Healthy growth for children under 5 years

Has your child had a growth check recently?

Routine growth assessments measure a child’s height and weight to see how a child is growing. 

If you have been told that your child is above a healthy weight, you might be feeling unsure of your next steps. By making small changes to your family's lifestyle, you can help your child get to a healthy weight. The focus should not be on weight loss for your child as they are still rapidly growing.   

Avoid talking about weight in front of your child, including talking about your own weight. Children can become worried and may feel shame about their bodies and what they eat. This can cause problems in the long term. 

Click on the links below for ideas on what to do next.

Join the Healthy Tips for Families program

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The Healthy Tips for Families program is a FREE 8-week text message program for parents with preschool-aged children who are above a healthy weight. 

The messages contain simple health tips, advice and inspiration to help keep the whole family happy and healthy.

You can opt out at any time. 

Sign up now!

Flyer for text msg program

Speak with your GP

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Speak to your GP about the results of your child’s growth assessment. 

They can:

  • Answer questions you have about growth checks.
  • Provide further advice around weight management.
  • Track your child’s growth over time. 
  • Decide if a clinical assessment and further tests are needed.

You can ask your GP to:

  • Refer your child for more specialised advice around healthy eating and physical activity. 
  • Recommend an Accredited Practising Dietitian (food and nutrition) or you can search for one here. Some dietitians also have telehealth options available. 
  • Recommend an Exercise Physiologist (physical activity and movement) or you can search for one yourself here. 
  • Provide a GP Management Plan to access reduced fees for a Dietitian or an Exercise Physiologist. The number of reduced-fee visits will depend on the plan.

Note: You can self-refer to a Dietitian or an Exercise Physiologist if you do not have a GP Management Plan but you will not be able to access the reduced fees this way.

Contact your private health fund

Ask if they cover visits to a Dietitian or an Exercise Physiologist.

NDIS

If your child is eligible for NDIS, they may be eligible for subsidised fees for allied health services (e.g. Dietitian & Exercise Physiologists).

Come to an online session of Growing Healthy Eaters

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It is normal for meal times to be challenging when you have young children. However there are things you can put in place to make this a little easier for you and your family. Our Growing Healthy Eaters webinars aim to take some of the stress out of feeding young children. These sessions are designed for parents and carers with children between the ages of 12 months and 5 years.

Topics covered include:

  • What and how much food children need
  • Helping your child learn to eat
  • Picky eating
  • Responsive eating
  • Tips to take the stress out of meal times
     

Register for a session.

Healthy eating and lifestyle tips

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Healthy eating
  • Start the day with a healthy breakfast.
  • Choose water instead of sugary drinks and juice.
  • Try to provide set meals over the day, rather than allowing your child to eat when they feel like it. Aim for three meals and two to three snacks.
  • Be aware of how often you feed your child "sometimes" foods. Provide healthy snacks instead. Sometimes foods include chocolate, confectionery, sweet drinks, chips, fried foods, cakes, biscuits and pastry items.
  • Make changes together as a family instead of only your child making changes.

Useful links:

Get moving
  • Your child needs to be active throughout the day.
  • Recommendations are:
    • 1-3 year olds need to be active for at least three hours of activity spread over the day. This can include time spent at preschool.
    • 3-5 year olds need three hours spread over the day. This needs to include 60 minutes of high intensity play where they are huffing and puffing.
    • 5-12 year old children need to be active for at least 60 minutes each day. This includes time spent at school.
  • Don't make exercise a chore or unenjoyable. Choose activities you can do as a family and that your child enjoys. 

Useful links:

Screen time
  • Try to reduce the amount of time that your child spends sitting down. This includes time spent watching TV, playing computer games or playing on devices.

Useful links:

Sleep
  • All children need sleep for growth, learning and development. Getting enough sleep is vital for your child's physical health, brain function, emotional wellbeing, safety, and ability to function day to day. Having a good night's sleep can help your child be happier, helps them to concentrate and remember things, and improves their behaviour.
  • Not having enough sleep or not sleeping well can affect how children learn and lead to mood swings, poor growth and behavioural problems.
  • Nightly sleep recommendations:
    • 3-5 years - 10-13 hours (this may include a daytime nap) 
    • 5- 3 years - 9-11 hours 
    • 14-17 years - 8-10 hours 

Useful links:

    Further reading and helpful websites