Taping an NG-tube

This page was very kindly put together by Renata, who uses one of the most common ways to attach an NG tube to the side of a child's face.

Please do remember though this is one of many ways that an NG tube may be attached to the side of the face. We have included another 2 examples toward the bottom of the page but you should consult your medical professional for further advice and teaching.

I took some pictures of me taping Dominic in case it helps anyone... (oh and I get all the tape ready before I start)

Step 1:
Put on skin protector (in this case duoderm). I leave a gap between nose and cheek so it doesn't peel as quickly

Step 2:
Cut a small piece of tape, put a slit almost all the length of it. Stick the tape by the ear with the slit pointing towards the nose. Put the tube in between the two sides of the split and cross them over and stick (this stops the tape peeling when the tube is tugged)

Step 3:
Cut a longer bit of tape and make a small slit at one end. The slit end will be pointing towards the ear. Stick this on the length of the tube starting at the nose and stopping when you have covered the cross over part of the first piece of tape. The slit should sit over the tape underneath, again to help stop it peeling.

Oh and he doesn't sleep through it! I gave him a break between each step and he closed his eyes as his way of escaping from it all!

This last picture has the tape on a different side,

because I didn't want to show you the teary eyed, blotchy faced mess that is my child after he's had his tube retaped, so used a different picture to show the front.

Here is another example of how one of our other mums taped there NG tube, it is just slightly different:

This way of taping is using specialist circular plasters, which you may be able to obtain from your local community nursing team. They are a round small plaster with a clear sticky film over the top that pulls downwards so you can place the NG tube, in between the placer and film. The advantage of these is they can be used over and over as the film, will pull down and re stick several times, with out having to remove the fixing from the face.

You should only ever insert an NG tube once you have received professional medical training.

Page written by: Reneta (LWR member), Tracey (LWR manager) Jennie (LWR forum Asst. manager)