Wash your hands
Using Feeding Tubes
Feeding tubes can be an effective way to provide your child with the nutrition that they need to stay healthy.
Not all children will go home from the hospital with a feeding tube, but it can be a beneficial solution for children who are struggling to take a bottle or are having trouble gaining weight.
Ask your nurse for a step-by step information sheet on how to insert an NG tube.
Here are some common types of feeding tubes:
- Nasogastric (NG) Tube
- Nasojejunal (NJ) Tube
- Orogastric Tube
- Jejunostomy (J) Tube
- Gastrojejunal (GJ) Tube
- Gastrostomy (G) Tube
For an instructional video on how to insert an NG tube: www.cincinnatichildrens.org/ health/f/silastic-feeding-tube
Stethosope
Syringe
NG tube and permanent marker
Pre-cut Skin barrier
Glass of water
Tape
Elevate the head at about 30-45 degrees
Remove adhesive backing and place the pre-cut piece of skin barrier on your child’s cheek
Measure from nose to ear lobe to mid-point between bottom of breastbone and belly button
Mark this point on the tube with permanent marker
Dip 6-10cm of the end of the tube in the water. This is to avoid irritation to the nose when inserting the tube
Move the tube in through the nose until the position marked on the tube is at the outer edge of the nose. If there are difficulties, rotate the tube around. (Remove immediately in child has trouble breathing or turns blue. Sign that the tube could be in lungs) Tape the tube to the skin barrier
Move the tube in through the nose until the position marked on the tube is at the outer edge of the nose. If there are difficulties, rotate the tube around. (Remove immediately in child has trouble breathing or turns blue. Sign that the tube could be in lungs) Tape the tube to the skin barrier
Collect 2-3ml of air into the syringe (1-2 mL for small babies, especially those less than 2 kg)
Quickly insert 3-5ml of air (1-2ml for babies or less than 2kg babies) into the tube while listening for a “pop” with a stethoscope bell positioned on the abdomen over the stomach
Notes: If there is no pop, take the tube out and try again. After 3 tries and you hear no pop, call your doctor. If your child is coughing, take the tube out and try again. If the tube comes out of the mouth, or coils in the mouth, take the tube out and try again