Growth, the paradigm marker of wellbeing in childhood, can be difficult to assess in the first two weeks of life. Some loss of weight is usual in the first few days, and distinguishing this from pathological weight loss can be difficult. Most paediatricians and midwives would become concerned if a baby lost greater than 10% of birth weight or, had failed to regain birth weight by 10 days of age.

Failure of breast feeding is becoming increasingly recognised as a …