Tube Feeding
Why a feeding tube?
What are the types of feeding tubes?
How is the
feeding tube placed?
How do I care
for my child's tube?
What if we run
into a problem?
Other
questions you may have.
Helpful Links.
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How do I care for my
child's tube?
Care of the Nasal Tube
Check the nostril where the tube is in every day for redness, sores or irritation. You may put Vaseline or lotion on the nostril. If sores are present, retape the tube away from the area. Clean your child’s nostril every day with soap and water.
Check to be sure the tape is secure to the nose and tube. Change the tape as needed. Cut two(2) pieces of one(1) inch wide tape. One piece should be about 3-inches long, the other 1 inch long. Split the 3-inch in half lengthwise, about 1½ inches.
Carefully remove the old tape. Hold the tube in place with one hand. Clean the skin under the tape with soap and water and dry carefully. Be careful not to let the tube slip out while you are working with it.
Put the part of the tape not cut over the lower half of your child’s nose. Wrap the 2 tail sections of the tape around the tube. Put a second piece of 1½ inch tape over the top of
the nose.
Changing the tape sometimes causes the tube to move in or out a little bit. To know if the tube has moved and how much, put a permanent mark on the tube where it comes out from your child’s nose. After you change the tape, check to see that the mark is
right at the nostril.
Care of the Gastrostomy tube
Immediate post-operative
care, at home
Clean area 4-5 times a day with 1/2
strength peroxide. If there is much drainage, use a small dressing to cover.
The area around the opening (the stoma), may have a small amount of drainage
for the first few weeks, then taper down to no drainage and healed skin.
Once the area is completely healed
The patients may bathe as they normally
bathe. It will not hurt the stoma to be immersed in water in the bathtub or
in the shower. There is no special care needed once the stoma has healed. If
an area starts to look reddened or irritated, leave it open to air and clean
as in immediate post-op care. If the patient has a fever or the area looks
infected have the patient taken to his normal physician to be checked.
All information on this site is © Reflux in Children ®. If you wish to use any copy from this site please contact Dawn Bozuhoski,
or Kimberly Giles.
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