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Article Parents DENY Neglecting Toddler Despite Strict Vegan Diet

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A couple accused of neglecting their 20-month-old daughter after allegedly putting their baby on a strict vegan diet have pleaded not guilty in court again today.

In April we shared that the woman, 31, and her 33-year-old partner appeared at Waverley Court after being arrested at a home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The arrests were made after the little girl was admitted to Sydney Children’s Hospital suffering a seizure on March 10, reports 9 news.

Investigators were told the child was malnourished, suffered rickets, and her height and weight were well below what was expected of a child her age.

Following extensive inquiries, police arrested the couple and charged them with failing to provide for a child causing danger or serious injury and reckless grievous bodily harm.

Police will allege in court the girl’s parents fed the child a strict diet, which was severely deficient in nutrients for her to thrive.

Investigators say when the 20-month-old was admitted to the hospital, her body was so malnourished, she resembled a three-month-old, reports 7 news.

Rickets is a preventable bone disease, rarely seen in Australia and is caused by a lack of Vitamin D and calcium – affecting children on vegetarian or dairy-free diets.

The little girl underwent urgent treatment and remained under medical care for three weeks.

Parents who feed children vegan diets could face jail time

UPDATE 30 may

A vegan couple accused of neglecting their toddler who was allegedly found to be suffering from rickets has faced court holding hands.

Police allege the father, 33 and mother, 31, fed their 20-month-old girl a strict diet ‘severely lacking in nutrients for her to thrive.’

Detectives from the New South Wales State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad started an investigation after the infant suffered a seizure on March 10.

The couple appeared briefly at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday when their case was adjourned to the Downing Centre on July 31.

They held hands and left the court together without commenting, shares Daily Mail.

The parents are charged with failing to provide for a child, causing damage or serious injury and reckless grievous bodily harm.

Police allege the couple ‘did have parental responsibility for (the child) and without reasonable excuse, recklessly failed to provide for (the child) with the necessities of life, which caused a danger of serious injury to (the child).’

Both parents have pleaded not guilty.

An apprehended violence order has been filed on behalf of the 20-month-old against her parents.

A healthy vegan diet

Vegans – exclude red meat, offal, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products. Obtain protein from beans, legumes, pulses, nuts and soy products like tofu.

To make sure your child gets enough of all the nutrients needed for a growing child, their diet must include:
•Protein alternatives such as nuts, legumes and tofu
•Energy for growth and development
•Iron to prevent anaemia
•Vitamin B12
•Vitamin D and calcium to prevent bone disease
•Suitable fats from non-meat sources
•Food in the correct form and combination to make sure nutrients can be digested and absorbed.
•Vegans, use non-dairy milks e.g. soya milk that are fortified with calcium, vitamin D2 and vitamin B12
•Spread breads with avocado, or seed/nut butters to increase calories

More info available on The Vegan Society page.

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  • I really just don’t understand this. As a parent, surely you would have known that your child was not thriving… I hope they throw the book at them.

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  • I would like to think this child was regularly checked by the Maternal Health Nurse however, if the parents felt a vegan diet was suitable for their 20-month-old, I’m sure this wasn’t followed up. I’m just so pleased this was somehow uncovered and reported. That poor child now has hope, where its parents put the poor bub at such a severe disadvantaged. No excuse. I hope this child recovers well and the parents face justice.

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  • Poor kid. As many have said, this is not an issue of feeding a vegan diet, the problems comes from providing foods with a variety of nutrients and supplementing where needed to ensure the best health for the child. Even a child that isn’t on a vegetarian or vegan “diet” can be malnourished and need supplements to make up for missing nutrients.

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  • It is not the vegan diet that is the problem here, it is that the child did not receive enough variety of food and enough carbs. I would also suggest that the mother had stopped breast feeding too early for this child. I breast fed my son until nearly two, never had formula either and he never had a problem on a vegan diet, though he did have the occasionally muffin from the bakery which would of had eggs and/or dairy it was very minimal. He is now a healthy teenager and never gets sick. I feel sad that this couple did not see one of the many vegan doctors there is who could of guided them before it got to this point.

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  • How awful, I feel so sad for the little one ????

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  • Quite difficult when you follow a vegan diet. I find it quite strict. And I wonder indeed if it’s acceptable to oblige your child to follow it when he’s so young!

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  • Its not fair to force a child that young to skip milk and eggs. They are both so good for growing bodies.

    • Milk and eggs are not necessary, just enough wholesome food.

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  • What were they thinking putting a 20 month old on a diet?!! Absolutely disgusting … and how can they plead not guilty!?

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  • Poor baby ! The parents must be blinded and deceived to think they did the right thing and pleaded not guilty.

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  • I can’t imagine how you even put a 20 month old on a strict diet.. and how crazy to plead not guilty. Would be interested to find out why/how they come to that decision.

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  • I’m not sure why they pleased not guilty when the childs physical state speaks for itself?

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  • This is so difficult, the poor child has already been through a lot with no doubt a lot more to come. It’s so difficult to prove these cases but so important we do whatever possible to protect our precious children.

    Reply

  • Poor girl this is such a cruel act a child needs nutrition and cannot be put on a adults diet

    Reply
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