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 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tube Feeding

Will my child have any activity restrictions after getting a G-tube?

Most doctors will say to keep the site dry for about a week.  After the site has healed, the child may bathe and swim and participate in all the activities he/she did before the surgery.

How do I vent my child's tube?

This can be done by using a large 60 cc syringe with the plunger pulled out.  Attach it to the end of the tube or the end of the extension tube and leave open to air to allow the gas to escape.  Be careful if your child just ate - the syringe can fill up with food quickly and make a huge mess! After the gas has escaped, you can use the plunger to push back any food that "escaped" into the syringe if needed.  If your child is sick and needs to be vented for a long period of time, you can wrap a towel around the syringe to soak up any stomach contents that may leak out.

How do I deal with granulation tissue (GT)?

GT can be a big problem for some children.  A 50/50 mixture of Maalox and Desitin may help by reducing the acidity of the stomach contents that leak out and by forming a barrier on the skin.  Some have found Calmoseptine to be helpful as well.  It is OTC (over the counter), but you may need to ask the pharmacist for it because it is not always stocked.  Vaseline is always a good barrier to protect the skin around the site.  Other treatments include silver nitrate and Silvadene cream.

Keeping the site clean and dry is important to protect the skin.  Infection at the site is also possible, so call your doctor if you are unsure what is going on with the site.  If you are having a lot of leaking from the site, maybe the button is too small and needs to be changed out.  You may also want to check the water in the balloon to make sure there is enough.

How do I prevent my child from getting tangled in the tubing?

If your child is NG fed, it will be taped to the cheek and you can run the tube down his/her back so they cannot grab at the tube. If your child is G-tube/J-tube fed, one trick is to run the tube in the Velcro closures of the diaper and down the pant leg.  Another thing to do is to put some tape on the tube to create a tab.  Take a safety pin and attach the tag to the clothing or the diaper.  If the tube is pulled, it will pull on the tab and not the button.  One-piece clothing is helpful to hide the tube in.  This is where your creative parenting skills come into play!

How do I pay for all of this?

Not everyone has an insurance company that will pay for all feeding supplies.  Sometimes even the co-pay is not affordable.  Try to use all of your resources.  Ask your pediatrician or your GI for formula samples whenever you are there.  If you are paying a lot out of pocket, eBay can be a source of discounted supplies.  Talk to social workers in hospitals about agencies that may provide medical equipment and supplies.  If your child receives physiotherapy or occupational therapy (PT or OT) services, ask your therapist if any supplies have been donated to them that may be available to you.

How often is the button changed?

You may get a different answer depending on who you ask this question.  Some children require more frequent button changes.  Most children can go over 6 months with the same button.  It is usually changed because something like the one-way valve starts leaking or if the plastic cap starts tearing off. Changing it too frequently can stretch the stoma out.

Who will change the button?

There are some buttons that require the physician to change it.  A majority of children have Mickey buttons that can easily be changed at home by the parent once trained to do so.  It is a good idea to be able to change the button in case it gets pulled out by accident.

***There are pictures of MWP kids and their tubes in the tube feeding forum (stickies) so you can get a good idea of what a NG, a G-tube and a J-tube actually look like.

***All of this information was written by a mom who tube fed her child for 2+ years.  Please make sure you discuss any concerns with your doctor before making any changes to your child's feeding schedules.

Written by: Sam's Mom, Amanda W.

Read more about Reflux Information:
Tube Feeding Your Child, Equipment and Supplies »View all articles«

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