Pediatric g-tube & enteral feeding
G-Tube & Enteral Feeding at home
Feeding is family time. When a child is fed through a tube, the care should still fit the way your family eats, sleeps and lives.
What this involves
A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) delivers nutrition, fluids and medication directly into the stomach. Children need one when eating by mouth is unsafe or does not provide enough: after prematurity, with swallowing difficulties, with some neurological conditions, or during recovery from illness.
Tube feeding is routine work done precisely: the right formula, at the right rate, at the right times, with the site kept clean and the tube kept secure. Done well, it is unremarkable. Done casually, it causes aspiration, granulation tissue, blocked tubes and hospital trips.
On every shift
What our nurses do
Written into the care plan, done the same way every shift, and documented.
- Bolus and pump feeds exactly as prescribed, including overnight continuous feeds
- Stoma site care, and early recognition of redness, leakage or granulation tissue
- Checking tube placement and securing devices before every feed
- Medication administration through the tube, flushed correctly to prevent blockages
- Watching for reflux, retching, aspiration risk and feed intolerance, and reporting patterns
- Keeping accurate intake records for the dietitian and physician
Feeding that fits your family
A feeding schedule written on a hospital ward often does not survive contact with school runs, siblings, shift work or a family that eats late. It can usually be adjusted, safely and with the dietitian’s agreement, to fit the way you actually live.
This is also where culture matters in a way agencies often miss. Families have their own ideas about food, feeding and what it means to nourish a child. We ask, we listen, and we write what matters to you into the care plan rather than treating it as a side note.
Questions
Questions families ask about g-tube & enteral feeding
What do we do if the tube comes out?
It happens, and it is manageable when you are prepared. Your plan should say whether to replace it at home, how quickly the stoma can close, and who to contact. Keep a spare tube and the plan where everyone can find them; our nurses check both.
Can my child still eat by mouth?
Sometimes yes, alongside tube feeds. It depends on whether swallowing is safe for your child. That decision belongs to your child’s physician and speech-language pathologist. Where oral tasting is allowed, our nurses support it.
Why does the skin around the tube look red?
Some redness can come from moisture, friction or granulation tissue, and it is common. It can also signal infection. Our nurses assess the site every shift, treat as prescribed, and escalate anything that is changing rather than waiting for the next appointment.
Also available
Other services
Tracheostomy Care
Safe, expert trach management by nurses trained and competency-verified in pediatric airway care.
Ventilator Care
Skilled care for children on mechanical ventilation, with continuous monitoring and rapid response.
Seizure Management
Monitoring, accurate medication administration, and calm, practised response when seizures happen.
Oxygen & Respiratory Support
Assessment and therapy to support breathing and oxygenation, day and night.
Medication Management
Timely, accurate administration and documentation of complex medication regimens.
Complex Nursing
Coordinated, whole-child care for children whose needs cross several conditions at once.
Content last reviewed . This page is general information, not medical advice — please talk to your child’s physician about their care.
Talk to a nurse, not a call centre
Tell us what your child needs and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.