clinical nutrition and lactation

Our outpatient lactation clinic provides focused, one-on-one support to help you establish and sustain breastfeeding, chestfeeding or pumping. Lactation specialists can help with milk supply, latch and suck concerns, nipple or breast pain, infant weight gain, milk intake, bottle refusal, pumping plans, confidence building, returning to work, introducing solids and weaning.  

Appointments typically include a review of medical and feeding history, a feeding assessment, and personalized recommendations to meet your goals. Whether you’re just getting started, navigating challenges, or preparing to return to work, we’re here with practical guidance that fits your family.

Referrals from your provider are welcome but not required to schedule. You can schedule online or by calling 937-641-4000.  Learn more about what to expect for your visit here.

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Every child admitted to Dayton Children’s is screened for possible nutrition risks, because good nutrition plays a key role in healing, recovery and overall health. Our goal is to ensure each child receives the right care to meet their unique nutritional needs. A registered dietitian nutritionist may become part of your child’s care team after a nutrition screening, through a provider consult, during multidisciplinary rounding on the unit or at a parent’s request.

Breastfeeding and pumping provide lifelong benefits for both mothers and babies, and Dayton Children’s is committed to promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding and lactation. Lactation support is offered in our outpatient lactation clinic, at Dayton Children’s Pediatrics, and in all inpatient areas, including the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric inpatient units. 

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Dayton Children’s nutrition clinic provides personalized nutrition therapy for infants, children and teens. Our pediatric dietitians work closely with families to support healthy growth, manage medical conditions and make mealtimes less stressful. Our team commonly supports children with feeding difficulties, growth or weight concerns, food allergies, diabetes, celiac disease, picky eating, and other nutrition-related needs.

Referrals from your provider are welcome but not required to schedule. You can schedule online or by calling 937-641-4000. Visits typically last up to one hour and include time to review your child’s nutrition history, address any challenges, and create a practical plan that fits your family’s goals.

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prepare for your visit

Kids’ food choices can affect their health, both now and in the future. That’s why we offer group nutrition classes and cooking classes at the Connor Child Health Pavilion in our community teaching kitchen for kids and adults of all ages. From topics such as picky eating for young kids to nutrition for the student athlete, our interactive classes have something for everyone!

These 60-90 minute educational cooking classes offer time to build the necessary skills to prepare healthy, cost friendly recipes while working through nutrition related content. Each class offers hands-on cooking experiences in a positive environment that will help build lifelong nutrition knowledge and cooking skills. We also provide a focus on families and cover a variety of topics that support a healthy lifestyle.

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Our clinical nutrition lab helps ensure every baby in the NICU receives the exact nutrition they need to grow and thrive. Staffed by specially trained technicians, the lab prepares and tracks breast milk and formulas — from adding calories to breast milk for extra growth support to providing specialized formulas when needed.

Technicians visit your baby’s room 1–2 times each day to collect milk, which is then scanned into our barcode system. This system records important details like time, date, and expiration, and tracks your baby’s milk until it’s ready to be fed. At feeding time, the barcode is scanned again to confirm the right milk, fortification, and timing — adding an extra layer of safety and peace of mind.

For families with extra stored milk, the lab also provides secure freezer storage to extend its use.

Children with cerebral palsy often need care from many specialists. At Dayton Children’s, we bring the experts to one place—so your child can receive coordinated, comprehensive care and a personalized treatment plan without the stress of multiple appointments. Our clinic is led by a developmental pediatrician and includes specialists in rehabilitation, orthopedics, nutrition, therapy, and more, all working together to support your child’s health and development from birth through young adulthood.

cerebral palsy clinic

Eating disorders can affect a child’s nutrition, growth and overall health. The eating disorders clinic at Dayton Children’s brings together the medical and psychological aspects of treatment for patients ages 10 to 17 with a diagnosis of an eating disorder and referral.

To provide the most comprehensive care, our team includes: 

• Double board-certified pediatrician and child and adolescent psychiatrist  
• Therapists  
• Dietitians 
• Nurses  
• Medical assistants  

We understand that seeking help for an eating disorder can be very challenging. We use a treatment plan that involves the whole family and is based on proven methods for helping children and adolescents with eating disorders. One important part of this plan is teaching parents and caregivers how to follow the care team’s advice at home. 

We believe in partnering with families on their child’s road to recovery. Together, we’ll work towards a healthier future for your child. We’re here for you every step of the way. Our team will help you know what to expect, answer your questions, and connect you with additional resources, should you need further support.

Babies who begin life in the NICU often need specialized follow-up care to ensure they continue to grow and develop as expected. Our high-risk newborn follow-up clinic provides screenings, evaluations, therapies, and referrals, along with education and support for parents. A team of developmental specialists, physicians, nurses and therapists work together to give your baby the best start beyond the NICU.

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The classic ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, adequate protein diet that can be used to treat difficult-to-control seizures. The human body uses mostly carbohydrates for energy. When carbohydrates are not available for energy, the body can use fat for energy instead. The breakdown of fat for energy produces a waste product called “ketones.” The state of ketosis is often associated with improved seizure control. In the ketogenic diet program at Dayton Children’s, your child will be seen by the program’s physician and a dietitian. They will work with you to decide if this program would be a good fit for your child. 

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Our board-certified biochemical geneticists work alongside our nurses and metabolic dietitians to diagnose, treat, and prevent metabolic disorders. We provide follow-up care for abnormal newborn screening results, ongoing management for children and adults with confirmed metabolic conditions, and nutrition planning tailored to each patient’s needs. For children requiring enzyme replacement therapy or other advanced treatments, our team coordinates care and provides long-term monitoring to support their health and quality of life.

The type of food young athletes eat can affect how well and how long they can compete. A proper nutrition plan can make sure they have enough energy to keep playing into overtime. Our team has a dedicated dietitian specialized in sports nutrition to keep your athlete at the top of their game.

explore sports nutrition

Dayton Children’s knows that when it comes to young, female athletes, there’s a lot to consider. Training, performance, nutrition, mental health. And with the Center for the Female Athlete, we will provide a place for our young female athletes to be heard. To learn how to understand their bodies’ unique needs and focus on the power they have to position themselves for total wellness. 

With an exceptional female-led team of physicians, dietitians, behavioral health specialists and athletic trainers, female athletes can find the program they’ve been looking for that helps them not only be the best version of their athletic self, but more importantly, the best version of their whole self.

explore the center

• Gastroenterology

• • IBD Center: Long-term management and personalized support for children with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
  • Bowel Management Program: A multidisciplinary clinic to help children with severe constipation, incontinence or related issues
  • Nutrition and Feeding Support: Diet-based treatment for underweight children, food intolerance and selective eating
• Endocrinology
• Healthy Me clinic
• Hematology oncology
• Home care
• Nephrology
• Pulmonary medicine

For infants under 1-years-old, submit the infant nutrition history form online here or download the form to print, complete and bring to your appointment. By completing this form, it will help your child’s care team provide the best care for them.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment to check in.

Your visit will last about 30 to 60 minutes, giving plenty of time to talk about your child’s nutrition needs and create a plan to help them grow and stay healthy. During a visit to the nutrition clinic the dietitian may:

• Complete a full nutritional assessment
• Assess your child’s growth and nutritional status
• Help you set goals
• Assist in developing meal plans
• Provide education
• Provide guidance on behavior changes
• Help parents and kids decide who is responsible for which changes

Get checklists, resources, and helpful tips for before, during, and after your visit to Dayton Children’s—so you know exactly what to expect.

prepare for your visit

During your baby’s Dayton Children’s emergency room visit, or inpatient admission, here are some tips and information to help during your stay.

• Your baby may be having tests or procedures, please check with your baby’s medical team before feeding your baby. 
• We have breast pumps available to use during your stay at no cost! 
• If your usual breastfeeding routine is interrupted for more than three hours, please ask your care team for a breast pump and pump kit; one can be brought to your baby’s bedside for free. 
• We can provide supplies needed for washing pump parts and storing milk. 
• We have special refrigerators just for your milk and can also freeze it if needed. 
• If your baby needs to be fed through a feeding tube, your milk can be given to your baby through the tube. 

why pump?

Even if your baby is not allowed to eat right now, pumping is still important. Pumping every three hours for 15-20 minutes is typically recommended if your baby is not allowed to eat or if bottle feeding, getting NG-tube feedings or not breastfeeding as often or as well as usual.  

• Pumping tells your body how much milk to try to make, even if you are not feeling full or getting only drops
• Pumping helps to increase your milk supply
• Pumping helps to prevent breast infection if your breasts are full
• Pumping helps prevent your supply from dropping if you usually make the amount of milk your baby needs 

If you are using a breast pump at Dayton Children’s, use this link for instructions on using the Medela Symphony Breast Pump located in any of our lactation rooms. 

• How to start the Medela Symphony PLUS Maintain program can be viewed here.

need assistance?  

Ask your nurse for assistance or ask a staff member to contact lactation for support. A lactation specialist will try to meet with you as soon as possible.

• Affirmation cards – You’ve got this!
• Black breastfeeding support
  • Black Breastfeeding Coalition of Ohio
  • Facebook groups such as ROSE, Mocha Moms
  • Milk Mama’s (Dayton), BSTARTS (Cincinnati), BLaC (Central Ohio)
  • Chocolate Milk Series (moms and their stories)
• BreastBeginnings App: Free, easy to use menus, embedded links to videos, feeding and diaper tracker
• Breastfeeding and Ohio WIC 
  • Food benefits for breastfeeding moms for one year
  • Back to work support for moms
  • Peer support
• Breastfeeding video resources
  • If you are using a breast pump at Dayton Children’s, use this link for instructions on using the Medela Symphony Breast Pump located in any of our lactation rooms. 
    • How to start the Medela Symphony PLUS Maintain program can be viewed here.
  • ​Global Health Media Breastfeeding Support Videos – available in 45 languages
  • Getting Started with Breastfeeding Videos – Stanford Medicine
• Breastmilk Every Ounce Counts: Benefits of breastfeeding, getting prepared, working on volume, self-care
• CDC Breastfeeding
  • Division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity – supporting optimal breastfeeding practices to improve public health
  • Data and statistics
  • Guidelines and recommendations
  • Special populations
  • Proven strategies
• Formula alternatives – WIC
• Kelly Mom Breastfeeding and Parenting: Evidence-based, simple, common sense advice
• KidsHealth breastfeeding articles
• La Leche League
  • All things breastfeeding, maternal support, local peer support
• Medications and substances questions – what’s safe and what’s not:
  • LactMed – online or available as an app
  • Infant Risk Center – Dr. Hale and team
• Ohio Department of Health Resources for Breastfeeding Rights at Work
• Southwest Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition
  • Many breastfeeding support and materials available in over 10 languages

We know the value of breast milk for all infants. While we encourage and support mothers to provide their own milk whenever possible, some may not produce enough or be able to pump. 

To ensure every baby has access to this vital resource, we partner with the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Ohio. All babies born weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces may receive donated breast milk, with guidance and support from our lactation consultants. When breast milk isn’t an option, our team will discuss safe alternatives such as formula and fortifiers.

We are deeply grateful to the mothers who donate milk to help our tiniest patients thrive. If you’re interested in becoming a donor, connect with the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank by visiting their website or calling 614-566-0630

We understand the challenges of formula feeding. Please find the below resources to help you and your family along the way. 

• US Department of Health and Human Services Infant Formula Website
• North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Tools for Infants and Children Affected by Formula Shortages
• White House Infant Formula Website
• WIC formula alternatives