What should you know about non organic failure to thrive?

A child may gain weight slowly, cross down through growth measurements, or struggle to eat enough despite having no clear disease causing the problem. Feeding difficulty can involve limited appetite, distress around meals, a restricted range of foods, tiredness, or difficulty with chewing and swallowing. Family stress, changes at home, practical barriers, or an unsettled feeding routine may also affect intake. Clinicians still check for physical causes because growth concerns can have more than one contributor.

Arrange a child health assessment so growth can be reviewed over time rather than judged from one measurement. Bring details of typical meals, drinks, snacks, feeding behaviour, bowel habits, sleep, and recent changes at home. Offer calm, regular meals without pressure, allow the child to decide how much to eat, and avoid filling up on drinks immediately before meals. Do not start supplements or restrictive diets without clinical advice. A clinician may suggest feeding support, nutrition guidance, or help with family routines.

Seek prompt medical advice if a child is losing weight, has very little urine, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, choking during feeds, marked lethargy, breathing difficulty, or signs of dehydration. Urgent help is needed if the child is difficult to wake or cannot keep fluids down. Contact the care team sooner if eating becomes increasingly distressing or growth measurements continue to fall.

Ask which growth measurements are concerning, what feeding pattern to record, whether swallowing or nutritional assessment is needed, and when progress should be reviewed.