Background International remittances are widely assumed to improve child nutrition, yet evidence on chronic undernutrition among left-behind children remains mixed. This study examines associations between remittance inflows, caregiving dynamics, and child nutritional outcomes in rural Bangladesh. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, guided by a modified UNICEF conceptual framework, was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 100 migrant households in Barura Upazila, assessing children aged 5–10 years using WHO-standardized anthropometric indicators (WAZ, HAZ, and BAZ). In-depth interviews with 10 primary caregivers explored household caregiving practices and resource use. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and chi-square tests, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. Results The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness was 19%, 26%, and 16%, respectively. Remittance amount was not significantly associated with WAZ, HAZ, or BAZ (all p > 0.05). Maternal education was associated with higher dietary diversity (p = 0.023), while associations with anthropometric outcomes were not significant. Household-level constraints were associated with differences in HAZ (p = 0.037). Qualitative findings revealed that migration-related debt, remittance instability, and caregiving burdens limit the extent to which financial inflows are translated into nutritional improvements. Conclusion Remittances appear to function primarily as consumption-smoothing transfers rather than consistent determinants of child growth. Caregiving capacity, maternal education, and structural access conditions shape nutritional outcomes. Policy responses may benefit from complementing migration income with caregiver-focused nutrition education, stronger rural health services, and safer migration financing mechanisms to support child nutrition in migrant-sending communities.
