Flushing

It is important to flush feeding tubes after each use to push all the food or medicine through the tube into the stomach. Flushing also stops the tube from clogging. Sometimes the amount of water used to flush may be smaller or larger depending on if they can tolerate it. Your child’s doctor or nurse will tell you the amount of water to flush.

For all types of feeding tubes:

• Flush with 5-10 mL of water after each feeding
• Flush with 5-10 mL of water after each medicine

For GJ-tubes:

• Flush the J-port with 10 mL of water, at least two times a day. This will help prevent clogging. If the G-port is sluggish, you may need to flush the tube with 5-10 mL of water each day. Do this only if your child can tolerate it.
• If your child has a break between feedings, flush after the feeding is done.
• If your child does not have any breaks with their feeding, it is important to pause the feeding two times a day to flush the J-port.
• Flush the J-port after giving every medicine to prevent it from clogging.
• Be sure to ask your nurse for a teaching sheet that will have these flushing rules.