Optimising Your Routine
When tube feeding starts becoming more familiar, you might begin to look for ways to optimise your tube feeding routine. Based on your mobility, your social or working life or your daily activities, you might want to have more flexibility to structure your day in the way that better suits your lifestyle.
Just be sure to talk to your dietitian or doctor first before changing your feeding routine - and remember, they can help you find the optimal tube feeding routine that best fits into your life or that of the person you care for.
There are multiple options for optimising your tube feeding routine:
- Continuous feeding is given slowly via the pump and requires a longer time per feed. Some may find this process challenging to work around. To help you get on with your day, a backpack can be provided, which allows you to go outside while feeding and continue your activities. Another option may be overnight feeding, either partially or for the total daily requirement, which can then give you more flexibility during the day.
- Bolus feeding gives you the flexibility to have smaller volumes of feed throughout the day, each of which takes less time. This can make it easier for you to feed out of the house. It can also give you the opportunity to plan your feeds with family meal times, which can be important and give a sense of normality.
- A combination of both bolus and continuous feeding may better meet your needs or fit into the structure of your day.
Read more about administration and schedules.
Optimising Your Routine
When tube feeding starts becoming more familiar, you might begin to look for ways to optimise your child's tube feeding routine. Based on your child's mobility, your social or working life and your daily activities, you might want to have more flexibility to structure your day in the way that better suits both your child's and your day to day lives.
Just be sure to talk to your child's dietitian or doctor first before changing their feeding routine - and remember, they can help you find the optimal tube feeding routine that best fits into your life and that of your child.
There are multiple options for optimising your child's tube feeding routine:
- Continuous feeding is given slowly via the pump and requires a longer time per feed. Some parents may find this challenging to work around. To help you get on with your day, a backpack can be provided which allows you to go outside with your child while feeding and continue your activities. Another option may be overnight feeding, either partially or for the total daily requirements of your child, which can then give you and your child more flexibility during the day.
- Bolus feeding gives the flexibility to give smaller volumes of feed throughout the day, each of which takes less time. This can make it easier for you to feed your child out of the house. It can also give you the opportunity to plan your child's feeds with family meal times, which can be important to make him or her feel included.
- A combination of both bolus and continuous feeding may better meet the needs of your child or fit into the structure of your day.
Read more about administration and schedules.
