Specialist paediatric gut health
Private Paediatric Dietitian for Children’s Gut Health
Specialist support for children with persistent tummy pain, constipation, IBS or loose stools that haven’t settled, despite everything you’ve tried.
Over 20 years’ clinical experience · 12 years at Great Ormond Street Hospital · Specialist paediatric gut dietitian
Registered with, trained at and worked with
Start with your child
Babies & under 2s
Milk, food reactions or an unsettled tummy?
A single consultation to work through suspected food reactions, feeding and nutrition. Optional monthly follow-up.
Age 2 & above
Tummy troubles that keep coming back?
Personalised, one to one support for constipation, tummy pain, loose stools and food worries, using my Happy Belly Formula™. My work is about what food can do alongside medical treatment, so families are not relying on laxatives alone.
Every child’s gut history is unique.
Most families come to me after months of trying: private appointments, prescriptions, probiotics and supplements that didn’t settle things, time off work, and school mornings spent worrying. The Happy Belly Club® brings all of that into one structured, 12-week plan, built around your child, with regular appointments and support in between.
If your child is two or older and has ongoing gut symptoms, we start with a free 15-minute discovery call. We talk through their symptoms first, so you know whether the Happy Belly Club® is the right fit before you commit to anything. Book a free 15-minute discovery call
Is your child struggling with tummy pain or missing school?
Tummy troubles can take over family life. Things can change.
Bahee was a Godsend. We were struggling with my 9 year olds post infectious IBS ( constant stomach pains and flare ups, migraines, pains in arms, legs, missing many days of school, not participating in sports, anxiety around eating)… My son is now thriving. He is more confident around food, attends school every day and is enjoying PE and sports again.
Marios, mother of 9 year old
My 13-year-old son had been suffering from ongoing stomach pain for the past year… After months on Laxido for an impacted bowel and constant abdominal pain, we were stuck in a cycle. Then we found Bahee… She quickly identified that my son wasn’t getting enough fibre, and within just a month, we were able to stop the Laxido completely… After a year of my son barely being able to attend school due to pain, he’s now thriving.
Louise, parent of 13 year old
We spent a year and a half trying to figure out why my son was having so many issues… My son went from having terrible stomach pain several times a day to virtually none with her advice on diet and supplements. Bahee was very kind with getting some very frustrated parents and 10 year old to some easily manageable solutions.
Katherine, parent of 10 year old
In the media
Children’s nutrition, explained clearly
I was interviewed for BBC Panorama’s The Truth About Baby Food Pouches and regularly provide expert commentary on children’s nutrition and gut health for national television, radio and press.
In 2022, I was awarded the British Dietetic Association’s Media Spokesperson of the Year.
BBC News
CNN
ITV News
- CNN
- BBC Panorama
- BBC News
- ITV News
- BBC Radio 5 Live
- Channel 4
- Good Morning Britain
- Victoria Derbyshire
- Which?
- The Times
- The Telegraph
- HuffPost
Why a dietitian
Why choose a paediatric dietitian?
You’ve seen the GP. Maybe a consultant. You’ve had the tests. You’ve cut foods out. You’ve tried the probiotics. Maybe the laxatives help, but every time you try to reduce them, everything comes back. And your child is still not okay.
You are not doing anything wrong. Tests are designed to look for disease, not to explain why symptoms are still happening. And cutting out a food to see what happens is not a plan. It is a guess, and your child deserves better than a guess.
A GP appointment rarely has time for a detailed look at food, stools and your child’s history. That is the time I give families.
As a registered paediatric dietitian, I assess your child’s symptoms, diet and history, interpret relevant test results and guide nutrition changes as part of the diagnostic process. This includes support for suspected irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain and non-IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy, working alongside your GP or paediatrician.
Your child does not need an existing diagnosis before you come to me.
Support for persistent tummy pain
Tummy pain is one of the most common reasons parents take their child to the GP. When tests come back normal, families are often told their child will grow out of it. Normal results do not make the pain any less real, and it can affect school, sleep and eating.
I support children with IBS and other abdominal pain disorders, including functional abdominal pain, which the latest Rome V criteria now call abdominal pain syndrome (not otherwise specified).
Looking for a children’s nutritionist?
In the UK, “dietitian” is a title protected by law, and dietitians must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The British Dietetic Association describes dietitians as the only nutrition professionals regulated by law. Paediatric dietitians specialise further, and some, like me, develop further expertise in gastroenterology.
Help from someone who knows children’s nutrition
I’m Bahee Van de Bor, a specialist paediatric dietitian with over 20 years of clinical experience, including 12 years at Great Ormond Street Hospital in complex paediatric nutrition.
I trained in New Zealand and worked at Starship Children’s Hospital before moving to the UK. I now see families online across the UK and internationally.
I am Monash University trained, with specialist certification in the modified low FODMAP approach for children, so the strategies I use are evidence-based and appropriate for a child’s age and development.
I help parents manage food exclusions while keeping feeding practical and their child’s nutrition in focus.
I am an HCPC registered dietitian. In my private practice I help parents who are worried about their child’s suspected food allergies, including cow’s milk protein allergy, food intolerances, and gastrointestinal conditions like constipation or toddler diarrhoea.
I chaired the British Dietetic Association’s Paediatric Specialist Group from 2022 to 2025, where it was named Group of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. I was the BDA’s Media Spokesperson of the Year in 2022.
My research is published under my current name and my maiden name, Baheerathi Manickavasagar, across paediatric renal, ketogenic and gastrointestinal nutrition.
I am also a mum of two girls and have lived with IBS since childhood. I bring that personal understanding, and I show families that tummy troubles do not need to hold a child back.
Clinical Paediatric Dietetics
Helping shape the profession as well as supporting families
Professional work
Teaching doctors and dietitians about children’s nutrition
Alongside my clinical practice, I deliver professional education on children’s gut health, food allergy and nutrition, including sessions for the Royal College of General Practitioners and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).
I have also taught on British Dietetic Association master’s modules, and at the Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street.
Published research
Five peer-reviewed papers, published under my current name and my maiden name, Baheerathi Manickavasagar, including:
- Hypervitaminosis A in children with chronic kidney disease. Pediatric Nephrology, 2015. First author
- Optimal clinical management of children receiving ketogenic parenteral nutrition. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 2020
- Hydrolysed rice formula in the dietary management of cow’s milk allergy. Nutrients, 2026
Books and national guidance
- Clinical Paediatric Dietetics, sixth edition. One of six editors, and author of the section on disorders of gut-brain interaction
- Lead author of forthcoming UK dietetic guidance for paediatric IBS and functional abdominal pain
- The Ultimate Renal Cookbook, 2005. New Zealand’s first renal cookbook for adults on haemodialysis
Get to know my approach
I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had understood tummy troubles earlier. No child should have their tummy troubles holding them back from the ordinary joys of childhood.
This is for you if your child is still suffering and the tests keep coming back normal.
What parents say
Families I have worked with
We reached out to Bahee when we suspected our son had a milk protein allergy. She was able to come up with a weaning plan for him in order to minimise risk of other allergens. We also used Bahee’s guidance on how to carefully reintroduce milk in our son’s diet and she’s been an amazing support throughout.
Ana, parent of a baby
With Bahee’s guidance we were able to meet all our goals for our 5 year old, come off medication, stop the soiling, reduce tummy pain. Furthermore as parents we now understand why these issues occured and how to prevent them going forward and problem solve if they come up again. I’d highly recommend Bahee if you’re at a loss as to how to help your child and the medications and consultant appointments aren’t moving things forward.
Hannah, parent of 5 year old
We originally sought Bahee’s help after out 15 month year old was still very unwell despite taking the necessary reflux medication and avoiding milk. As soon as Bahee saw our son she advised we cut out soya along with a variety of other ingredients. She advised on meal plans, gave us links to useful information, sent us episodes of her podcast, and provided a follow up consultation… I wish we had sought it sooner.
Flora, parent of 15 month old
Bahee was recommended to us when our 13 year old was having IBS symptoms. She made an incredible difference in a short space of time.
Emmae, parent of 13 year old
Bahee was very helpful and gave us useful practical advice to follow which made a difference to my daughter’s stomach pain. Thank you!
Rebecca, parent of 15 year old
We contacted Bahee as we were struggling to introduce new foods to my 10 month old daughter, having tried for over 6 months… It was upsetting to see my daughter suffering still with silent reflux, skin issues and tummy troubles. Bahee was amazing… Within two weeks the reflux and skin issues disappeared and now, following Bahee’s expert advice, we are introducing new foods in a controlled manner.
Alison, parent of 10 month old
Read more reviews
Bahee is a lovely person who is very kind, welcoming and professional. She was very thorough ensuring all guidance and important information is covered and explained, making sure all options were investigated including a referal to specialist where required. I would highly recommend her services and I would definitely return for any advice/help that my child needs.
Chezanne
We contacted Bahee as we were struggling to introduce new foods to my 10 month old daughter (having tried for over 6 months). This was after a history of problems with formula and a non-IGE CMPA diagnosis on the NHS. Feeding was a daily challenge and it was upsetting to see my daughter suffering still with silent reflux, skin issues and tummy troubles. Bahee was amazing! She determined another allergy was at play and we swapped to formula number 14! I was very nervous about this due to the history but Bahee explained everything so well and gave me the confidence to do so. Within two weeks the reflux and skin issues disappeared and now slowly, following Bahee’s expert advice, we are introducing new foods in a controlled manner. Bahee’s knowledge is fantastic, her approach logical and she supports you the entire time (she even called the GP to ensure we got the formula quickly). I can’t thank her enough and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to others!
Alison
We got in touch with Bahee as we were extremely worried about our daughter’s frequent bowel motions and facial rash. Since working through the gut health programme, Bahee fine-tuned my diet (as my baby is breastfed). My daughter’s bowel movements have now reduced significantly to a normal rhythm. She is also gaining weight. Her skin is clearer and she no longer has facial rashes. We count on Bahee and her regular updates to our nutritional plan. It feels great to be in safe hands. We are very pleased with the results we have achieved with Bahee. We are counting on working together to ensure our daughter’s health and long-term eating habits.
Mara
I went to Bahee because my daughter was diagnosed with Dairy and Soya intolerance at 10 weeks old. We was added to the NHS system which was too slow for us with backlogs from covid. Bahee really helped me and put my mind ease and changed our lives for the better. We have seen incredible results from following Bahee’s guidance and she was really professional, friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend her services to anyone in need of dietary help for their child.
Kirsty
We reached out to Bahee when we suspected our son had a milk protein allergy. She was able to come up with a weaning plan for him in order to minimise risk of other allergens. We also used Bahee’s guidance on how to carefully reintroduce milk in our son’s diet and she’s been an amazing support throughout, sharing latest products and recipes. Would highly recommend her to anyone experiencing similar issues with their child.
Ana
Bahee has been fantastic with helping my son with his eczema. She took the time to listen to all of his symptoms and reviewed the food diary I had kept. We worked together to agree an elimination diet to pinpoint what in his diet was aggravating his skin and by eliminating this, my son’s ezcema flares have almost been eliminated. She has given me fantastic advice on how to reintroduce food items and also example recipes with certain foods excluded so that I can continue with his varied diet. Additionally Bahee recommended probiotics and vitamins which I feel have made a significant difference for my son. I can’t recommend her highly enough to anyone whose child is struggling with eczema / their diet.
Laura
I received such great and helpful professional advice from Bahee for my 6 month old son when he had an allergic reaction to cow’s milk. The recommendations were thorough and simple to follow amd she checked up on us afterwards to see how we were getting on! My son is now better and his skin has cleared up. I highly recommend. Thank you again Bahee.
Bux
Since we started weaning I was always wondering if I give the right food with the right amount. And because I prepare all the food for my baby, I’ve decided to speak with someone about it, I found Ms Van de Bor online and after our first conversation on the phone I knew she was the right person. Her acknowledgement about the nutrition and everything about the food is just amazing! I was very impressed with everything she said and the directions she gave me. Now I know that my baby is eating what she should and she is taking the right supplements. Thank you so much Ms Van de Bor!!!
BP
I really enjoyed working with Bahee. She had some really good insights when it came to helping my daughter and was able to pinpoint the exact problem. She was extremely professional and you could see that she really cared about her clients and wanted the best outcome. I would recommend her in a heartbeat.
Sophie
I approached Bahee as I was struggling with managing my daughter’s many food intolerances. Having spoken to other nutritionists both through the NHS and privately I found I was getting differing advice and struggled where to turn next. Bahee’s simple and understanding approach got me on the right track and has allowed me to reintroduce nearly all the foods my daughter previously couldn’t have. Her tools and techniques are easily understandable and she is on hand to answer any questions in between appointments. The experience has been life-changing for my family as it means we can eat a much more healthy and balanced diet together. I couldn’t recommend her services more highly.
Hannah
We spent a year and a half trying to figure out why my son was having so many issues. After the first consultation with Bahee, she set us on a path that gave us immediate results. My son went from having terrible stomach pain several times a day to virtually none with her advice on diet and supplements. I underestimated how much those things mattered but Bahee was very kind with getting some very frustrated parents and 10 year old to some easily manageable solutions!
Katherine
Two months ago I was very worried about the girl because she didn’t want to eat anything but drink milk until I met Bahee. I am very grateful to Bahee for her support, positivity and cooperation because thanks to her advice my daughter started eating again And since I have a problem, I introduce you to new food.
Fabi
Bahee helped our son with tummy issues and has been not less than incredible. It took her very little time to identify the potential issues correctly and the bespoke plan she crafted for him worked like magic! Highly knowledgeable, responsive and recommended to anyone facing issues she can help with.
Ran
Bahee came highly recommended by my GP and has been most helpful in addressing multiple concerns I had in regards to my little one’s diet. She is very knowledgeable and approachable and has a wonderful attitude. All in all, I have had the most positive experience and would recommend Bahee to any parent in need of an expert advice.
T
Bahee solved my son’s tummy troubles within weeks! She was then able to support me with introducing new foods into his diet with informed and helpful advice. Thank you Bahee!
Alice
Bahee was recommended to us when our 13 year old was having IBS symptoms – she made an incredible difference in a short space of time. I found her easy to work with and full of great ideas. Our son now has the knowledge to make wise choices and plenty of ways to increase fibre in his diet. Bahee is kind, supportive and professional and completely reviewed our approach to food.
Emmae
She is an exceptional dietician, she addressed all issues in detail and gave very simple solutions which we thought as parents are very complex. Would highly recommend to any worried parents like us.
Muhammad, parent of 5 year old
We chose to work with Bahee after our daughter suffered some extreme digestive issues, and we felt a more holistic approach would be better. After reviewing Bahee’s credentials and an initial consultation I felt confident she would help us. Whilst working with Bahee we didn’t need to reintroduce laxatives, and by the end of the programme our daughter was pooing regularly and appropriately. But the best part – she has gone from a pretty restrictive diet to not only eating a varied diet but being confident in trying new things, as well as being able to label foods (she has a significant speech delay). As well as sharing her extensive knowledge, she also taught us as parents how to better help her daughter, as well as an alleviating some of the parental mental load. Thank you, Bahee – together, our hard work has made an incredible difference.
Laura
Bahee was a Godsend. We were struggling with my 9 year olds post infectious IBS ( constant stomach pains and flare ups, migraines, pains in arms, legs, missing many days of school, not participating in sports, anxiety around eating) She addressed all his issue in detail and gave gave us simple solutions and the confidence to believe that things will get better and that he could return to school and and PE / sports) Bahee is compassionate and kind and cares about her patients and I highly recommend her. My son is now thriving .He is more confident around food, attends school every day and is enjoying PE and sports again. He does get the occasional stomach pain but he now powers through! Thank you Bahee xxx
Marios, mother of 9 year old
Weaning is a tricky topic for new mums like me. The vast amount of literature out there and conflicting advice from people adds to the confusion. Bahee’s workshop was simple and effective, boiling the whole thing down to 5 key take away points. I feel very confident and calm about weaning now and I look forward to it!
Raksha, mother of 6 month old
Bahee provided valuable advice and support regarding my 13 mth old son, who was hardly eating any solids despite all my efforts. I really appreciated Bahee’s gentle and thoughtful approach, and the fact her suggestions were backed up by a wealth of expertise in her specialist area. With her support, we saw immediate improvements in my child’s diet and eating behaviours.
Suzy, parent of 13 month old
We first contacted Bahee when our Son was 7 months and being introduced to foods. Bahee has really helped us navigate our Sons’ allergies, providing us with a great range of knowledge to help our son with his nutrition. She has provided on going support in a professional and empathetic way. We would not hesitate to recommend her.
Phoenix T
A few months after our initial consultation, I can see the benefits. Our family is more energetic and healthier. Bahee is knowledgeable, proactive, compassionate, and kind. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a children’s nutritionist. She’s your person! I’m very pleased with my experience. Thank you!!
Kristale
Bahee helped us enormously when our little girl, aged 8 months then, systematically refused to eat solids. After many weeks of trying out different approaches to teach our baby solid food, my partner and I felt lost. At 8 months of age our baby girl was still exclusively breastfed and I started to worry about any deficiencies she might have started developing. Bahee listened to us carefully and instantly pinpointed what we needed to change to move forward with our feeding challenge. Her advice was simple and powerful. From day three our baby girl was eating her meals three times a day. She gradually settled into a new routine which cultivated a positive relationship with food for her and I undoubtedly attribute this to the techniques that Bahee recommended. She really unblocked us. With Bahee’s support through the scheduled follow up consultations we were able to work around a couple of hiccups along the way. I think reaching out to Bahee for help was very important to do for us as it sets the tone of our baby’s relationship with food. We are incredibly grateful, we wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for Bahee.
Daniela
Bahee really helped and was very patient with all my questions and emails! Would definitely recommend working with her!
Saoirse
Latest
Blog and podcast
- Histamine Intolerance in Children: What the Evidence Shows
- IBS in Teenagers: What Helps with Diarrhoea and Urgency?
- Natural Laxatives for Kids: Which Foods Can Help Them Poo?
- Why Is My Child Still Constipated After a Stomach Bug?
Kids Nutrition Podcast
On the Kids Nutrition Podcast, I shared what I have learned as a paediatric dietitian and children’s nutritionist. The episodes are short, practical and based on the evidence, and you can still listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. They cover:
- fussy eating and picky eating habits
- weaning and infant nutrition
- cow’s milk allergy
- constipation, tummy pain and IBS
- reflux
- probiotics for kids
- vegan and plant-based diets for children
I am one of the few registered dietitians who help children with suspected or diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, and I am leading the forthcoming national paediatric IBS nutrition guidelines.
Free toolkit
Worried about constipation?
Download the Happy Tummy Toolkit for soft poo!
Work with me
The Happy Belly Club®
The Happy Belly Club® is my 12-week, one-to-one programme for children aged two and over with ongoing gut symptoms. Using my Happy Belly Formula™ (Identify, Restore, Thrive), we work out what is driving your child’s symptoms, settle the gut, then work towards a wider, more comfortable diet.
It brings together support for:
- constipation and tummy pain
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and loose stools
- picky eating and food worries linked to gut symptoms
- reflux and non-IgE cow’s milk allergy with gut symptoms
- restricted diets after cutting foods out
Other enquiries
Working with me in other ways
Media
Expert comment on children’s nutrition and gut health for television, radio and press.
Speaking and teaching
Professional education for clinical audiences, conferences, study days and schools.
Consultancy
Advisory work with healthcare organisations and brands on children’s food and nutrition.