Our Process

At Growing Independent Eaters, we believe that weaning from feeding tubes can be a safe and successful experience when it takes place in the comfort of home, with parents and caregivers empowered as their child’s best advocates. We're proud to offer Tube Weaning support to families all over the world!

Our approach is collaborative and multi-disciplinary. Every family is supported by a dedicated clinical team, including a Feeding Therapist, a Registered Dietician, and mental health professionals, such as a Parent Coach and a Mental Health Counselor. Together, we craft a personalized weaning plan and guide you step-by-step through the implementation process.

Want to hear from our families? Check out our testimonials page for inspiring success stories!

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Step 1: Intake form

What it is: A detailed set of questions about your child and their feeding situation. 

What it’s for: This helps us assess if we can effectively support your family. If your situation is too complex and we do not feel we could help you, we’ll recommend local professionals who can help. If your Intake Form is approved by our team, you can purchase a Pre-Program Consultation.

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Step 2: Pre-Program Consultation

What it is: A 1-hour consultation with a member of your clinical team (either a Dietician or a Feeding Therapist) and a review of videos of your child around food. 

What it’s for: This session addresses any pre-weaning concerns and provides tailored recommendations to prepare you for success. It’s also your chance to ask questions about our methods and approach. Completing the Pre-Program Consultation is required before entering the Wean Program.

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Step 3: Wean Program

What it is: Your personalized weaning plan, paired with ongoing coaching from both the clinical and mental health teams.

Each wean includes: 

  • A kickoff call with your clinical team (Dietician or Feeding Therapist). 

  • A 1-hour session with our social worker to develop anxiety and stress management strategies. 

  • Weekly support from a Parent Coach who acts as both a peer and mentor throughout the weaning process. 

  • A comprehensive written weaning plan tailored to your child’s needs, outlining how to eat together and introduce different foods. 

  • Access to a members-only area on our website filled with valuable training materials and resources. 

  • Entry to a private Facebook Group for support and advice from fellow GIE members. 

  • A set number of support hours for personalized guidance and assistance throughout the weaning journey, available in the way that works best for you: messaging, video calls, etc. These hours never expire, allowing you to receive support even after weaning is complete.

  • There is no limit on how often you can contact your team!

    Post-Wean, families can always add extra support hours to their program, with options for 1-hour or 3-hour extensions—available exclusively to GIE members— whenever you need them. 

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.

Have more questions? Check our FAQs here or reach out to us at info@gieaters.com. We’re eager to support you on this journey!