Tube to Table

  What actually happens inside Thrive’s tube weaning program, and why does it work when other approaches haven’t? In this episode, Jeni and Heidi break down what our tube weaning program really looks like and answer some of the most common questions we hear from parents and caregivers.     At Thrive, offer a range of supports, from intensive tube weaning (virtual or in-person) to ongoing feeding t...

What if the goal isn’t to get your child to eat… but to help them want to?    In this episode, Jeni and Heidi unpack a powerful (and often overlooked) mindset shift in the tube weaning journey: moving from “exposure” to “opportunity.” It sounds subtle, but it can completely change how your child experiences food and how you show up as a parent at mealtimes.    So many families are told to “just ke...

What if your child still needs their feeding tube… and that’s not actually considered a failure? What if progress doesn’t mean removing the tube, but learning how to move forward with it?    For many families, the goal starts as tube weaning. But along the way, some discover their child needs long-term support, or at least more time. For other families, you may know from the beginning that it's li...

You’ve spent months (maybe years) keeping your child safe, nourished, and growing with a feeding tube. And now… the moment you’ve been working toward is here! Tube removal. But instead of just relief, you might be feeling other unexpected emotions: uncertainty, sadness, even a little fear.  Jeni and Heidi are here this week to help paint a picture of what tube removal and next steps may look like....

Jeni and Heidi are back this week to talk about how to get back on track when things feel like they're falling apart. Tube weaning is rarely a straight line. If things feel off track, you’re actually right where many families find themselves at least once in their journey.  Tube weaning is often expected to be a simple shift: less nutrition through the tube and therefore more by mouth. In reality,...

In tube weaning, we hear all the time, “We just need to create hunger.” But hunger isn’t a button you push. It’s a learning process and understanding that changes everything.    Hunger is the body’s physiological signal for energy. It’s driven by things like blood sugar and growth needs. Appetite is different: it’s the desire to eat, shaped by experience, interest, sensory input, and comfort. Both...

Happy Feeding Tube Awareness Week! Jeni and Heidi are here this week to celebrate your family and to talk about how to gently and meaningfully include your tube-fed child in family mealtimes without pressure to eat. Meals are about so much more than calories or consumption! They’re also about connection, belonging, learning, and shared experiences. Whether your child eats by mouth, by tube, or bot...

If your child gets sick in the middle of tube weaning, it can feel like the whole process is falling apart. It’s certainly frustrating but try not to worry. Getting sick is a normal part of childhood, and it’s something every child and family will face again and again over the years. In this episode, Jeni and Heidi talk about how illness can affect appetite, eating skills, and tube use, and they'r...

If you’re thinking about tube weaning, this probably isn’t a new idea. It’s a question that’s been sitting with you for a while: Is my child ready? And underneath that, how do we prepare so this can be successful?     Readiness: Preparing for tube weaning starts well before any feeds are actually reduced, and a huge part of that is making sure your child (and you) are truly ready.  We look at read...

Navigating the holidays while tube-weaning can feel like a lot. Busy schedules, big gatherings, and traditions with friends or family can all add extra pressure, even when you don't factor in a feeding tube!  When it begins to feel like too much, it helps to zoom out and remember the real goal of the season: connection. Your child can join in family rituals and be part of the fun even if their fee...

Heidi and Jennifer are back today to help you feel empowered to choose the right tube weaning program for your child, your family, and yourself. Choosing a tube-weaning program is a major decision for families, especially when the information available can feel scattered or confusing. At the heart of this choice is your child’s safety, both physical and emotional. A solid program should prioritize...

Heidi and Jennifer are back! This week, they are sharing some tips and important pillars for feeding kids responsively. When children are learning to eat after having been tube dependent, it’s easy to focus on hunger only, but true progress comes from safety, comfort, and connection first. Eating isn’t just about what’s on the plate! It’s shaped by the environment, communication and language aroun...

Parents often ask us: What tools do I need to help my child eat? From vibrating toys to chewy tubes, special spoons to miracle cups, the pressure to “pick the right thing” during tube weaning can be overwhelming. But the truth is, responsive tube weaning isn’t about finding the perfect tool, it’s about understanding and supporting your unique child.  In this episode of Tube to Table, we unpack the...

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 ho...

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 deser...

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,...

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 be...

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 w...

In this episode, Jeni and Heidi dive into how parents can play a powerful role in protecting and supporting their child’s journey from tube feeding to eating by mouth. When preparing, it’s easy to focus on the practical things like what foods to buy, which cup to use, and what’s the best bottle out there. What really matters is understanding what’s going on under the surface for both you and your...

Welcome back! In this episode, Jeni and Heidi are talking about how families can form an effective and collaborative team to support their child through the process of tube weaning. Too often, parents find themselves feeling isolated on their child’s tube weaning journey. They are either waiting for a plan that never comes or are trying to piece it together alone. With the right information and qu...

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 sea...

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 evolvi...

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....

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...

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...