Enteral Feeding Supplies Buying Guide: Tubes, Pumps, Bags, Sets & Connectors

Ordering feeding supplies for the first time can be overwhelming. Starting tube feeding at home is a big enough challenge, and now you have to sort through different connector styles, pump options, bag sizes, and more. One mistake could leave you with equipment that doesn’t quite match up and doesn’t fit your needs. 

Fortunately, this guide will break everything down to the basics. By the end of this page, you’ll know exactly what to look for before you buy. 

What Is Enteral Feeding?

Enteral feeding, or EN, is an effective way to deliver a nutritionally complete formula directly to an individual’s stomach or small intestine. For people who can’t safely swallow, or who can’t eat enough to meet their needs, EN is an excellent way to obtain calories, fluids, and even medications. 

While it’s easy enough to understand why someone would need this kind of support, it can be hard to figure out what equipment to order when you are just getting started. Even shopping within a single brand can leave you feeling perplexed by a maze of different connector types, sizes, lengths, and more. A pump that works with one manufacturer’s bag, for example, may need a different adaptor for another. Unfortunately, this topic is rarely explained in plain language that most people can understand, but we’ll do exactly that in the sections below.

Choosing the Right Delivery Device

Delivery device options are typically grouped by where they end up and how long they're meant to stay in place.

• Nasogastric (NG) and nasojejunal (NJ) styles run through the nose and are typically used for short-term needs.

• Gastrostomy (G-tube) styles are placed directly through the abdominal wall for longer-term use.

• Jejunostomy (J-tube) and GJ styles extend further along the digestive tract and are often selected when gastric delivery isn't well tolerated.

• Low-profile ("button") devices sit flush against the skin and connect to an extension set only at mealtime.

To explore the options we carry, feel free to visit our G-tube collection or go beyond to see our entire enteral feeding inventory. You’ll find countless options sorted by brand and size. Of course, if you already know what brand and size you need, it’s a breeze to just order a replacement and keep your setup the same as it is.

Connectors and Compatibility: The Most Common First-Order Mistake

The biggest issue that people have when setting up enteral feeding at home for the first time is ordering the wrong connector. Often, the connector that is ordered doesn’t match the pump set, syringe, or extension set. The industry shifted in 2015 to something called the ENFit standard, which is a connector designed to prevent enteral equipment from being connected to IV lines by accident. Today, many people are still using the older connectors, so both standards remain common in the home environment. 

Before you place any order for pumps, bags, or extension sets, confirm these three points:

1. Whether you have an ENFit or legacy connector

2. Whether the pump set or bag you're considering is compatible with that connector

3. Whether you need a transition adapter to bridge ENFit and legacy equipment

We’ll cover this topic in more depth in our upcoming ENFit vs. Legacy connector guide. For now, the safest approach is to order one small quantity of a new connector type to confirm the fit before committing to a full order.

Pumps: Portable, Pole-Mounted, and Gravity Options

The job of a feeding pump is to control the rate and volume of formula delivered to the individual. This is critical for anyone who needs a continuous overnight feed or who can’t tolerate a fast bolus feed. Common pump options include the following:

• Pole-mounted pumps for continuous use in bed, typically for overnight regimens.

• Portable feeding pumps that fit in a small backpack. This type of pump allows someone to stay mobile during the day, whether it is at school, at work, or just out running errands.

• Gravity sets, which skip the pump entirely and rely on a drip chamber and roller clamp to control flow.

There are a few key points to check when comparing pumps. Be sure to see which bag and set brands are compatible, as well as checking how long the battery lasts for portable use. Spending a little extra time upfront to get the details right will save you frustration later.

Bags, Extension Sets & Related Connectors

Bags and sets are disposable, so you can expect to reorder them frequently. Common configurations include:

• Pump-specific bags and sets, built to lock into a particular pump brand.

• Gravity bags, which use a drip chamber for pump-free delivery.

• Extension sets, which connect a low-profile device to a pump bag or syringe.

Because these products wear out with normal use, they will need to be reordered regularly. Confirm your bag brand matches your pump before ordering in bulk, as we find that a mismatched connector is one of the most common returns we see in this category. Browse our bags and sets collection to find compatible options by brand.

Medical Necessity & Your Care Team

Your home health nurse, dietitian, or physician is the best resource for confirming exact specifications. They will help you understand things like brand, size, and connector type. Rely on them right after a hospital discharge, as all of the paperwork and new routines can make it easy to order the wrong item. A quick call to your care coordinator can also confirm what your specific health plan requires for reordering.

How to Choose What to Order

Before placing an order, always confirm the following:

• Device type and size. Check the brand and length, usually found on the original packaging or discharge paperwork.

• Connector style. It will be either ENFit or legacy, and you should determine whether an adapter is needed.

• Feeding schedule. Continuous pump delivery, gravity delivery, or bolus delivery by syringe.

If you have any questions about which components you should be ordering, never hesitate to reach out. Our team can help match the right supplies to your existing setup and daily routine. 

Related Guides

As you get more comfortable with the category of enteral feeding, these deeper-dive guides can help with specific decisions:

• ENFit vs. Legacy Connectors: What's the Difference? (coming soon)

• Low-Profile vs. Standard Feeding Tubes: Which Is Right for You? (coming soon)

Have questions about a specific brand or setup? Contact us now at 888-739-4330. Our team works with this equipment every day, and we can help you find the right fit the first time.