Faltering Growth & Poor Weight Gain
Worried your child isn't gaining weight as expected?
Has your baby or child dropped on their growth chart? Are mealtimes becoming a battle because you're constantly trying to encourage them to eat more?
Perhaps your health visitor, GP or paediatrician has mentioned concerns about their growth, leaving you feeling anxious about what to do next.
Every child grows at their own pace, but when growth slows unexpectedly, it's natural to have questions.
At Beam Dietitians, we understand how worrying this can be. As highly specialist paediatric dietitians working within the UK's largest children's hospital, supporting babies and children with faltering growth is a key part of our everyday practice.
Our role is to identify why growth may have slowed, ensure your child is receiving the nutrition they need and create a realistic, personalised plan to help them thrive.
What is faltering growth?
Faltering growth describes a slower rate of weight gain or growth than would be expected for a child of the same age.
This might mean that your child:
Is gaining weight more slowly than expected
Has crossed down centile lines on their growth chart
Is not growing as expected for their age
Has been identified by a healthcare professional as needing further assessment
Importantly, not every small child has faltering growth.
Some children are naturally smaller because of their genetics, while others simply grow at a different pace. Looking at your child's growth over time, rather than a single weight measurement, is often the most helpful way of understanding how they are developing.
What causes poor weight gain?
There are many reasons why a child may struggle to gain weight.
Sometimes the answer is straightforward, while in other cases several factors may be contributing.
Common causes include:
Eating too little
Some children simply don't consume enough energy to support healthy growth.
This may be due to:
Small appetites
Busy lifestyles
Grazing rather than eating meals
Feeding difficulties
Fussy eating
Increased nutritional requirements
Some children need significantly more energy because of medical conditions or increased energy expenditure.
Medical conditions
Growth may be affected by conditions such as:
Food allergies
Reflux
Coeliac disease
Constipation
Chronic diarrhoea
Gastrointestinal conditions
Heart or lung conditions
Neurological conditions
Feeding difficulties
Children who struggle with chewing, swallowing, sensory sensitivities or anxiety around food may find it difficult to eat enough to support growth.
Signs your child may benefit from specialist support
You may wish to see a paediatric dietitian if your child:
Has been identified as having faltering growth
Is losing weight
Is dropping centiles on their growth chart
Eats very small amounts
Has a very limited diet
Frequently refuses meals
Takes a long time to eat
Has ongoing reflux, vomiting or diarrhoea
Has a medical condition affecting nutrition
You're constantly worrying about getting enough food into them
Even if your child's weight hasn't fallen significantly, ongoing concerns about eating or growth are always worth discussing.
How can a paediatric dietitian help?
Our first priority is understanding why your child isn't growing as expected.
Rather than simply encouraging children to "eat more", we'll carry out a comprehensive nutritional assessment to identify any barriers to growth.
This may include:
Reviewing your child's growth
Assessing dietary intake
Identifying nutritional gaps
Calculating energy and protein requirements
Reviewing feeding behaviours
Assessing meal patterns
Identifying possible medical causes
Working alongside your GP, health visitor or paediatrician where appropriate
Once we understand what's contributing to the problem, we'll create a personalised nutrition plan tailored to your child's needs.
Supporting healthy weight gain
Healthy weight gain isn't about filling children with sugary or processed foods.
Instead, we focus on increasing nutrition in a balanced, sustainable way.
Depending on your child's needs, this may include:
Building balanced meals
Increasing energy and protein intake
Fortifying everyday foods
Improving meal routines
Managing fussy eating
Introducing nutrient-dense snacks
Supporting breastfeeding or formula feeding where appropriate
Advice on specialist formulas or supplements if recommended by your healthcare team
Our aim is to help your child grow while developing healthy eating habits that last.
Growth isn't just about the number on the scales
One of the biggest concerns we hear from parents is:
"My child hardly eats anything."
It's important to remember that we look at much more than weight alone.
During your assessment, we'll also consider:
Height and length
Growth trends over time
Development
Medical history
Feeding skills
Appetite
Nutritional quality of the diet
Family growth patterns
Activity levels
This helps us build a complete picture of your child's nutritional health.
What to expect during your appointment
We'll take time to understand:
Pregnancy and birth history
Feeding history
Growth measurements
Current diet
Appetite
Mealtime routines
Medical history
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Family history
Your concerns and goals
Following your assessment, you'll receive a personalised nutrition plan with practical strategies that are achievable for your family.
If needed, we'll also arrange follow-up appointments to monitor progress and adjust recommendations as your child grows.
Why choose Beam Dietitians?
Supporting children with faltering growth is one of the core areas of our NHS specialist practice.
Our team currently works within the UK's largest children's hospital, regularly helping babies and children with growth concerns, feeding difficulties, food allergies and complex gastrointestinal conditions.
Families choose Beam because we offer:
Specialist NHS expertise
Evidence-based nutritional advice
Personalised growth plans
Compassionate, family-centred care
Practical strategies for everyday life
Online consultations across the UK
We understand how worrying growth concerns can be. Our goal is not only to support your child's nutrition but also to give you confidence and reassurance along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
My child has always been small. Should I be worried?
Not necessarily. Many children are naturally smaller than average because of their genetics. What's often more important is whether they're continuing to grow consistently along their own growth curve.
Does poor weight gain always mean my child isn't eating enough?
No. While inadequate energy intake is one possible cause, medical conditions, feeding difficulties and increased nutritional needs can also affect growth.
Will my child need nutritional supplements?
Not always. Many children can achieve healthy growth through dietary changes alone. If supplements are appropriate, we'll discuss the options available and work alongside your healthcare team where necessary.
How quickly should my child gain weight?
Every child is different. Our aim is steady, sustainable growth rather than rapid weight gain. We'll monitor progress over time and adjust recommendations as needed.
Can you work with my paediatrician or health visitor?
Yes. We regularly work alongside GPs, paediatricians, health visitors and other healthcare professionals to ensure children receive coordinated, evidence-based care.
Helping your child grow with confidence
Worrying about your child's weight can be incredibly stressful, but you don't have to navigate it alone.
At Beam Dietitians, we'll take the time to understand your child's individual needs, identify the reasons behind their growth concerns and create a personalised nutrition plan that supports healthy growth and development.
Together, we'll help your child get the nourishment they need while making mealtimes feel less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family.
Book an appointment today and let us support your child's growth with expert, compassionate care.
