Tube to Table

In this episode, Jeni and Heidi unpack a common concern in the tube weaning journey: growth. Fears about weight loss and strategies to facilitate weight gain all impact your child's ability to wean. While growth is important, Heidi and Jeni are here today to explore why it's essential to look at it in the context of the whole child, not just the number on the scale.    Jeni and Heidi talk about how focusing only on weight can lead to confusion and even stall the weaning process. Attempts to “plump kids up” before a wean often set them up for sharper drops later. Growth charts, while useful at times, weren't based on kids with tubes or complex medical histories, and comparing your child to a chart made for someone else doesn't tell the full story. Instead, we encourage families and providers to track trends over time, compare children to themselves, and zoom out to see the bigger picture.    Weight loss during weaning can feel scary, but it's often a necessary and expected part of the process. When carefully monitored, it’s a sign that the child’s body is learning hunger cues and beginning to build a more natural, responsive relationship with food. Trusting the process and staying responsive rather than reacting out of fear helps children build lasting skills and confidence as oral eaters. Ultimately, growth matters, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. When we prioritize quality over quantity, work closely with our team, and keep weight in perspective; children are better able to thrive both on the scale and at the table.    ** 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

In this episode, Jeni and Heidi dive into a topic that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves during the tube weaning process: hydration. Hydration is a crucial and separate process with its own cues, rhythms, and strategies. Understanding hydration and its importance separate from nutrition and supplementation can often lead to a safer and smoother wean.    We talk about why hydration deserves focused attention, especially in the early stages of weaning when safety is the top priority. How do you know your child is hydrated enough if they’re no longer getting fluids through a tube? We unpack the signs beyond just milliliters—wet diapers, energy levels, tear production, skin quality—and why it’s so important to ask your medical team for individualized hydration parameters. You'll also hear why keeping a child well hydrated often helps the feeding process, rather than hurt it. Hydration supports energy, digestion, and the body's ability to regulate.    Jeni and Heidi also explore when to start working on oral hydration, and why this usually comes a little later in the weaning journey. They’ll also talk about how to build safe, joyful routines around drinking, from modeling (hint: kids love drinking what you’re drinking!) to loosening our adult ideas of “the right drink.”     ** 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

When we hear the term "tube weaning," it’s easy to assume it simply means switching from tube feeds to oral eating. But in this episode, Jeni and Heidi unpack why weaning is not just a one-time event or a quick fix—it’s a rich, layered process that unfolds over time. Tube weaning isn’t just about getting food into the mouth instead of the tube. It’s a developmental journey that involves emotional, sensory, and motor learning for the child—and often, a full family transformation. It’s not something that happens to the child, but something the child does. That shift in perspective is crucial.    Jeni and Heidi explore how so much of the work in weaning is “under the surface.” It’s not just skill-building or hitting calorie targets. It’s about helping children learn to recognize new sensations like hunger, navigate unfamiliar emotions, and develop trust in their own bodies. Many of these kids have spent their early years enduring feeding, not initiating it. Becoming someone who chooses to eat is new—and that takes time, space, and support.    We also talk about what this means for families. Tube weaning often requires shifts in routines, expectations, and even how caregivers relate to their child around food. There can be fear and uncertainty when stepping away from the structure and safety of the tube. But with the right environment—one that provides safety, autonomy, and patience—children can slowly build the self-regulation they need to meet their own feeding needs. Weaning isn’t about perfection. It can sometimes feel slow and non-linear. It’s not a 10-day program; it’s a months-long evolution. The key is to keep showing up, staying curious, and following your child’s lead.    ** 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

Welcome back! This week, Jeni and Heidi are talking about the role of supplementation during the tube weaning process—why it matters, how we approach it, and what it can look like when done thoughtfully and safely.    Feeding tubes are incredible tools that support over 250,000 children in the U.S. They help kids grow, thrive, and heal—and the decision to use one is always made with the child’s best interest at heart. But just like any helpful tool, there may come a time when it's no longer needed and might even begin to create barriers—especially around oral eating, social life, travel, or day-to-day routines. We know that deciding to transition away from the tube is a big step. It often means the medical situation has stabilized or resolved. But the road forward requires careful thought. At THRIVE, we focus on two key ideas: honoring the role the tube has played and using it strategically as we move forward.    What happens when a child is ready to wean? How do we make safe and effective supplementation decisions during this transition?  -Hydration vs. Nutrition: While hydration is vital, it doesn’t usually interfere with oral intake of food. So we keep hydration steady while adjusting nutrition.  -Creating Room for Hunger: Before a child can eat more, they often need to feel more. We begin with what’s called “hunger induction”—a safe, stepwise reduction of tube feeds that gives the child space to connect with hunger and eating.  -Using the Tube Strategically: We’re not pulling support away cold turkey. Instead, we use the tube like a floatie—something to keep them safe and supported while they’re learning new skills. That includes using the tube to reinforce effort ("You worked hard, and now you feel full!") or to offer relief when things get too hard ("Let’s give you a break today.").  -Decision-Making in Real Time: Every child is different. Some might need more reduction to recognize hunger; others may need a little support to feel safe. We base our choices on energy, growth, health, and cues from the child. It’s not about finding the perfect number of ounces—it’s about tuning into your child’s needs.    Progress doesn’t mean perfection. Many kids start with small bites or narrow food ranges. The tube helps bridge the gap while they build skills, confidence, and variety. Our goal is not long-term dependence but rather using the tube as a tool while independence grows. There’s no single “right” way to do this.     ** 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

In this episode, Jeni and Heidi dive into the often-overlooked but incredibly powerful concept of pausing both before and along the tube weaning journey. After months—or even years—of pushing through medical challenges, therapies, and constant decisions, many families reach a point where forward movement feels exhausting.     Stepping back doesn’t mean giving up; it can actually create the space where the most meaningful progress happens. Pausing allows for emotional and physical repair—for both your child and yourself—and gives everyone a chance to find stability before pushing forward again. Jeni and Heidi explore how to recognize signs of tension or burnout (like dreading mealtimes), and why co-regulation—tuning into both your nervous system and your child’s—is such a vital part of this process. You’ll hear strategies for creating calm, pressure-free mealtimes, honoring your child’s need for space, and learning to trust the slow, sometimes messy path of tube weaning. We also reflect on the emotional work parents do—advocating, observing, supporting—and how important it is to give yourself credit and care along the way. This episode is a gentle invitation to trust that progress isn’t always about doing more, but about allowing space for healing, growth, and connection.    ** 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 [https://www.thrivewithspectrum.com/]