NG Tube Feeding in Babies- Considerations While Doing It at Home

A nostalgic (NG) tube is a thin and long tube that is inserted in the nose. It passes through the throat and then reaches the stomach. The main purpose of NG tube is feeding the babies who are not able to take food through the mouth due to any health issue or in the case it is risky for them to take the food through the mouth. In that case, NG tube feeding is done to ensure proper nutrition intake for the babies.

However, the NG tubes can only be used to pass the liquid. And it depends on the physical condition and food requirements of a baby that whether the tube will be used for feeding the baby entirely or for giving her just a few extra calories.




Taking care of the tube

If your baby is on NG tube feeding, her nurse would teach you flushing the tube and performing proper skin care, especially around the nose. So, here are the steps you must follow:

Flushing the tube

You are recommended to flush the tube after every feeding.

• Wash your hands properly before giving a feed.
• When the feeding is finished, wash the tube by adding warm water with the help of a syringe.
• If the water does not pass through, try further by changing the positions or by using a plunger.
• Remove the syringe and close the cap of the tube. 

Taking care of the skin 

• Every time you feed the baby, clean her skin by using warm water and a washcloth. 
• Use mineral oil or any other lubricant to loosen the bandage when dressing. 
• In the case you notice irritation or redness in baby's nose, insert the tube into another nostril. If you don't know the procedure, you can call the nurse to do that. 

However, it is not only about the using the tube right way during NG tube feeding but you also need to pay attention that what is being given to the baby. If you are unaware of the right food choices, you can contact Nutrition4Kids (a trustworthy and expert guide for making nutritional food choice for babies) to know the healthiest feed options for your baby. To know more about them, you can visit http://www.nutrition4kids.com. 

TOP 5 FOOD ITEMS GLUTEN SENSITIVE KIDS SHOULD AVOID

If you have noticed that your child is not eating enough and has a very slow growth rate, then these could be symptoms of Celiac Disease. Other than these, you will also be able to notice skin rashes, constipation, anemia, fatigue, and bloating. Children affected by it cannot intake gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The tissues inside the body get damaged as soon as the gluten enters it. The small intestine is affected the most, as it does not receive enough nutrients.

To be sure, you can always take the child for celiac disease blood test. The most common one is a tTG-IgA test. If the test reports suggest celiac disease then the physician will carry out a test for the small intestine. The only treatment that can effectively combat celiac disease is a gluten-free diet. Here are some food items to avoid and the alternatives that are available easily in the market.

FOODS TO AVOID AND THE ALTERNATIVE

• Barley, Wheat, Rye: These are not gluten-free. The only way to treat celiac disease is to avoid eating anything with gluten. Barley, wheat, and rye contain the protein called gluten. Therefore, you should not give your child anything made out of these three. Barley malt is also not gluten-free. If you find anything with the word ‘malt’ in the ingredient list then you need to avoid it. 
• Blue Cheese: The milk used to make the blue cheese sometimes contains bread mold. This, in turn, contains gluten. Therefore, you need to avoid feeding the child blue cheese. These days you can find gluten-free blue cheese in the market easily. 
• Pasta: If you find that the pasta is made from wheat, wheat starch, barley or rye then this is not for your child. However, the good news is that gluten-free pasta is easily available these days. It is made of corn flour, rice flour, and quinoa. It will be exactly the same in taste and your child will love it. 
• Cake Flour: It is strongly recommended to avoid cake flour in case your child have celiac disease. But that does not mean the child cannot have delicious desserts.  For gluten-free baking, you can use amaranth flour, millet flour, cornmeal, groundnuts, potato flour and rice flour. For the binding agents, you can go for arrowroot powder. To top it up, you can use raisins and cranberries. There is no way the child will not love it. 
• French Fries: Yes, you heard it right. The child should not be given French fries if he/she is gluten sensitive. This happens because of the fryer; you should not be using the same fryer for gluten-based products and for gluten-free products. If you visit a restaurant then make sure they are too not using common fryers for both. If you are buying packaged fries from the grocery store then you need to be sure that they are “gluten-free.” To be on the safe side, always use a separate fryer for gluten based and gluten-free frying. 

To know more about celiac disease symptoms, foods to avoid and celiac disease blood test visit Nutrition4kids. Here you will find everything you need to know about diseases and conditions in children of every age group. All the information provided has been gathered and written by medical experts.

Visit the website http://www.nutrition4kids.com/ for more details. 

What, How, Why and When of Nasogastric Tube Insertion in Children Simplified

• Does your child often complain about a sore throat? 
• Does your child have trouble in swallowing food?
• Is your child not getting enough nutrition through the diet?

If the answer to any of the above questions is a “Yes” then you need to consult a doctor for Nasogastric Tube Insertion.

What is Nasogastric Tube Insertion? 

The Nasogastric Tube is a thin tube, which is inserted into the child’s nostril through the food pipe and then into the stomach. Once the tube is placed, the child can easily intake food and medicines. The tube is also used to remove certain harmful substances from the stomach.

How to Insert Nasogastric –NG Tube (Procedure)

The procedure is very simple and the patient does not face any pain. The doctor will instruct the child to lay down on the bed with the head elevated. They will tell the child to move the head and the body at some angles while they try to insert the tube smoothly. These little movements will make the tube insertion easier and it will be placed in the correct position.


To check for the correct placement of the tube or for any discomfort, the child will be asked to swallow something or take a few sips of water. The doctors also secure the tube with a tape on the face. To make the process easier, try distracting your child or use some relaxation techniques.

How to Care for a Nasogastric Tube at Home?

• Always check the position of the tube before you put anything inside it.
• Brush the child’s teeth at least twice daily so that no unwanted substances can go inside.
• Change the Nasal tape when it gets loose.
• Clean the tube with water before taking medication.
• Crush the pills well before passing them into the tube.

When to call the doctor for assistance?

• If the child feels choked or has difficulty in breathing.
• If you are unable to unclog the tube.
• If you cannot make out whether the end of the tube is inside the stomach.
• If the child has symptoms of Diarrhoea or has constipation, dry mouth or dark urine.

To know more about Nasogastric tube insertion or how to insert Nasogastric- NG tube then visit Nutrition4Kids. They provide expert advice from the medical advisory board on various diseases in children, eating habits, advice for new and soon going to be mothers and much more. Visit them at http://www.nutrition4kids.com.

In case you missed my previous post about - Stomach Tube Insertion then click here..!

SURVIVING THE STOMACH FLU 101

Has your child been vomiting and feeling low lately? Then your child might be having the stomach flu. It is the second most common illness among children, first are the respiratory infections. Stomach flu is an illness known as gastroenteritis caused by viruses and bacteria like salmonella.

SYMPTOMS OF STOMACH FLU

It is not easy to spot the early signs among babies and toddlers. But do watch out for these red signals:

• High Fever
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Fussy behaviour
• Easily tired
• Reduction in appetite
• Dehydrated

Older children may also complain of a tummy ache, headache, and restlessness. Symptoms start to show generally after three days after the child has been exposed to the bug. Upset stomach can also make the child feel dehydrated.

Catching up the Flu

Kid’s stomach bugs are contagious; they spread from one child to another. Germs can stay over toys and clothes for days. So what can you do to stop the spreading of germs?

• Stress on Handwashing

This is the easiest and the most essential step to prevent germs from spreading. Make the kids wash hands before and after meals, after poop and when they come back home after playing. When kids come in contact with germs, they become infected by touching their face, nose, mouth with the contaminated hands. Hand-washing is the first defense you can take against gastroenteritis.

• Clean your home

Clean your home regularly to stop the breeding of germs.  Clean the house after the vomiting. Dusting, mopping, and vacuuming should be done regularly.

• Washing laundry

To wash the clothes and carpets use bleach and chlorine for maximum germ removal. Wear gloves while washing the laundry and also when transferring clothes from washer to dryer. Even after one thorough wash, the germs may live, so try to wash the clothes twice for better protection.

• Breastfeeding

Breastfeed little babies, the breast milk can help can help block the virus and protect the infants.

• Healthy diet

Follow a healthy diet routine for your kids. Keep them away from oily food, dairy, fiber, and spices. It is advisable to take BRAT diet during stomach infection which is Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. These foods are easy to digest and provide energy.

• Drink lots of Fluids

The body gets dehydrated during stomach Flu because of vomiting, sweating, and diarrhea. Drinking water (10-12 glasses), ginger tea helps calm the stomach.

To know more about stomach infections and kids stomach bugs visit nutrition4kids.com. Expert advice about all your child’s health problems and medical issues. Visit the website to know more.

If you like this post, please also read my another post - Gluten sensitivity advice at Nutrition4kids