Involving the Interdisciplinary Team

When managing infants, children, and youth, it is important to consider that enteral feeding requires knowledge from an interdisciplinary team (ACI Nutrition Network, 2012). The interdisciplinary team is imperative for ensuring the family has the knowledge, ability, and confidence to safely manage the transition to enteral feeding. They provide expertise in the selection of feed type, route, feeding equipment, and tube feeding care. The team explains the enteral feeding process to the family, prepares the child, and supports them during enteral tube insertions.

Goals and benefits of enteral nutrition should be discussed by the interdisciplinary team with the family prior to its initiation to help reduce tube dependency. Establish initial and ongoing feeding goals with the child and family that define the quality of feeding (i.e. whether it’s a positive experience), type of feeding, volume of feeds, and duration of tube feeding.