Shocking diet of severely malnourished Sydney baby revealed, as parents avoid jail

A Sydney couple have escaped jail time over the severe malnourishment of their toddler, who had been fed a strict vegan diet.

The 19-month-old weighed just 4.89kg and was suffering from rickets when paramedics were called to the family's Eastern Suburbs home last year.

The toddler wasn't walking or talking and appeared "floppy".

Further medical examination found she was severely malnourished after being fed a vegan-only diet

Her mother told a dietician the toddler was given a cup of oats with rice milk and half a banana for breakfast, a slice of bread with peanut butter or jam for lunch and potatoes, rice or tofu for dinner - or oats again.

Snacks included a mouthful of fruit or two sultanas

The court also heard the mother had no photographs of her daughter, who was the youngest of three children.

She had also not received any medical check-ups or immunisations since birth.

Her mother told a doctor: "I was just too exhausted. Just the thought of putting them in the car and driving them. I was thinking 'how do mothers do that?"

"I'm so tired."

Both parents pleaded guilty to failing to provide their child with the necessities of life.

The couple, who were supported in court by family members, sobbed as details of their daughter's condition was read out.

Judge Sarah Huggett sentenced them to 18 months in prison, but allowed them to serve the sentence out in the community

"To sentence these offenders to full time custody would deprive each of their children of that important bond," said Judge Huggett

The judge also found several mitigating factors in sparing the couple jail time including the mother's mental health, the parents' remorse and a lack of intent.

"The offence was committed recklessly not intentionally and causing a danger of serious injury not death," she said.

The little girl is now being cared for by a relative and has made weight gains, however she still lags behind in language and gross motor development.