Dietitians

What is a dietitian?

Role of a dietitian

A dietitian finds out what nutrition your child needs. They may ask about the foods your child eats, your child’s eating habits, and medicines or supplements your child takes. They may also look at your child’s growth and other health information. 

A dietitian uses this information to plan your child’s nutrition care. They can: 

• Work with you and your child’s care team to set nutrition goals 
• Plan how your child will get the calories, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they need 
• Choose foods, formulas, supplements, or feeding methods that are right for your child 
• Answer questions and address concerns 
• Provide education and support 
• Check your child’s progress 
• Change the nutrition plan and goals when your child’s needs change 

Ways a dietitian can help

A dietitian can help with: 

Special diets and nutrition needs 

• Nutrition needs related to a health condition or treatment 
• Choosing formulas and other nutrition products 
• Special diets or food restrictions 
• Hydration and fluids 

Tube feeding and intravenous (IV) nutrition 

• Tube feeding (enteral nutrition) 
• IV nutrition (parenteral nutrition) 

Vitamins and nutrition supplements 

• Whether your child needs vitamins, minerals, or other nutrition supplements 
• Safety of vitamins, herbs, and nutrition supplements 
• How supplements may affect your child’s medicines 

Growth and development 

• Slow growth 
• Trouble gaining weight, weight loss, or weight gain 
• Malnutrition or risk of not getting enough nutrition 

Eating and digestion 

• Loss of appetite 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Diarrhea or constipation 
• Food allergies or intolerances 
• Trouble swallowing food, drinks, or saliva (dysphagia) 
• Eating things that are not food (pica) 

Food skills and eating schedules 

• Skills needed to eat and drink  
• Problems with how foods feel, taste, smell, or look 
• Changes in routines or when your child eats 

How to find a dietitian

Ask your child’s care team. They can refer you to a pediatric dietitian. They can also help you find someone who understands your child’s health needs. 

Look for an RD or RDN. Registered dietitians (RDs) and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are trained to provide nutrition care. They must also pass a national exam. Some dietitians have training and experience in areas such as pediatric nutrition, cancer care, or tube feeding. 

Search for a dietitian near you. In the United States, you can use the Find a Nutrition Expert tool to search for a registered dietitian. 

Questions to ask the care team

• What are my child’s nutrition needs? 
• How can a pediatric dietitian help my child? 
• What are my child’s nutrition goals? 
• Does my child need tube feeding or IV nutrition? 
• Will my child still be able to eat by mouth if tube feeding is needed?    
• Should my child take any vitamins, minerals, or nutrition supplements? 
• Are there foods or supplements my child should avoid? 
• Are herbal products or "natural" supplements safe for my child? 
• How will I know if the nutrition plan is working? 
• Do I need a doctor’s referral to see a dietitian? 
• What foods can help if my child has nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or a poor appetite?   
• How much fluid should my child drink each day?    
• When should I contact the care team about changes in my child’s eating or weight? 

For more information

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