Pediatrics
What is a Pediatric Nutritionist?
A registered dietitian nutritionist helps people improve their overall health and wellness via a better diet. A pediatric nutritionist specializes in providing nutrition guidance for children and their parents. They can help parents understand how to encourage better eating habits in picky children who aren’t eating enough nutrients to support healthy development.
Additionally, a pediatric nutritionist can help children and their parents manage challenging conditions like diabetes, chronic illnesses, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, and food allergies. A pediatric nutrition expert can also be part of a treatment team for children with eating disorders.
What questions might a Pediatric Nutritionist answer?
You Think Your Child May Have Unidentified Food Allergies
Picky eating is a fairly common behavior for children. While some children simply outgrow their distaste for necessary foods such as vegetables, others maintain restrictive eating habits well into their teenage years. If your child has trouble getting enough nutrients through a healthy diet, you may want to consult a pediatric nutritionist who can help you determine the cause of your child’s eating behavior.
A pediatric nutritionist has the knowledge and experience to help children overcome the aversions that typically cause picky eating. However, they can also work with you and your child to identify potential food sensitivities or allergies. These issues can also cause various other symptoms, such as digestive distress, rashes, and cold-like symptoms.
In many cases, bloodwork alone isn’t enough to accurately diagnose food sensitivities and allergies. A nutritionist can develop a food elimination plan to determine the cause and then create an eating plan that provides adequate nutrients without relying on those problematic foods.
Your Child Has GI Issues
Most children deal with occasional gastrointestinal issues, such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and stomach aches. However, if your child experiences any of these issues consistently, it may indicate a chronic condition.
Issues such as acid reflux, bloating, and digestive distress can be caused by a myriad of issues, both physical and mental. For example, mental health issues can contribute to ulcers. Persistent digestive problems are also sometimes indicative of illnesses such as Crohn’s and celiac disease.
If you aren’t sure what is causing your child’s GI issues, you might start by contacting a pediatric nutritionist. They can start by recommending dietary changes that often minimize or eliminate specific digestive problems. If those changes don’t have the desired effect, the nutritionist can work with your child’s doctor and other GI specialists to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Once your child’s medical team has identified the reason, a pediatric nutritionist can help your child manage their symptoms effectively through an optimal diet.
Your Child’s Doctor is Concerned About Weight
Weight issues aren’t uncommon in children, and they can have various causes and consequences. If your doctor is concerned that your child’s high weight may be causing some health issues or increasing their risk for diabetes and other illnesses, your child could be a great candidate for a pediatric nutritionist. This specialist can help your child identify potential causes of their weight gain and develop a holistic wellness plan that incorporates sustainable changes in diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep.
Weight gain isn’t the only condition a pediatric nutritionist can help with. Underweight children can also benefit from working with this type of expert. Many things can contribute to a child being underweight: food allergies, picky eating, mental illness, and underlying medical conditions. A pediatric nutritionist can help you understand your child’s nutrition challenges with your child’s pediatrician. They can give you the information and tools you need to help your child develop eating, sleeping, and activity habits that can help them reach a healthy weight.
How Can a Dietitian Help My Child?
Your child’s pediatric nutritionist will work with your child on a non-diet approach to whatever nutrition condition they may be facing. Their care plan will take into account all aspects of their nutrition journey and their life to best meet their needs. With our tailor-made nutrition planning services, the management of your child’s health has never been easier. This is a journey we work on together. We want your child to feel seen and taken care of every step of the way, which is why our pediatric dietitians work hard to meet your child where they are.
Our pediatric dietitians have extensive experience working with kids of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. They are specially trained to connect with children and deliver top-notch pediatric care, regardless of your child’s age or condition.