Tube to Table

S2, Ep. 8: The Role of Parents in Tube Weaning

When we talk about tube weaning, we’re not just talking about transitioning from tube feeds to oral intake—we’re talking about creating or restoring joy, curiosity, and connection to eating and feeding. And at the heart of that process is YOU, the parent. Too often, parents find themselves in one of two difficult roles: either sidelined and treated as an afterthought or isolated, left alone to search for answers and support. We know and believe that parents are the experts on their children. Your insight, intuition, and involvement are not just helpful—they are essential. 

 

The feeding environment matters deeply. What makes your child feel comfortable, safe and secure? Maybe it’s sitting on a parent's lap during breakfast or being surrounded by siblings at the table. We must expand our definition of safety beyond a physical aspect, also considering emotional and sensory safety. Within the feeding environment, we need to also consider structure, not rigidity.  

 

And when we do offer food, let’s consider pleasure, too. The goal at first is positive, low-pressure, intrinsically motivated experiences. That could be a lick of a chip, a finger dipped in ketchup, or stealing a bite from mom’s plate. If they see you enjoying it, they might be more willing to try it. That joy is the bridge to variety and nutrition later on. Every child is different. Every family is different. This journey will evolve, and that’s okay. It’s not about getting it perfect—it’s about staying curious, responsive, and connected to your child. Tube weaning is a process of learning, for everyone involved. It takes time, flexibility, and trust. And when parents are centered and supported, children can THRIVE. 

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com  

S2, Ep. 7: Sensory Implications for Weaning

How many times has a loving adult or professional told you that your child’s eating difficulties are a sensory based “problem”? Yes, feeding IS a sensory experience AND it’s bigger than that. We all interact with the world and situations using our own individualized sensory identities. The ways in which we receive, interpret, and respond to sensory information within that is also constantly evolving. Sensory preferences are our brain’s learned protection and reaction to lived experiences, whether positive or negative.  

 

The same sensory identities and associations are evolving in children who are learning to eat! While we’re working toward helping children become happy and healthy oral eaters, we must first devote time and energy to understanding WHO the child is and HOW they relate to the world through their sensory experiences before we try to change them. This is crucial to figuring out who your child is from a sensory standpoint. We must examine and consider the context such that we’re maximizing ease, comfort, trust, and peace BEFORE we increase the challenge or try to expand their diet/oral intake. 

 

This is where motivation and autonomy play a key role. Giving the child control over how and when something occurs (such as eating) can significantly influence how they perceive the experience and how prepared their body is to engage in it. It’s only once a child has learned that they can be safe, comfortable, and stable that they can expand and have new experiences to help override old ones. This is a CHILD led process, one where we continue to accept where they are, no matter what. It may take time on the front end but also helps with success in the longer term. 

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com  

S2, Ep. 6: Why Getting Kids to Eat Backfires

In this episode, Jennifer and Heidi are diving into how certain feeding strategies, specifically when transitioning off feeding tubes, can backfire. There is a common phrase that we hear a lot as therapists: “I can’t GET them to do it or I can only GET them to have 2 bites”. As loving caregivers, parents often think that it is their job to get their child to eat a certain food or specific volume. While working to transitioning to oral eating, the focus should be less on what you can get your child to do and more on letting them have the space to do so (McGlothlin, Jenny: Definition of “Let to Get”). The parents should focus on providing the foods and setting up a positive mealtime routine, while the child’s role is to determine if they’re going to eat it and how much (Ellyn Satter – Division of Responsibility).  

 

Jennifer and Heidi discuss what specific feeding behaviors we often see in the traditional feeding therapy. These behaviors are often viewed as symptoms and then the focus tends to be on more behavioral strategies. Although there is some short-term research on those behavioral methods (praising, distracting, negotiating), we know that it has negative long-term effects on a child’s relationship with food. They will also review what we can do as therapists, and parents, to help create a solid foundation and address the relationship with food starting with the foundations. We will also review the evidence to support the responsive feeding strategies, specifically with tube-fed children.  

 

If you would like any of the research or studies mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to email us at thrive@spectrumpediatrics.com and we can send it to you. 

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum and @tubetotable on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com  

S2, Ep. 5: Hunger and Beyond: Motivation Matters

In this week’s episode, Jennifer and Heidi talk about what motivates children to eat. While hunger is important, it’s not the only missing piece of the eating and feeding puzzle for tube fed kids.  

 

When helping tube-fed kids become oral eaters, there are a lot of other pieces of the puzzle we must consider! Comfort, pleasure, curiosity, and relationships are all aspects that you, the loving and caring adult, can help facilitate for your tube-fed child. Eating in a comforting environment, having a meaningful and pleasurable experience during a mealtime, exploring food independently, and being a part of the mealtime routine can all help to drive internal motivation to eat! And Yes! Hunger also plays a role to build on oral eating. This looks different for every child in our program and beyond, and we know that following your child’s lead is of most importance to THRIVE!  

 

It's important to differentiate between tolerance and internal motivation. Our goal as well-meaning adults is not to help children tolerate a food or bite a certain number of times. In fact, that undermines their curiosity and adds external pressures to eat. We know and believe that all children are competent! They can feel hunger and start to do something about it independently, but only once we remove any obstacles you have control over (pain, discomfort, stress, pressure) and allow for periods of rest/repair for your child to build knowledge and experience on their own terms. 

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum and @Tubetotable on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com  

S2, Ep. 4: Feeding Skill Development and Tube Weaning

In this episode of Tube to Table, Jennifer and Heidi are letting you all in on a little secret: most kids learn to eat while they’re eating and participating in continued meaningful experiences surrounding a mealtime.  

 

Often times, traditional feeding therapy has a narrow skill-based focus that may include oral motor skills, self-feeding skills, increasing volumes, or expanding varieties. Skill development actually includes much more than just those things! To target a skill, we need to zoom out to address the fundamentals. We know that learning is most successful when the learner is an active participant: When they are motivated or in charge of their learning, when they have felt safety, and when they’re given appropriate support that doesn’t undermine or take over.  

 

For many of us adults, there’s an innate meaningfulness in food. What we forget is that it develops through experiences, and often, tube-fed kids do not have the same opportunities. Motor skills build over time, through experience and enjoyment, and by actively participating in activities already occurring throughout your home. Having your tube-fed child sit at the table with you during a meal provides tons of meaningful experiences!  

 

No matter the skill you want to help your tube fed child to learn, whether its variety, volume, oral motor strength, sensory processing, or self-regulation, the goal is to see the big picture and help create an ideal and positive environment. 

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com 

 

S2, Ep. 3: When Kids Say NO! (And Why It's Important)

Welcome to Tube To Table: The podcast about helping tube fed kids become happy and healthy eaters. In this episode, Jeni and Heidi are here to help parents understand why hearing “no” from your tube-fed child can be a good thing. Learning to accept “no” as parents can be a game changer for mealtimes and can help caregivers reframe what refusal means for their tube-fed child.  

 

Did you know that food refusal is actually developmentally appropriate, regardless of the neurological identity of your child? It is easy to consider refusals as a problem or a deficit, however, it is an important part of the developmental process. It's a way for children to express that they’re unsure or perhaps not ready, and they’re actually doing the right thing by avoiding something that likely caused negative feelings in the past. As loving and well-meaning adults, this can feel like a failure or rejection, like a loss of control, and as if we’re not doing our jobs properly. It’s hard to know how to appropriately respond when it does come up.  

 

Jeni and Heidi are here to help you understand the WHY: why it’s important to accept refusals, why we look at your child’s experiences around eating and feeding and not just the act of eating, and why we allow kids the space and time to create a happy and healthy relationship with food. 

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information: @TubetoTable and @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com  

 

S2, Ep. 2: What I Wish They Had Told Me!

Did your child just receive a feeding tube? Are you feeling stuck in feeding therapy? In this episode of Tube To Table, we are diving into the topic of what parents wish they had been told when their child first got their feeding tube. Feeding tubes can be a medical necessity and can help keep kids safe when needed. We’re here to remind you that this is not your fault, and your child can do this!  

 

The transition from being tube-fed to becoming an oral eater can be tricky and it is often not an automatic process. No matter where you are in the process, today’s podcast will touch on a few of the most important factors to look at when starting the transition to tube weaning. We’ll talk through the tricky thought patterns you may be experiencing, why you could be feeling stuck in feeding therapy and how to support progress, and what our roles are as adults to help children feel safe and supported during this transition.  

 

** Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process.** 

 

Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Tubetotable and @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com 

S2, Ep. 1: Tube to Table Reboot

Welcome to Tube To Table: The podcast about helping tube fed kids become happy and healthy eaters. In Episode 1 of Season 2, you’ll get re-acquainted with your hosts, Jennifer Berry and Heidi Moreland as they talk about Responsive Feeding and the transition from Tube to Table. Jennifer is an occupational therapist and founder of the Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics Tube Weaning Program, and Heidi is a speech-language pathologist and clinical coordinator of the Thrive Tube Weaning Program. Both Jennifer and Heidi have over 30 years of combined experience working with families of tube-fed children.  

 

Episode 1 dives into some of the unknowns as a parent or loved one of a tube-fed child, including how to help wean when the tube is no longer medically necessary. There can sometimes be a mismatch and frustration around the whole process, focusing on a child’s deficits. Jennifer and Heidi talk about the focus on “why” and the experience of the child to guide our program.   

 

Jennifer and Heidi are here to help you “zoom out”. To help parents and caregivers take some focus off counting calories, measuring volume, counting number of bites, chewing in a certain way, closing lips, etc. and help you see your child’s experience of feeding in the big picture. We want to help you develop foundations for your child’s experience so that you can see how they’re relating to food and feeding. These foundations then help develop and build the skills that they need to eat more and use the tube less. 

**Please remember this podcast is NOT meant to replace the support and guidance of your child's medical team.  Consult with your doctor before starting the weaning process. **

Don’t forget to follow us on our other social media accounts: @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram and Thrive by Spectrum Pediatrics on Facebook. You can also find out more information about the programs we offer at www.thrivewithspectrum.com. 

 

Episode 44: Reframing Refusal

Welcome back to the Tube to Table Podcast. On this week’s episode, Reframing Refusal, Heidi and Jennifer are talking about how to reframe the experience you and your child have when they refuse to eat. We are so thankful for all of our listeners and have loved hearing how this podcast is helping therapists and families implement responsive feeding into their mealtimes! With the summer approaching, we are planning to take some time off to record some new episodes and will be back with Season 2 in a couple months! For today’s episode, your hosts will dive into what refusal looks like and how to handle it when it happens before, during, or after the intensive weaning process. Refusal is a natural and necessary part of development and how your child learns to have a happy and healthy relationship with food. What do you do when your child refuses to eat? Why does refusal happen and what does it mean? All of these questions will be answered in this week’s episode! 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook! 
 

Episode 43: The Thrive Parent's Bill of Rights

In this week’s episode of Tube to Table, Jennifer and Heidi are discussing the Thrive Parent’s Bill of Rights. You may have seen this in a recent blog post at Thrive, but during this episode Jennifer and Heidi will dive into more detail and walk through each crucial step in the Bill of Rights. This was created by the Thrive Tube Weaning Team for any feeding therapy, not just tube weaning, although it especially applies to children with feeding tubes. This is an important tool to help remind parents to listen to their intuition and guide them through what feeding therapy should look like. If something feels wrong, it is important to identify that feeling and address that with your therapist. The Thrive Bill of Rights is a good reminder for parents that your protective intuition is there for a reason, and if it feels wrong, it is worth exploring more. Jennifer and Heidi will break down the Bill of Rights and outline why it is so important for families to be a part of therapy and feel confident in their decisions. 

Check out this episode’s show note page (www.thrivewithspectrum.com) for links to the resources we mentioned and more information on what we discussed in today’s episode! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more helpful information @Thrivewithspectrum on Instagram, @Thrivewithsp on Twitter, and @Thrivewithspectrum on Facebook!