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Tube Feedings at Home

Bolus Method Using Syringe and Plunger

How to perform a feeding 7. Attach the syringe of water into the tube. Push the
water in slowly.
1. Clean your work area. Wash your hands with
soap and water. 8. Attach the syringe of formula into the tube. Push
the formula in slowly, 5 to 10 ml at a time. Repeat
2. Gather these supplies: this step until formula is gone. The entire feeding
• Formula should take about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Clean measuring cup 9. When the feeding is complete, flush your
• Syringes tube with ________ ml of lukewarm water.
• Towel Flushing your tube with lukewarm water is very
important. It gives you extra fluids and keeps
• Clean cup of drinking water (lukewarm or
your tube from getting plugged.
room temperature)

3. Clean off the top of the formula container

with a damp cloth. Check the expiration date Another Option for Formula
(sometimes called “use-by date”). If the date has
Do not put formula into a syringe. Instead:
passed, throw the formula away.
1. Pull the plunger out of one syringe.
4. Shake the container well, or prepare the powdered
formula as ordered. Pour ________ ml of formula 2. Attach the syringe into the feeding tube.
into your measuring cup.
3. Slowly pour the formula out of the cup and
5. Draw up the formula into a syringe. into the syringe. Do this until all the formula
is gone.
6. Draw up ___________ ml of water into
another syringe.

Ȥ If you need more than 60 ml of water, you can

add it to the formula in the measuring cup.

continued

For informational purposes only. Not to replace the advice of your health care provider. Clinically reviewed by
Lehn Grube, Nurse Manager, Patient Learning Center. Copyright © 2007 Fairview Health Services.
All rights reserved. SMARTworks 520992 – REV 02/22.
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My Feeding Plan

Water amount
Suggested start times Formula amount
(before/after)

________ can(s) or _________ mL _________ mL

________ can(s) or _________ mL _________ mL

________ can(s) or _________ mL _________ mL

________ can(s) or _________ mL _________ mL

________ can(s) or _________ mL _________ mL

Tips
• Store any leftover cans of formula in the refrigerator. Label the cans with the date and time they
were opened. Throw them away after 24 hours.

• Wash the syringes and other equipment each day.

• Weigh yourself 2 times a week, on _________________ and _________________.

• Recycle empty formula cans or cartons.

• If you take medicine through your feeding tube, try to use liquid medicines. Mix liquid
medicine with an equal amount of water. If your medicine comes as a pill, ask your care team if
it’s safe to crush the pill. If they say it’s safe, then:

1. Crush the pill into to a fine powder.

2. Mix it with 20 to 30 ml of water.

3. Draw the mixture up into a syringe.

4. Flush the tube with _________ ml of water.

5. Inject the medicine into the tube.

6. Add a little water to rinse your medicine cup. Inject this water into the tube.

7. Flush the tube again with _________ ml of water.