About Paediatric Nutrition
Nutritionists help people to enhance their health and well-being through dietary guidance.
Though ensuring an individual’s diet is ideal throughout all stages of life is important, childhood is period of immense growth and development, thus adequate dietary support is essential to optimise these processes during this time.
The impact nutrition has on a child starts from the time of conception, so many children requiring nutritional support may present with symptoms long before they themselves eat solid foods. For this reason, it is often indicated for nutritional guidance to commence as far back as the breastfeeding period via maternal dietary modifications to improve child health outcomes.
Many common concerns in babies may occur as a result of food intolerances and allergies, presenting with symptoms including reflux, eczema/skin rashes, colic/irritability and chronic sleep disturbances, which may be reduced through nutritional intervention.
Throughout the early childhood period, management of solids introductions, allergen introductions, fussy eating, food intolerances/allergies or simply knowing what to feed your child to meet their nutritional needs can all cause families angst without adequate support.
Our paediatric nutrition services can assist you through this time and help support your little one to grow and thrive.
-
Paediatric nutritionists may assist in the management of a wide variety of conditions, including
Management of food intolerances/allergies
Introduction to solids
Introduction of allergens
Fussy eating
General childhood dietary guidance/optimisation
Symptoms that may indicate nutritional intervention is required may include:
Reflux
Eczema/skin rashes and sensitivities
Colic/abdominal pain and discomfort
Sleep disturbances
Bloating
Constipation/diarrhoea
Mucus in bowel motions (infants)
If you have any questions regarding whether our paediatric nutrition services are right for your condition, feel free to contact us here.
-
You will be sent a very comprehensive new patient information form to be completed prior to your first appointment. Please allow approximately 20 minutes to complete this form, and ensure it is returned 48 hours prior to your consultation.
Your history form will be reviewed an analysed prior to your first appointment.
At your first appointment, further information about your child’s diet and symptoms will be discussed, to identify potential links between current diet and symptoms.
Based on these findings, dietary modifications and nutritional guidance will be provided to be implemented over the following week(s), with review appointments aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary intervention and determine possible future recommendations.
-
Our paediatric nutrition consultations are mainly focused on conditions affecting children aged 0-12 years, with a particular focus on the early childhood years.
Please click here to book online. -
No, your child does not need to attend the appointment. In fact, it is often easier for parents to attend the appointment without young children - you will be given a lot of information during your appointment and children may be distracting for you during this time and struggle to remain occupied during the duration of the appointment. They are of course welcome to attend if needed.
-
Riannon holds a Master of Human Nutrition from Deakin University, in addition to many profession development courses related to her areas of interest.
-
No, you do not need a GP referral to see a nutritionist.
-
Please ensure your new patient form is completed a minimum of 48 hours before your appointment time. If you have been keeping a food diary, have photographs of relevance to your complaint (skin rashes, soiled nappies etc.) please also ensure they are accessible at the time of your appointment.
-
Telehealth appointments will be coming soon, but may be arranged prior under special circumstances.
Please contact us if you are unable to attend your appointment in-person and we will endeavour to make alternative arrangements for you.
-
No, unfortunately nutrition services are no longer covered by private health insurance companies.
-
New patient consultations are 60mins in duration, however also involve substantial time reviewing and assessing your extended new patient history prior to your appointment.
New patient consultations (60mins): $165
Return consultations (standard, 30mins): $95
Return consultations (extended, 45mins): $125
Return consultations (extended, 60mins): $155
Concession rates available on presentation of a valid Health Care Card ($10 discount) -
Please note we require 24hrs notice to cancel appointments. This allows us to offer your appointment to someone else in need. Appointment cancellations of less than 24hrs or failure to attend your appointment may incur a cancellation fee ($60 for standard consultations, $90 for extended consultations).
We thank you for your understanding.
