Dietetics for children
Our dietitians provide a friendly and non-judgmental service for children and their families looking for support with food, meal-times and overall health and wellbeing.
What we can support
Our goal is to work with parents to ensure that the feeding relationship with their children and toddlers, is positive and happy. Our dietitians support families with children and toddlers 6 months-12 years of age with the following:
- Fussy and selective eating
- Supporting joyful, relaxed family meal-times
- Growth support and guidance
- Food allergy and intolerance
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Religious or cultural diets
- Infant feeding and introduction to solids
- Constipation and other gastrointestinal conditions
- Nutrition education
Our dietetics services
- Child nutrition and feeding assessments
- Parent strategy sessions for child and family nutrition
- Presentations to community groups
- Training and advice for other service providers
- Referral to other services as required
- Feeding clinics for 6 months to 6 years of age.
We help parents and carers to create happy, relaxed mealtime environments to support children’s healthy relationship with food and their bodies.
How to make an appointment with our child dietitian and nutritionist
Please contact our intake team on 03 9978 8698 or email CFTintake@accesshc.org.au.
- Ashburton (Feeding Clinic only. Dietitian appointments are available via Telehealth.)
- Doncaster
- Greythorn Community Hub
FAQ
What is a paediatric dietitian?
Our paediatric dietitians are a group of qualified nutrition professionals who specialise in supporting the nutritional needs of babies, toddlers and children up to 12 years of age.
We provide evidence-based advice to help children grow, develop, and establish sustainable relationships with food and their bodies.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
A referral from a medical professional or other service provider, is not required; you can refer your child via our online referrer form, or contact our child and family intake team via phone on 03 9978 8698 or email CFTintake@accesshc.org.au.
If you’re unsure whether your child’s nutrition challenges are appropriate for our service, please contact our child and family intake team for inquiry.
What happens during the first appointment?
During the initial consultation, which is often conducted via telehealth and without your child present, the dietitian will take the time to understand your child’s circumstances and discuss their medical history, growth, mealtime routines, feeding skills, nutritional intake, bowel health, and any other concerns you may have.
This first session is typically focused on assessment and understanding your child’s needs, as well as arranging any necessary follow-up appointments. Together, we will then develop a plan for ongoing dietetic support and identify practical strategies and goals tailored to your child’s individual needs.
Do you offer telehealth appointments?
Telehealth may be available for some appointments, allowing families to access support from home. Please contact us to check availability.
Do I need to bring my child to dietetic appointments?
Most dietetic appointments are attended by parents and carers without their child present and are often delivered via telehealth. This provides an opportunity to discuss any concerns openly and honestly with the dietitian.
Having these conversations separately can be beneficial, as discussing your child’s eating habits or relationship with food in front of them may unintentionally influence their feelings about food and feeding. This approach helps support a positive feeding relationship and creates a safe space for collaborative planning and problem-solving.
How can I prepare for my child's appointment?
It can be helpful to bring:
- Your child’s Green Book, or other growth records
- Previous health reports (if available)
- A list of medications or supplements
- Information about allergies or medical conditions
- A food diary or record of what your child typically eats and drinks
- Contact details and written reports of current or previous health professionals (if relevant)
How much does an appointment cost?
Fees may vary depending on the type of appointment and any applicable funding arrangements.
We detemine fees based on income ranges. Please view our Fee Schedule for further information.
If you are experiencing financial hardship or have concerns about paying for our services, please speak with our intake team. We may be able to discuss options that can help make our services more accessible to you.