Your child needs help with her growth and development. Can diet really make a difference? Raisingkids.co.uk's paediatric dietitian, David Swain, leads us to a solution and a healthier baby.

Raisingkids member's query
My 14 mth-old daughter has just been diagnosed as being deficient in her IgA immunoglobulin. She is small for her age and only weighs about 16lb 2oz. She has a fairly healthy appetite, but doesn't seem to put on any pounds. Are there ways of boosting her immune system through diet so that she will start to gain weight?

David's advice
Your daughter is very small for her age. A weight of 16lb 2oz (7.31kg) puts her below the bottom group on a growth chart and I would advise you to ask your GP to refer her to a state-registered dietitian as she will need ongoing care and careful follow up. In addition, if you haven't already, make sure you are given an appointment with a paediatrician.

The most important dietary issue here is to ensure that your child is meeting her nutritional requirements for both calories and protein
(macronutrients that are essential for growth). It is also important that she is getting enough minerals and vitamins as a deficiency in some of these can affect the immune system.

It may be that she needs a special high calorie supplement or milk to help her gain weight or perhaps an energy supplement that can be added to her foods and liquid. A dietitian will also be able to give you some literature on how to fortify your daughter's diet ensuring that it is rich in calories and protein.

• More Questions? Click Here For A Full Menu Of Dave's Answers
• Support Organisations: Babies' Diet