FAQs

Children are special and they can have special or unique needs. If you are caring for a child with a G Tube, the following points may help.

Children have small stomachs

• As they grow, their stomachs grow bigger. Feedings usually begin with small amounts of liquid food more often. Bolus feedings can take 20-40 minutes. A gravity flow system or a pump keeps a slow steady flow and leaves you free to do other things. It can take time for your child to handle the feeding as the amount increases. This is normal.
• If your child’s stomach is full, contents may leak around the stoma. The child may also act fussy and vomit, or burp up stomach contents. Ask your healthcare team if decompression or venting is needed.

Children are growing

• Keep in mind that children with feeding tubes have the same basic growth and developmental needs as other children.

Children need to get enough water

• Children with a feeding tube are no different. If the weather is warm or your child has a fever, extra water may be needed to prevent dehydration. Ask your healthcare team for guidelines.

Children need to experience food

• Even though your child gets nourishment through a tube, being at the table during meals is important. It gives your child the chance to experience food. Encourage your child to touch and taste, just like everyone else, even if it is messy around the high chair.

All babies need oral stimulation

• The mouth is a very sensitive part of your baby’s body. Even if your child cannot suck and swallow well enough to eat, the sucking reflex is there. Sucking seems to comfort babies. Experiment with a pacifier. Use it to stimulate your child’s lips, gums, and tongue during feedings. As the baby grows, talk with your healthcare team about other ways for your child to chew or suck.

Children need to move around

• It is important for babies to roll over on their stomachs. That is how they learn to push up and crawl. The design of a low-profile feeding tube may make rolling over easier for your child.

There could be many reasons why your child vomits during tube feedings.

Here are things to do which may help:

• Have your child sit up during feedings. Some children have gastroesophageal reflux, causing food to flow back up the esophagus. Correct feeding position is VERY IMPORTANT for these children. Place them in an upright position or at least a 30-degree angle during a tube feeding and an hour after the feeding is done.
• Be sure the formula is mixed correctly and warm.
• Do not use formula that has been at room temperature in a feeding bag or syringe longer than 4 hours.
• Slow the rate of feeding or even take a short break. Start again when your child feels better. Flush the tube with warm water before restarting the feeding.

Call your healthcare team if vomiting (or nausea) does not go away.

If your child has a hard time breathing during or immediately after a feeding, STOP THE FEEDING AT ONCE AND CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM. If the child feels nauseated, then wait one to two hours and restart the feeding at a slower rate.

Children’s smaller tubes clog more easily but require less water to flush out. Infants usually receive a 10 to 15 ml flush.

There could be many reasons why your child gets diarrhea.

Here are some things that could cause diarrhea:

• The feeding is going through the tube too fast. Try slowing down the rate.
• Spoiled formula. It is best to mix new formula for each feeding. If you do save leftover formula, always refrigerate it, and never keep it longer than 24 hours.
• Changes in types of formula, medicine, or feeding routines. These and other changes can cause constipation as well as diarrhea. Slowly make the changes if possible.

IF DIARRHEA LASTS LONGER THAN 3 DAYS OR IF YOUR CHILD IS DEHYDRATED, CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM.

This will depend on the reasons why your child needs a feeding tube. It may be needed forever or just until your child can eat enough by mouth to grow.

There are many different types of feeding tubes. Your child’s healthcare team will help you decide which feeding tube is best for your child. Click here for more information on different types of feeding tubes.

Many children can still do activities with a feeding tube. Talk with your child’s healthcare team to see if there are any concerns. Sometimes, you may need to protect the tube during some activities. Your child’s healthcare team can work with you on this.

This will depend on if it is safe for your child to eat by mouth. Talk with your child’s healthcare team if your child can eat by mouth. They should work with you on a feeding plan.

You will be taught how to feed through the tube and care for the tube. Click here for more information on caring for the tube.