Some kids have a medical condition that makes it hard for them to eat and drink enough by mouth to stay healthy and grow. A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) puts liquids and medicine right into the stomach.

A surgeon placed the G-tube, and the care team taught you how to use it. Although it may feel like a lot to do at first, caring for the G-tube will quickly become part of your routine.

Follow these instructions to care for your child and the G-tube at home.

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for:

• How to use the G-tube
• What to feed your child (This may be a special formula, breast milk, or foods pureed into a liquid form.)
• When to feed your child
• Whether your child can also eat normally or should be fed only through the tube
• Caring for the G-tube, including:
  • When to vent (release gas) from the G-tube
  • What to do if the tube gets clogged or falls out
  • Watching for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, tenderness, warmth, or a yellow, green, or smelly discharge around the area of the G-tube
• When it's OK for your child to take a bath or shower
• When your child can return to their usual activities, such as tummy time, swimming, and active play
• Giving medicine for pain such as acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• When the visiting nurse will come to your home
• When to come back for a follow-up visit (Often, the care team changes a child's G-tube in the office several weeks after surgery.)

G-tube care:

• Always wash your hands before handling the G-tube or the area around it.
• Follow any special instructions from the care team, but in general:
  • Clean the area around the G-tube every day, and also if you notice any leftover liquid or pureed food around it. Use warm water, soap, and a gauze pad. Rinse with warm water and dry the skin well with a clean towel.
  • Flush the tube with water after every feeding and after each dose of medicine.
• Put a snug layer of clothing over the tube to stop your child from pulling on it. For babies and toddlers, a one-piece outfit works well.

General information:

• Find quiet activities that your child can enjoy until the care team gives the OK for normal play.
• Help your child stay calm during feeding by holding them, talking softly, and playing quietly with them.
• To prevent strangulation from the feeding tube wrapping around the neck:
  • Route the tubing down the body/leg, under clothing, and out by the foot.
  • Avoid long, slack loops.
  • Store the tubing out of the way of babies and children.
• Get support from other parents. It can help to connect with other parents whose kids have G-tubes. Ask your care team about a support group or look online.
• Some kids with a G-tube worry about how the tube looks and how others might react. If your child is concerned, ask your care team to recommend a social worker or counselor who can help.

Your child has:

• Belly pain, a bloated or hard belly, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or a fever
• Trouble passing gas or pooping
• A blocked tube that doesn't clear after following the care team's instructions
• A tube that leaks or sticks out more or less than usual
• Bleeding in the area around the tube or the area becomes red, swollen, tender, or warm, or the area has a yellow, green, or smelly discharge

• The tube comes out. Do not try to push the G-tube back in yourself.
• There is bleeding inside the tube.

How does a G-tube work? The G-tube goes through a small opening in your child's belly and into the stomach. A water-filled balloon inside the stomach holds the tube in place, and a plastic piece on the outside keeps it snug against the skin. Instead of eating or drinking by mouth, liquid nutrition (formula), foods pureed into a liquid form, water, and medicines are sent through the tube directly into the stomach using a syringe, feeding bag, or pump. Many G-tubes are “buttons” that sit flat against the skin — when it's time to feed, you attach a separate tube (called an extension tube) to the button, then remove it when you're done. Once the food enters the stomach, the body digests and absorbs it just like it would with food eaten by mouth.

How long does a G-tube stay in? Some kids need G-tubes for a short time. Others use them for years or for life. G-tubes must be replaced every few months. When kids first get a G-tube, it takes a while for the skin to heal. The first G-tube replacement must be done in the surgeon's office or hospital. After that, you will learn how to replace the tube at home.

How do I get the supplies I need? The hospital team will arrange for a medical supply company to send everything to your home. Make sure you get the contact information for the supply company so you can order extra equipment and formula if you need to. Some supplies, like syringes and the extension tube, can be cleaned and reused. Follow the care team's instructions on how to clean and dry them.