Help us keep the baby safe from pulling the g button out at night

November 19, 2009 8:53 AM

Very active one year old with G button (MIC-key low profile) During night feeds and traveling in car how do I keep her Button from being pulled? It has come out once before in the crib by her moving so much the slack in the feeding tube got caught in crib and pulled out. It was painful for her since the balloon was fully inflated. I want to keep this from happening again. How do other parents keep thier kids g buttons and tube feeding cord protected at night. She is a wiggly thing and often turns in her sleep many times from belly to back and forth. The feeding is necessary and cannot be missed.

Have a very active 16 month old LJ (adjusted age is 13 months for preemie birth) who has a MIC-key gastrostomy button used for feeding. She is dependent on the button during the day and night feeds. At night she gets a continuous feed that lasts 9 hours, the problem is she is so wiggly and toss and turns all night. I have tried many things to cover her button and feeding tube cord so it doesnt get caught or pulled by something. We have tried tapes, ace bandages, tucking the tube under a onesie and snapping it closed. None have been sucessful. She is allergic to adhesives, Ace bandages put too much pressure on the button and left marks and left her Grumpy and sore the next morning. She has had the g button since she was 5 months old. She sleeps in a playpen next to our bed and usually ends up co-sleeping with us by the end of the night. Just wondering what other parents do to keep the g button and extension of tubing from being pulled out at night? I have seen this product called a summers life guard. I have considered trying to re create something similar but have no idea where to start. the only difference is i would make it for her belly and not her chest. I have a sewing machine but not sure how to get started making a wrap for LJs belly. Any ideas to keep the button and tube protected during feedings at nite? any patterns or ideas how to make a wrap similar to summers life guard but for a belly? Any suggestions or expierences that you have had with any of this would be helpful.

posted by Snoogylips to health & fitness (6 answers total)

I don't have any experience with feeding tubes, but the idea of recreating a lifeguard like the one you linked to sounds like a solid plan.

For a basis, could you use an off-the-shelf velcro swaddler like the Kiddopatamus? You can wrap it just around the belly (no arms) and trim off the bottom if LJ doesn't like having her legs restricted. Then you've got a nice basis for doing some tube management.

Good luck!
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 9:30 AM on November 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

The first thing I thought of was a haramaki, or something haramaki-like in nature. A wrap for her belly would be fairly easy to make out of soft fleece or a soft cotton jersey. Or if the continuous loop wasn't tight enough you cut it and have it join with velcro. Just an idea.
If you need sewing advice or one sewn for you just MeMail me.
posted by hecho de la basura at 10:42 AM on November 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

Have you reached out to the makers of "summers life guard" to see if they would be interested in prototyping something for you? It could be a new market for them to get into.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 12:32 PM on November 19, 2009 [1 favorite]

Thank you all! I have a kiddopatamus wrap at home I am going to try modifying it this weekend. Great Ideas to all.
bottlebrushtree-I haven't contacted them. How should I go about asking them?
posted by Snoogylips at 8:29 PM on November 19, 2009

Snoogylips, they have a contact page with both a phone number and a contact form you could fill out.

If it were me, I'd write / call with some like like the following prepared based on your question above:

I have a very active 16 month old who has a MIC-key gastronomy button used for feeding. She is dependent on the button during the day and night feeds. At night she gets a continuous feed that lasts 9 hours, the problem is that she tosses and turns all night.

I have tried many things to cover her button and feeding tube cord so it doesn't get caught or pulled by something. We have tried tapes, ace bandages, tucking the tube under a onesie and snapping it closed. None have been successful.

I have seen your product "The Summers Life Guard" which looks like it would be perfect for our needs, if we could get a version that would cover her belly and not her chest.

Do you have plans on making such a product, or have any advice about another manufacturer who does? Would you have someone I would be able to speak about this product?

Regards,
xxxx

posted by bottlebrushtree at 12:00 PM on November 20, 2009

Thank you.
posted by Snoogylips at 4:54 PM on November 20, 2009