Feeding Tube Dependency

When Children are fed via tube, they loose their hunger-drive. Vomiting, invasive medical procedures or sickness often result in an aversion to food or feeding. In these cases, food refusal can last for months or years and nutrition is given via tube.  

This is what we call feeding tube dependency and these are the typical symptoms:

• Total food refusal
• Food aversion
• Lack of hunger motivation
• Frequent vomiting
• Lack of weight gain even with feeding tube

When a feeding tube is placed, the infant oral intake drops and with time most of the nutrition and fluids will be given via tube. With this scenario the lack of hunger motivation as well as aversive oral stimulation will come up and create a perfect storm which ends in feeding tube dependency.
The dependence on the feeding tube can last for a few weeks, usually it lasts for months or even years. Therefore, treatment is mostly needed to overcome food aversion and to establish a positive relationship to food and feeding.

If you have questions if your child is ready for a wean or want to discuss your case, feel free to contact us anytime. We will be happy to contact with you and find out, which treatment works for your child.

Our Treatment approach:

Children which become feeding tube dependent have lost the connections to their needs. The variety of symptoms differ from child to child and from family to family. Our aim is to create a treatment that fits to your very own needs and familiar history. We work with you as a family to re-establish a feeding realtionship. We will follow the needs of your child and help you to overcome posttraumatic feeding disorder.