Traveling with a child on tube feeding? Going anywhere, let alone to the store with your child can be a challenge, but traveling to further destinations with a child with special needs can be stressful. Lots of planning ahead and thoughtful packing can make your family vacation memorable and more relaxed.
How to Travel with a Child on Tube Feeding
What to do beforehand:
- Talk to your health care team about your travel plans. They may have some helpful suggestions.
- Ask your medical supply company:
- Do they have other locations near your travel destination where you could pick up emergency supplies in a pinch?
- Can they ship your supplies to your destination?
- Do they have an after-hours hotline for feeding pump issues?
- Are they able to provide extra supplies for travel?
- Contact the airline/train company.
- Let them know you have special circumstances. They may ask you to notify the Transportation Security Administration officer when you arrive.
- Call the TSA Cares helpline, a service that provides extra assistance to travelers with special needs
- Call your hotel/destination spot.
- Make sure you will have a place to safely store opened formula, such as a refrigerator or cooler and a sanitary space to feed your child.
Don’t forget!
- Pump (and charger!)
- Pump feeding bags
- Gravity bags (if your child can tolerate) in case you have pump trouble
- Extension sets (if your child has a low profile button)
- Syringes
- Formula (take a little more than you think you need, just in case)
- Bottle of water (for flushing on-the-go)
- Enteral pump backpack
- Accessories (tape, gauze, lubricant)
- All of your child’s medications
- First aid kit
- Emergency Information Form
Extra supplies to have on hand:
- Feeding bags
- Low profile button
- Extension set
- Syringes
- Bottle of water (for flushing on-the-go)
- Small (3.4 oz) containers of formula and water to carry on the plane
To take on the plane:
- Small (3.4 oz) containers of formula and water
- Ice packs/insulated cooler to keep formula cool
- Syringes
- Low profile button
- Extension set
Bring contact info for:
- Your doctor/nurse/dietitian
- Local children’s hospital/urgent care in your travel destination
- Your medical supply company
And these might come in handy:
- A large carabineer/clip for attaching the enteral pump backpack to carts and chairs
- An Oley Ambassador:
- Oley Foundation volunteers located all over the country, who have experienced being on tube feeding at home and on the go
Some special needs-friendly travel destinations:
39 Theme Parks With Special Needs Access Passes
32 Vacation Destinations for Individuals with Special Needs
More resources on traveling with a child on tube feeding:
Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation
The Center for Children with Special Needs
