Our Children’s Nutrition and Dietetic Service provides specialist nutritional assessment, advice and support for children and teenagers from birth to 18 years.
We provide support for:
- Faltering growth (weight loss)
- Home enteral feeding (nutrition through a tube)
- Gastrointestinal disorders (Coeliac disease)
- Food allergies
- Diabetes
- Weight management: Children with a BMI above the 99.6th centile, or above 98th centile with co-morbidities / aged under 2 years.
Where to find us
We provide a service across Antrim and Ballymena, Causeway, Mid Ulster and East Antrim areas.
One-to-one consultations are provided with specialist advice in a clinic or home setting if required.
How to contact us
- Telephone: 028 7936 6907
How to access our service
Children may be referred to the service by a healthcare professional (for example, doctor, nurse or other professional) for dietary assessment and advice, depending on their condition and nutritional needs.
Referrals should include all relevant information to avoid delay in processing and/or the referral being rejected due to insufficient information.
Once referrals are received, they are reviewed by our team, and if accepted, will be added to our waiting list for a face-to-face, telephone or group session as soon as available.
Depending on clinical need, the child or young person may be booked in for urgent assessment. You may also receive information.
If we are unable to accept the referral, we will let your healthcare professional know.
Useful resources
Tube feeding
Carers NI: Tube feeding and your child
Healthy Eating and wellbeing
The British Dietetic Association: Food facts
The Caroline Walker Trust: Reports and guidelines
First Steps Nutrition: Nutrition from preconception to age 5
Infant & Toddler Forum: fussy eating
Public Health Dietitians: Nutrition for children
Allergies and food exclusions
The British Dietetic Association: Food facts
The Allergy service: Managing allergies in children
NHS Patient Webinars: Food Allergy in Children
British Dietetic Association: Vitamin D
British Dietetic Association: Iron
British Dietetic Association: Calcium
Children’s diabetes
Diabetes UK: Diabetes care for children and young people
Breakthrough T1D: Guide for parents and carers
DigiBete: Self-management platform
T2Digibete: Type 2 self-management programme
Restrictive eating
PEACE: Pathway for eating disorders
Beat Eating Disorders: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Constipation
Constipation is common in children, and small changes to diet and fluid intake can often improve Bowel Habits. The NHS website provides reliable advice on how to manage constipation in children. It is also recommended to speak with your GP for further assessment and treatment if needed.
Public Health Dietitians: Constipation in children
Coeliac Disease
NHS: Coaeliac disease
Coeliac UK: Coeliac disease in children
Guts UK: Coeliac Disease
Infant
Bliss: Neonatal feeding
PHA: Bottlefeeding
PHA: Breastfeeding
First Steps Nutrition: Infant milk
British Dietetic Association: Preventing allergy
Allergy UK: Weaning
Public Health Dietitians: Weaning your baby
iMap: Milk ladder
Children’s weight management
If you know your child’s weight and height, you can use the NHS BMI calculator to find out whether you are within a healthy weight range.
If your child is underweight or has recently lost weight unexpectedly, you should visit your GP to discuss a possible referral to a dietitian.
If you or your child is overweight, your GP may be able to refer you to a local weight management service.
NHS weight loss plan
NHS: Tips if your child is overweight
NHS: Change for Life