Pediatric Tube Feeding Support
Child & Teen Tube Feeding Support
Is your child receiving tube feedings, or has your family recently been told they may need a feeding tube?
Whether your child has a nasogastric (NG) tube, gastrostomy tube (G-tube), gastrojejunostomy (GJ-tube), or another form of enteral nutrition, it's normal to feel overwhelmed. You may have questions about formula choices, feeding schedules, weight gain, hydration, transitioning to oral feeding, or simply how to make tube feeding fit into everyday family life.
If this sounds familiar, I want you to know you're not alone.
Tube feeding can be life-changing for children who are unable to meet their nutrition needs by mouth alone, but it often comes with a steep learning curve for families. Managing feedings, medications, equipment, school schedules, and medical appointments while ensuring your child is growing and thriving can feel overwhelming at times.
At Kendra's Kustom Nutrition, my goal is to help you feel confident caring for your child's nutrition while providing individualized recommendations that support healthy growth, development, and quality of life. Every child has unique medical needs, and nutrition plans should reflect those differences rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Tube feeding is one of my specialty areas. Before opening my private practice, I spent five years working as an ICU Registered Dietitian, where I cared for critically ill patients requiring enteral and parenteral nutrition support. During that time, I also earned my Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) credential, an advanced certification recognizing specialized expertise in nutrition support. Although I no longer maintain the CNSC certification, the extensive training and hands-on experience continue to shape how I care for children and families requiring tube feeding support today.
Together, we may work on:
- Ensuring your child is receiving adequate calories, protein, fluids, vitamins, and minerals
- Supporting healthy weight gain, growth, and development
- Optimizing tube feeding schedules to fit your child's daily routine
- Managing feeding intolerance, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, reflux, or bloating
- Reviewing formula options and determining whether adjustments may be beneficial
- Supporting the transition between tube feeding and oral eating when medically appropriate
- Monitoring hydration and nutrient adequacy
- Providing practical education to help caregivers feel more confident managing feedings at home
Because many children receiving tube feedings have complex medical conditions, I believe nutrition care works best as part of a collaborative healthcare team. When appropriate, I'm happy to review laboratory results and coordinate care with your child's pediatrician, pediatric gastroenterologist, surgeon, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, feeding therapist, home health team, and other specialists to ensure everyone is working toward the same nutrition goals.
I also recognize that tube feeding affects the entire family. Parents often carry tremendous responsibility for managing feeds, medications, appointments, and daily care while worrying whether they're doing everything correctly. My goal is to provide education, encouragement, and practical guidance so you feel supported and confident every step of the way.
Whether your child has recently received a feeding tube or has relied on tube feedings for years, you deserve a nutrition partner who understands both the science of nutrition support and the real-life challenges families face. Together, we'll develop a personalized nutrition plan that supports your child's growth, health, and overall well-being while helping make everyday life a little easier for your family.
