Talk to speech/language specialists who work with special needs children.  I have heard several seminars where SLP are questioning damage to pharyngeal area, by the use of ng tubes.  It is postulated that at 5-6 months of age when many of these special needs kids who were on ng feeds, suddenly stop eating or become v. reluctant and then at 12-18 months they do stop, that they have had nerve damage so that they do not have normal sensitivity in the swallowing area.  It causes them to become overly cautious once they achieve volitional swallowing at 5-6 mo.   I have 3 out of 22 of my special needs cases who have just such a history.  No problems revealed in swallow studys, but child refuses to swallow anything but liquids, one will take only water.  All are on g-tubes now, which avoid the mouth feeds altogether.

NG feeds are an invasive approach and far worse consequences than bottle feeds.  Why not use a cup or finger feeds.  Just my .02 worth.  Michelle Scott, MA,RD,IBCLC in Mason, NH
  

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html