A multidisciplinary team approach to treatment of failure to thrive in infancy and early childhood permits the simultaneous consideration of nutritional, medical, and psychosocial risk factors associated with this complex syndrome. The registered dietitian works with the physician, nurse, and social worker to provide an integrated evaluation of nutrition history, feeding patterns, medical status, social situation, developmental level, and interactional qualities of the child with failure to thrive. Nutritional management of failure to thrive emphasizes: (a) ongoing assessment of nutritional status and rate of catch-up growth, including regular collection of anthropometric measurements; (b) provision of energy and protein in amounts sufficient to meet requirements for catch-up growth; and (c) concrete, individualized nutrition instruction. Long-term follow-up at regular intervals in coordination with other members of the failure-to-thrive team provides the opportunity to reinforce nutrition instruction and to reassess and adapt meal plans to meet the growing child's changing nutritional needs.