Pediatric Inpatient Feeding and Tube Weaning Program

The inpatient Feeding and Tube Weaning Program at Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH) helps children ages 2 to 6 work toward eating by mouth instead of relying on a feeding tube. Children stay for 3 weeks at CSH’s rehabilitation hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Tube weaning means reducing a child’s need for tube feedings. This program combines tube weaning under medical supervision with intensive feeding therapy. Speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists work together to support your child.

The program is for children who have had a feeding tube for at least 6 months and have made little progress in outpatient feeding therapy.

Your child’s care includes medical supervision and nutrition care led by a dietitian. The team also provides feeding therapy and emotional and social support. This structured approach supports a safe transition from tube feeding to eating by mouth.

What Happens During Inpatient Tube Weaning?

During a child’s 3-week stay at Children’s Specialized Hospital, the care team helps them rely less on tube feeding by:

• Reducing tube feedings when the child enters the program to help them child feel hungry and ready to eat at mealtimes
• Providing intensive daily feeding therapy with speech pathologists and occupational therapists
• Continuing or starting medicine to increase the child’s appetite
• Working with the team’s dietitian to closely track the child’s weight and how much your child eats and drinks by mouth

Who May Qualify for the Feeding and Tube Weaning Program?

The program is for children ages 2 to 6. Your child may qualify if:

• Your child has had a feeding tube for 6 months or more
• Your child has recently had at least 2 months of outpatient feeding therapy but has not been able to stop tube feedings
• Your child has made little progress with eating by mouth
• You or another primary caregiver can stay with your child in the hospital for 3 weeks
• Your child’s gastrointestinal (GI) doctor has approved starting tube weaning
• Your child can safely swallow liquids and solid foods, either pureed or chewable

Find Out If Your Child May Qualify

Complete the initial feeding and tube weaning questionnaire to find out if your child may qualify for the program.