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New child health app

4 replies

catherinekidd · 30/08/2022 22:40

Hi MumsNet mums!

I am a dietitian at a top Children's Hospital and looking for at starting a new adventure!

You know when you have a health question and you are stuck between information available online with no quality control, long NHS waiting lists (if services are available in your area at all) or often prohibitively expensive private healthcare? I am attempting to bridge that gap with digitly enabled healthcare (text services, voice notes, videos and/or AI). I would be extremely grateful if you could complete the below survey - it is 13 questions and shouldn't take more than five minutes. I really appreciate your time.

Thanks, Catherine

www.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey?tt=CZQqa9f2NLwECHrPeIW9eQ%3D%3D&fbclid=IwAR1eS3gDyHR1IxoMVk9gQ5haAAOtxepr9vl8zdF3U5bBU08jwlc98kJ-DsU

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Kaiken · 31/08/2022 08:58

We already struggle to see a doctor or other health practitioner. Forget about ever seeing a specialist. I would hate an app that further reduces the face to face appointments. A text, video, audio note is a one way communication.

My first two children were born in Europe where they were given a paediatrician who followed their needs, my questions, gave us time and care. An Ob/Gyn was following my pregnancy and guided me during childbirth. My middle child had eczema, we were seen by a dermatologist. Any time I needed a specialist, I was seen in a few weeks.
My third was born in UK. The difference was shocking. Total abandonment .

I don't think you would shorten the gap. You might actually reinforce it. Was is needed is that dieticians for example since you are one, are part of the weaning process, and can guide and advise. Go and have a look on the weaning board here on MN www.mumsnet.com/talk/weaning and tell me parents are not lost and it won't be WhatsApp message that helps them.

catherinekidd · 31/08/2022 09:31

Ok that's helpful - thank you Kaiken. Would you mind elaborating then on what you see as a viable option? Would be grateful for you thoughts.

OP posts:
Kaiken · 31/08/2022 19:32

Elaborating what? The weaning ? The care of mother and children? Which viable options?

Another example, in continental Europe, in most countries up until the age of 18, kids go for a yearly check up at their paediatrician. They are measured and weighed. They check eyesight and hearing, check the spine for abnormal curvature, in boys, that testicules are where they should, they talk about behaviour and brain development ( go on www.mumsnet.com/talk/behaviour_development half the posts are " does my child have autism?" ), feet, skin, and so on. They send you to the dentist if needed. If a child is gaining too much weight, the paediatrician steps in, talks to the child, gives instruction to the mother or external help and then books an appointment in 3 months time.

And these appointments are not short, you can easily stay 20 min. Spain, France, Italy , Switzerland ..... all have paediatricians for kids. How can a GP do everything. And many can't even get an appointment .

For the weaning, since you are a dietician: first there is this battle between puree and BLW, which by some strange twist over the years has turned into spoon vs finger, completely ignoring the food that is meant to reach the mouth . Mothers are lost because they have never been explained how deglutition works and how food needs to be moist / wet until baby has learned to chew and hence produce the saliva needed to lubricate the food. They overload spoons, kid spits out, verdict, my son is a spoon refuser, and here come the baby junk such as melty puffs.

If someone had taken the time to explain how the muscles work to move food inside mouth towards throat, a lot of anxiety would be spared.
On MN, there is also the mantra, food before one is just for fun, which is the opposite message given in Europe . First encounter and exposure to food will determine preferences. Fussy eaters is a UK phenomenon. And the health system is to blame. In the countries I mentioned, you don't have Kid's menus in restaurants. Kids eat real food, just half portion, because they eat real food since weaning.

Friends tell me , oh Kaiken you are so lucky , your kids eat everything. Luck has nothing to do with it. I was guided, if my kid wasn't eating, I called my paediatrician and he would give me a few strategies or alternative foods to try and how to prepare them . Nowhere in the NHS resources does it say: prepare food that tastes good. Vegetables are offered raw in Uk or with some sort of industrial dip . In Europe, we roast them, we braise them without salt but with garlic, herbs, ... asparagus cooked in butter, pumpkin with rosemary cooked in the oven... A strip of red pepper is pleasant-ish but the same red pepper roasted in the oven will be soft and succulent.
And fish ? MIA in UK, unless fried or crumbled or tuna in a can. In Italy at 9 months, they tell you to give them mussels and clams. In France, I was told to cook a sole in butter. If kids are not exposed to fish that tastes of fish instead of tasting of fried food, they will never eat fish.
And soups? what is that? Soups are great for weaning. Great way to introduce a big variety of vegetables, add some real parmiggiano, a teaspoon of cream. Pea soup, lentil soup, pumpkin soup...

What you eat is so important for life-long health, yet when mothers introduce their kids to food, there is absolutely no guidance. I think the NHS is failing them. The health visitor can be a hit and miss. I kicked mine out when she suggested baby crisps for lunch from time to time and insisting they were appropriate because there was no added salt.

You can't explain all this in a 3 min audio note. Maybe a series of webinars, tutorials, cooking videos

RP2211 · 01/09/2022 07:14

Wow, what an eye opener Kaiken. I didn't even think about the fact you're left to just feed your child without any guidance and you're right. My daughter is now 12 months old and even though I feel she has a great diet it could probably be better if I wasn't so worried about what they can and cannot eat, choking etc... It's all you hear though. Thank you for posting this.

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