Tube feeding is a way to give your  child nutrition, fluids, and medicines through a tube that's placed into the stomach.

It can be used when a health problem makes  it hard for your child to eat or drink.

A doctor will place the tube in your child's  stomach and secure it so that it stays in place.

Depending on why your child needs the tube, it may be used for several weeks  or months, or sometimes longer.

There are several different methods you can  use to feed your child with a feeding tube.

These include using a gravity  bag, a feeding syringe, or a pump.

With a gravity bag, you hang a bag of  tube feeding formula from a pole or hook, and the formula flows down the  tube into your child's stomach.

Or you may put formula directly into  the tube using a feeding syringe.

A bag and pump can also be used.

The pump pushes the formula  through the tube into the stomach.

Your care team can show you exactly how  to do the feeding method you choose.

Make sure your child is sitting up or has  their head and upper body raised in bed anytime you are using their tube to give  them formula, other fluids, or medicines.

Your doctor will tell you how long your child  should keep sitting up after finishing a feeding.

It can take time to get used  to having a feeding tube.

But your child can still be active and  do most of the things they like to do.

Now, here are some things you  can do to prevent infection and avoid problems with your child's feeding tube.

Before you touch the tube, wash  your hands with soap and water.

Dry your hands with a clean cloth.

Clean the end of the tube with an  antiseptic wipe after each use.

And keep the skin where the tube  goes into the belly clean and dry.

Follow any instructions your doctor  gave you about flushing the tube.

This includes before and after feedings  and after giving medicine through the tube.

Use the syringe you were given.

If the tube is blocked, try to clear  it by flushing it with warm water.

Never try to clear a blocked tube  with a wire or another object.

When it's not being used, clamp the  tube close to your child's body.

And a note of caution: Long tubing, like the  kind that is used with gravity bags or pumps, can become tangled around your child's neck.

This could strangle your child.

So you'll want to supervise  your child during feedings.

And make sure to store tubing out of  your child's reach when not in use.

Ask your doctor or nurse for  suggestions on how to prevent the tubing from becoming wrapped around your  child's neck during feedings.

Part of caring for your child's feeding tube is  watching for any problems that might come up.

Call your care team right away  if you see signs of infection.

Signs include increased pain, swelling, warmth, or  redness in the skin around the tube, or a fever.

Call the doctor if your child has  nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

And call if the tube falls out or leaks, or if  it's blocked and flushing the tube doesn't help.

At first, it may seem like there's a lot to  keep track of when caring for a feeding tube.

But with time and practice, it will get easier.

Remember, your care team is here to help.

And you can always call your  doctor if you have any questions.