Tube feeding is an effective and increasingly used intervention for children with complex medical histories who are unable or unwilling to eat. Tube feeding is initiated in order to insure an adequate nutritional supply.

However, tube feeding in early childhood is often accompanied by frequent vomiting, decreased swallowing activity, and reduced hunger-driven motivation to eat. The prevalence of behavioural feeding disorders in children with tube dependency is high.  Severe food refusal after medical recovery results in long term tube feeding, even if oral feeding is possible. Low caloric supply during the period of feeding tube weaning and a decelerated growth curve are major concerns when oral feeding is introduced.

For children with swallowing disorders or those with the inability to eat, tube feeding has been reported to result in a higher quality of life. Yet tube feeding is also accompanied with higher psychosocial stress for the parents, force feeding and higher socioeconomic costs. To prevent tube dependency, children should undergo tube weaning under controlled conditions as early as their medical status allows.

We want to assist families, therapists and teams during a tube weaning process. We would like to introduce you to our unique treatment concept.

Your Tube Weaning and Management Team