DIY Feeding Tube Pads

There are a lot of cute and rather expensive vendors
available for solving the eternal problem of a  leaky stoma.  An easy and inexpensive way of containing leaks is to buy make-up pads at your local pharmacy. Just split them halfway with scissors and tape closed with soft surgical tape around the stoma.

These pads come in LARGE quantities at LOW prices, and you are guaranteed every day (or several times a day) that your child always hasa clean and leak free stoma.

p.s. You can also do this with breast pads for children with larger leaks.

Quick Bib

Purchase a multi-pack of dental clips
(3pk around $8-10 dollars) from Amazon.com or online dental supplier
Create a bib out of washcloths, paper napkins, pillowcases, old t-shirts, chux pads, or use as a bib extender for the bibs your child has outgrown.  Throw one in your child's "go bag" to have one for impromptu restaurant visits, and beyond.

Reuse Old Teething Links

Don't throw away those old teething links your
child has lost interest in!  They make perfect line tamers, bag hangers, and an extra pair of "hands" for holding trash bags open.

EZ Wheelchair Cover

To keep your child's wheelchair clean while in use at home, simply throw a twin size sheet over it.  It fits most pediatric tilt-n-space wheelchairs easily and tucks in well allowing for harness and safety belt use.

Protects chair gears and surfaces from food particles/formula spills and minor "messes".

 

Pee Pee Squeezee...

So your child wears diapers and you need to collect a urine sample..ummm yeah, right?  But how??  Here is a quick trick taught to us by a Pediatric PICU nurse for an easy way to collect a small sterile urine sample.

Place a dry/clean diaper on your child and insert several sterile gauze pads (or sterile cotton balls) into the diaper - enough to absorb a moderate amount of urine.   Once your child has urinated, wash your hands, glove up, remove the gauze pads and gently place them into a NEW sterile 60ml bolus syringe (remove the plunger first).  Place the plunger into the syringe and SQUEEZE the urine out into the testing vile(s) or sterile receptacle.  Discard syringe and supplies.

 

Hang'em High to Dry

Drip dry your cleaned/washed feeding tube extension sets by draping
them over a plastic clothes hanger (kids size are the best and least bulky).  Hang on your microwave handle or kitchen cabinet handle overnight and let them drip dry.

Rwwaaaar!! Make your own Tracheasaurus (Trach Doll or Pet)

Make a toy that looks like your kiddo who uses a trach.  It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!  Simply soak a used trach in pure bleach overnight and rinse thoroughly in cold water until the bleach is rinsed away.  Let air dry.  Cut the stem off the trach (this will spare you from having to damage a toy by poking a hole it it).  Attach new trach ties to the trach and place it tightly on your child's favorite animal toy or doll.  If you have sewing skills you can go the extra mile to sew it in place via the trach ties.  Now your child has a toy just like them!