# Parents Plead Guilty After Child Becomes Malnourished

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/news-opinion/true-crime/parents-plead-guilty-after-child-becomes-malnourished/
- Published: 2016-11-01T11:13:48+11:00
- Author: Clare Whitfield

#### _The parents of a child who became severely malnourished after they refused to feed him formula to support his mothers flagging milk supply have avoided jail in Queensland, despite pleading guilty._

Lawyers in defence of the couple said that the women believed breastmilk was best
for her child, and that feeding him harmful formula would mean she was “a failure
as a mother”.

[⌊Where to buy baby formula⌉⌊Where to buy baby formula⌉[

At Brisbane’s District Court on Monday the youngster’s mother [pled guilty to cruelty](https://au.news.yahoo.com/qld/a/33055090/qld-parents-plead-guilty-to-child-cruelty/#page1)
for ignoring medical advice to top up her breastfeeding after her son wasn’t gaining
enough weight. By the time the boy was five months old, when he came to the attention
of authorities, he weighed just 3.7kg, almost half of the average weight of his 
peers.

The child was also suffering from severe malnourishment and was so emaciated that
his rib cage and shoulder bones were visible through the skin. His growth was also
stunted, and doctors say he was suffering from muscle and tissue wastage.

#### More Reading: 󠀁[Where to Buy Baby Formula Online (And Have it Delivered to Your Door)](https://stayathomemum.com.au/my-kids/feeding-and-eating/baby-formula/)󠁿

![ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/bigstock-
afraid-baby-under-a-blue-blank-21576383.jpg?resize=800%2C388&quality=89&ssl=1 "Child
Hiding Under Blanket Seeking Comfort During Distress")

Judge David Kent was clear as the mother held back tears in the dock:

“This child could have died.�Baby formula is not harmful, it is required for babies
that are not thriving on breastfeeding.”

In court defence of the parents outlined that the mother-of-four had breastfed all
of her previous children, and feared that there were harmful chemicals present in
formula. She also had a fear of mainstream medical care, and was unable to see the
severity of her son’s condition. This was made more difficult by her suffering from
postnatal depression.

According to her lawyer: “She wanted to ask for help but couldn’t.”

The woman, aged 43, was sentenced to 18 months jail with immediate parole. Her husband,
aged 50, was sentenced to 12 months, also with immediate parole, for doing nothing
to ensure his son was a correct weight. The man told the court that he rarely saw
his young son as he worked six days a week and the baby was usually asleep when 
he got home.

“Perhaps my work does drive me away from home but that’s what happens when you have
to support everybody,” he said in court.

Now the child has made a full recovery and has been placed back with his parents.

![author avatar](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/
12/clare_whitfield_profile.webp?quality=80&ssl=1)

 Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

 Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical
home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney,
she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school 
age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience
in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

 [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/) [  ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/)