can be overwhelming to know just what nutritious foods they need to grow healthy and get the most out of everyday life. Our paediatric dietitians can help.

What is dietetics support for children?

Dietetics is all about how our diet and nutrition can impact our health and wellbeing. At Growing Early Minds our priority is helping children perform at their best, as well as empowering and educating families on how to overcome feeding challenges and create positive mealtime experiences.

We employ a variety of evidence-based techniques, as well as fun, age-appropriate games when working with you and your child. Our experienced paediatric dietitians support families with general nutritional advice to more complex issues such as weight management, eating disorder, food allergies, enteral feeding, gastrointestinal disorders and more.

Our paediatric dietitians are experienced in working with children who have complex needs, developmental delay or disability, including Autism.

Would my child benefit from seeing a dietitian?

Every child is different, but every child can benefit from nutritious food and a nourishing approach to eating. Your child might benefit if they have:

• Gastrointestinal conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, reflux, coeliac disease
• Developmental delay or disability, including Autism or diabetes
• Eating disorders, growth faltering or are malnourished
• Weight management e.g. overweight or underweight
• Nasogastric and PEG management/weaning
• Nutrient deficiencies e.g. iron deficiency
• Fussy, selective or picky eating habits
• Food allergies and food intolerances

What are the goals of dietetics?

Our paediatric dietitians work collaboratively to help set achievable goals for you and your child. Some common ways we can help you and your child may include:

• Improve the food variety and nutritional intake in your child’s diet
• Promote optimal growth and development for your child
• Overcome fussy eating and food aversions
• Develop a healthy relationship with food
• Create positive mealtime experiences
• Improve gut symptoms related to food

What happens during a dietetics session?

Assessment: A comprehensive dietetic assessment is an important first step in understanding your child’s nutrition and feeding needs. The paediatric dietitian will assess your child’s growth, medical and feeding history, dietary intake and may observe your child during a mealtime session. Based on this information, the paediatric dietitian will work with you to develop goals and strategies for supporting your child’s nutrition and eating behaviour.

Therapy: A nutrition plan will be developed that considers your child’s nutritional requirements, food preferences, medical needs, and growth requirements. Our paediatric dietitian will work collaboratively and ongoing with the family developing tailored meal plans, recipes, feeding regimes, sensory desensitisation and behaviour strategies to help you support your child’s nutrition and feeding goals.

How do I arrange a dietetics appointment for my child?

Step 1: If you feel a dietetics session might be beneficial contact us today. You don’t need a referral from a GP or paediatrician, although this may help offset the cost of therapy. We will discuss with you the best pathway, fees and provide you with our referral form, along with any other important information we’ve discussed. Alternatively, you can download our referral form directly from our website here.

Step 2: After you complete and submit our referral form we will finalise a service agreement and contact you to discuss the signing and booking of your first consultation.

Locations – clinic, mobile and telehealth

Families have the option to visit our clinic in Blacktown (Western Sydney, NSW) or we can see children in their natural everyday environments such as at home, at their child care centre, school or playgroup. Our clinics are also designed to provide telehealth services to families that reside in remote, regional or interstate locations.

Whole school programs are also available. Speak to us to find out how we can work together.

Fees and funding options?

Costs can vary and depends on a number of factors including the time needed per session, the depth of an assessment, location and travel requirements.

We’re registered NDIS and Medicare provider and some families may be eligible for financial support or funding packages to help offset the cost of therapy. Learn more about the different funding packages.

The Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) credential is a public guarantee of nutrition and dietetic expertise. APD is the only national credential recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and most private health funds as the quality standard for nutrition and dietetic services in Australia. All our Growing Early Minds dietitians are registered with APD.