Your child's feeding team
Your child will have a feeding team because they need a range of specialist skills.
The team will generally include:
- a speech and language therapist
- a dietitian
- your paediatrician
- a home care nurse
Sometimes the team will also include:
- an occupational therapist
- a psychologist
You might hear this team called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
What your child's feeding team will consider when thinking about eating and tube weaning
Your child's team will consider a few things when thinking about eating and tube weaning. This includes:
- your child being able to swallow food and drink safely
- your child being able to eat a variety of foods for growth, and drink enough
- your child's feeding skills and development
- your child's feeding behaviour, and mealtimes being an enjoyable experience
Assessing your child for tube weaning
To assess these things, your child may need some evaluations and appointments. The team will talk through this information with you. Together, you will develop goals to help your child make progress. You and your team will work together to put strategies in place. These will help your child become ready for eating and tube weaning. At your appointments, you will review these goals and adjust them based on your child’s needs.
What the process of tube weaning may look like
Usually in New Zealand, tube weaning happens at home. You will have support from your team. Your team may visit you regularly at home or see you in outpatient clinics.
As your child starts eating and drinking, you need to provide some information to your team.
This includes:
- food types
- how much your child eats and drinks
Your team will measure your child's growth - their weight and height.
Your dietitian will use all this information to decide when and how to reduce your child's tube feeds.
Different approaches to tube weaning
There are many different treatment approaches to tube weaning. But, your child's plan may involve some common elements.
Medical monitoring
Medical monitoring and oversight by your doctor or paediatrician.
Nutritional monitoring and oversight
Your child's dietitian will regularly assess:
- your child's growth
- how much feed they are having
They will help you choose nutritious foods to introduce.
Hunger manipulation
Your dietitian may decrease your child's tube feeds or schedule them differently. This is so your child is more likely to feel hunger at mealtimes when you feed them by mouth (oral mealtimes).
Oral motor and sensory techniques
Your speech and language therapist can help with:
- improving skills such as drinking from a cup and using a spoon
- introducing new tastes or textures to your child
Behavioural techniques
Your psychologist or other health professional may help you:
- learn strategies to increase structure and routine in meals
- introduce new tastes or textures
- decrease mealtime problem behaviours
- reward desired behaviours
