Our Process
Growing Independent Eaters believes that children can wean from feeding tubes safely and most successfully in the comfort and safety of their homes when parents and caregivers are empowered to be their child’s best therapist. As such, we are happy to offer Tube Weaning support in countries all around the world!
We take a multi-disciplinary approach to weaning, meaning that every family who works with us is supported by a clinical team that consists of a Feeding Therapist, a Registered Dietician, a Parent Coach, and a Mental Health Counselor – all of whom are licensed appropriately in their fields. Together, we will write a personalized weaning plan for your child and then coach you, step-by-step, through implementing that plan.
Need some more convincing? Check out our testimonials page for reviews and success stories from our weaning families.
Working with Growing Independent Eaters on a wean comes in three separate steps: Intake Form, Pre-Program Consultation, and Wean Program.
Step 1: Intake form (free)
What it is: A detailed set of questions about your child and their feeding situation.
What it’s for: Helps us determine if working with GIE is an option for your family. If your situation is too complex and we do not feel we could help you, we will recommend seeking out local professional help.
If your Intake Form is approved by our team, you can purchase a Pre-Program Consultation.
Step 2: Pre-Program Consultation
What it is: Two hours of consultation with our parent coach and feeding therapist (one hour each), and a review of videos of your child around food.
What it’s for: Gives you personalized advice on how to optimize feeding now, before weaning; information on how a wean would look for your family; opportunity for you to ask us any questions! It also gives us the detailed information we need to write your wean plan if you choose to purchase a wean program.
You MUST purchase and complete the Pre-Program Consultation before purchasing a Wean Program.
Step 3: Wean Program
What it is: A complete program of weaning support, start to finish and beyond.
Each wean includes:
An hour with our social worker for anxiety and stress strategies.
A 6-8 page written wean plan, covering how to eat together, foods to offer, and how to reduce tube feeds for your child specifically.
Dedicated time with our dietitian.
Access to a members area on our website with training materials and resources to help your process.
Access to a private Facebook Group for our GIE members only where you can access additional support and advice from our environment.
A set number of hours of 1:1 support from your parent coach and feeding therapist throughout the entire wean (and afterward!). Texting, emails, phone calls, and video reviews all count as support time.
There is no limit on how often you can contact your team!
If you use up your wean support time, you can purchase additional hours one hour at a time, with any team member you choose. You are not required to buy a new plan, but this option is only available to our GIE members.
If your child is weaned and you still have support time left, that time is yours to use whenever you need after the wean. Your hours do not expire.
Post-wean support: You can purchase individual hours of time with any of our team, for support after weaning (transitioning to solids, starting school, any mealtime worries, etc.). We are here for you!
What if my child isn’t tube-fed?
For children who are not tube-fed, the steps for working with us are: Intake Form and Happy Eaters Program.
If your intake form is approved by our team, you can purchase the Happy Eaters Program.
More questions? Check out our FAQs here or email us at info@gieaters.com.