Paediatric nutrition screening information sheet

Contact details

Nutrition and Dietetics, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

Nutrition and Dietetics, The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Introduction

Nutrition screening is part of your child’s care in hospital. This information sheet explains how your child's height and weight will be monitored.

About nutrition screening

 Your child's nurses will ask you three screening questions and measure your child’s weight and height in the first 24 hours of admission.  

The paediatric nutrition screening tool is to identify children who:  

  • may not be growing as expected  
  • are not eating enough to meet their nutritional needs  
  • are losing weight without trying  
  • are gaining weight rapidly or are above a healthy weight

This could be due to a medical condition, side effects of medical treatments such as vomiting or diarrhoea, or fussy eating.

If nutrition issues are not identified and treated then your child may be at risk of malnutrition.

Questions will we ask

  • Has your child unintentionally lost weight lately?
  • Has your child had poor weight gain over the last few months?  
  • Has your child been eating or feeding less in the last few weeks?  

After your child is screened

After your child is measured the nurse may ask a dietitian to see your child. 

They will assess:

  • your child’s weight, height and growth
  • reasons for poor appetite and/or weight loss  
  • food and fluid intake  
  • barriers to food intake (e.g. constipation, vomiting, diarrhoea or medical condition)  

If needed, the dietitian will help to develop a plan to improve your child’s growth and nutrition. This involves you, your child, and the medical team.

Follow-up screening

We will arrange two follow-up screening sessions each week during your child's stay. This is to check for changes in your child's weight or food intake during their admission. If changes are noticed they may be referred to a dietitian, ensuring any nutritional support they need can be provided.

We will ask: 

  • Has your child had reduced nutritional intake in the last 7 days?
  • Has your child lost, or gained weight, in the last 7 days?

Online resources

Further information: