Nasogastric (NG) tube: Feeding your

child
Reviewed by SickKids Staff Last updated: June 8th 2017

A guide on how to feed your child through a nasogastric tube, when to flush the
tube and how to clean the equipment.

Key points
Flush the tube at the end of every feed and after each medicine.
Clean the feeding bag and tubing with warm soapy water.
You must check the placement of the NG tube each time it is inserted, used for feeds or
to give medications.

The following information provides instructions on feeding your child through their nasogastric (NG)
tube. When at home, feeding through the NG tube should be done by gravity.

Feeding your child through the NG tube

1. Gather the following equipment:

adapters
5 or 10 mL syringe
prepared formula
feeding bag
infusion tubing
IV pole

2. Wash your hands.

3. Check the correct tube placement.

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 Attach the empty 10 mL syringe to the adapter and gently
flush with air to clear the tube. Then pull back on the
plunger to withdraw about 2 mL of stomach contents.
Wet pH testing paper with the stomach fluid and compare
the color with the label on the container. For the majority
of children, the colour on the strip should be less than 4.
For children who are on stomach acid suppressing
medications or who have just fed, the colour on the strip
should be less than 6. Ask your health-care provider what
colour to expect. The colour on the strip should match a
number no higher than _____.

4. If you believe the NG tube is not correctly placed, remove it and

try again. If you have trouble pulling back some stomach fluid to
do the pH test, try the following:
Use a larger syringe and draw back more gently to prevent
collapsing the tube.
Push in 1 to 2 mL of water or air through the NG tube into the stomach and gently draw
back on the syringe.
Change your child’s position by having them lie on their right or left side for a few minutes
move the position of the tube in the stomach.

Closing the clamp on the

5. Close the clamp on the infusion tubing. infusion tubing
6. Pour the prepared formula into the feeding bag, close the seal
tightly and hang the bag on the IV pole.
7. Open the clamp to allow the feeding solution to push all the air
out of the infusion tubing. Close the clamp once you see the fluid
drip out of the end of the tubing.
8. Connect the tubing to your child’s NG tube. The air in your
child’s NG tube will not cause problems.
9. Open the clamp far enough to get the desired rate of flow. To do
this watch how fast the formula drips - a faster drip means the
feed will go in quicker. Roll the wheel downward on the cla
10. When the feed is done, close the clamp and remove the infusion of the infusion tubing to close off th
tube. Roll the wheel back up to open
tubing from the NG tube. Set it aside. the tube again.
11. Cap off the NG tube.
12. If your child keeps their feeding tube in, flush the tube with 5 mL of water to clear any formula
residue between feeds. Use the attached plug to close the tube.

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 If your child does not keep their feeding tube in all the time, Handling the feeding bag
about 30 minutes after the feed, hold up the end the tube so that
it can drain into the child. Remove the tape and gently remove
the tube.

When to flush the tube

Flush the NG tube:

At the end of every feed

After giving medication

Cleaning your equipment

Flush the feeding bag and tubing with warm soapy water. To rinse well, let the water flow
through the tubing and into the sink. Allow the tube and bag air dry. Throw away the bag and
infusion tubing into your regular garbage bin every seven days and get a new one.
Take apart the syringes and wash syringes with warm soapy water. Rinse well with warm, clear
water and let air dry. Use a new syringe every seven days. Throw away used syringes into your
regular garbage bin.
Syringes and feeding bags can be discarded in regular garbage bins.

For more information, please see Nasogastric (NG) tube: How to insert your child's NG tube and
Nasogastric (NG) tube feeding: Common problems.

Please visit AboutKidsHealth.ca for more child health information.

©2022 The Hospital for Sick Children

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