Growth, Nutrition & Feeding

Helping Children Grow, Eat and Develop With Confidence

Healthy growth involves more than reaching a particular number on the weighing scale. A child’s height, weight, nutritional intake, feeding skills, appetite, activity and overall development should be considered together and monitored over time.

Our growth, nutrition and feeding service supports babies, children and adolescents with concerns relating to weight gain, physical growth, food intake and mealtime behaviour.

Growth Assessment

Children grow at different rates depending on their age, family background, nutrition, health and developmental stage. A single measurement may not provide the full picture, which is why growth is best assessed as a pattern over time.

The paediatric assessment may include:

• Weight, height or length measurement

• Head circumference measurement for babies and younger children

• Body mass index assessment when age-appropriate

• Review of previous growth records

• Comparison with age-appropriate growth charts

• Feeding and dietary history

• Developmental and activity review

• Assessment for signs of nutritional deficiency

• Medical examination for possible underlying conditions

A child who is naturally smaller or larger than others may still be growing healthily. Concern is more likely when growth slows, crosses expected growth patterns or is accompanied by other symptoms.

Concerns We Can Assess

Our paediatrician can provide assessment and guidance for:

• Poor or slow weight gain

• Reduced appetite

• Picky or selective eating

• Limited food variety

• Feeding difficulties

• Difficulty progressing to textured or solid foods

• Prolonged mealtimes

• Frequent gagging, coughing or discomfort during meals

• Excessive milk intake affecting appetite

• Suspected nutritional deficiency

• Constipation related to dietary intake

• Concerns about height or growth pattern

• Weight concerns associated with a medical condition

• Feeding concerns in children with developmental or sensory differences

Support for Picky Eating

Picky eating is common, especially during the toddler and preschool years. Some children continue to grow well despite eating a limited range, while others may require further assessment because of poor growth, nutritional gaps, oral-motor difficulties, sensory sensitivities or discomfort during eating.

Parents may be guided on:

• Establishing regular meal and snack routines

• Offering balanced and age-appropriate food choices

• Introducing new foods gradually without pressure

• Managing excessive milk, juice or snack intake

• Creating calm and positive mealtimes

• Supporting the transition between food textures

• Avoiding force-feeding, punishment or repeated mealtime conflict

The goal is to support healthy feeding development and improve food variety gradually while protecting the child’s confidence and relationship with food.

When Are Further Tests or Referrals Needed?

Depending on the child’s growth pattern and symptoms, the paediatrician may recommend blood tests or other investigations to assess for anaemia, nutritional deficiency, inflammation, thyroid conditions, digestive problems or other medical causes.

Referral to a paediatric dietitian, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, feeding therapist or paediatric subspecialist may be recommended when additional support is needed.

Parents should arrange a medical review if their child is losing weight, growing more slowly than expected, frequently coughing or choking during meals, refusing most food or fluids, appearing unusually tired, or developing a progressively restricted diet.

A personalised growth and feeding assessment can help identify whether your child needs reassurance, nutritional guidance, medical investigation or additional feeding support