Mum sentenced after baby almost died on a 'water-only' diet

A Sydney mother who nearly starved her baby to death by following a naturopath's advice to cure her son of eczema has been given a suspended sentence of 14 months.

The 33-year-old woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was today convicted of failing to provide for her baby.

Her emaciated son, then eight months old, was admitted to hospital suffering severe dehydration in 2015.

The woman, a midwife, was today given a good behaviour bond.

Her son is now 17 months old.

Police allege Leppington naturopath Marilyn Bodnar advised the woman to put the baby on a “water-only” diet to treat his eczema and to go on a raw-food only diet while she was breastfeeding.

When the boy came down with a fever, Ms Bodnar allegedly told the mother his fever indicated “raised vitality”, and his vomit was just the body “eliminating toxins”.

Ms Bodnar had pleaded not guilty to the charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and failing to provide for a child causing danger of death.