As I’ve mentioned at great length, D is reliant on a feeding tube. He uses it mostly overnight, but he has a few hours during the day where he needs to be hooked up. That means he’s attached to a bag full of formula/liquid and a small pump, either in a bag or on an IV pole. Our insurance gave us a backpack sized for adults – which was great when he was little and we were the ones hauling it around! When D first started crawling, it was super annoying chasing him around with the big backpack, and we were always worried K or someone would mess with or trip on the feeding tube wire. I decided to make him his own little backpack (which he’s been using for a few months), and recently got around to making a spare. I am not a great seamstress, but it’s a pretty straightforward process!
The features that are important to me are: A close fitting backpack, a way to secure the feeding bag (I prefer velcro, but tried a carabiner clip in the 1st one), a hole with a grommet on the side to run the wire out of while keeping the backpack zipped closed, and a clip on the back so I can hang it upright in the car. I don’t secure the pump down (although you could stitch some elastic or more velcro), and don’t have an opening on the front of the bag to access the pump — I just open it from the top. I try to minimize possible openings, since I think it would be more tempting for K (or other kids) to mess with!
D doesn’t mind wearing the backpack, although we first started with it empty and slowly filling it up with socks until he got used to the weight before adding the pump and bag. He rolls around with it and generally totally ignores it! This design would work for IV backpacks too, although I always found that those pumps were heavier.
You’ll need:
- A backpack that fits your child, ideally with a chest strap (I like the Skip Hop Zoo Leash Backpack)
- A sewing machine
- Sewable velcro
- A durable strap or other material (I used the leash)
- Large grommet (get the kind that you don’t need a tool for!)
- Scissors
- Marker
- Small carabiner clip (I used the one on the leash)
Okay, let’s get started!
- Turn the backpack inside out
- Decide where you want to put the hole – for the 1st one, I put it on the side with the mesh pocket, but that was really hard to maneuver and was annoying to string it around, so for this one I chose the empty side (which is also on the side of his body the feeding tube is). Either way I can put the end cap of the wire in the pocket when he’s hooked up, which is convenient.
- Trace the grommet pattern (included in the grommet kit) with a marker
- Cut out the hole – no turning back now!
- Turn the backpack rightside out (K says outside out, which I think is cute!)
- Place the grommet ends over the holes on each side
- Awkwardly press it against a table with your hand until it snaps/clicks closed – if your aim is off, you can pry it back apart with a screwdriver, replace it and try again. It took me a few tries the 1st time, but it was no problem the 2nd time.
- Ok great, the hole is done! Now let’s work on securing the feeding bag.
- Using the leash (or whatever strap/material you have), figure out how long it needs to be to secure the bag – mine is about 8″
- Cut off the appropriate length, fold over and stitch the ends to prevent fraying
- Cut about 2″ pieces of velcro and place on opposite ends (and sides!) of the strap
- Confirm this holds the bag the way you want it to
- Stitch the velcro on the strap, all the way around
- Place & pin the strap as close to the top of the backpack as you can (you want to be higher than the back straps – for the Skip Hop, just go above the name tag)
- Stitch the strap on the bag securely (I boxed it around, about the length of the nametag)
This is a super awkward step – don’t give up!
- Now for the carabiner clip – you could just keep one clipped on the back handle, but I decided to sew this one on to the back instead.
- Same process for the strap – fold over and stitch to prevent fraying, you just need a short length (less than 2″)
- Secure to the bag (I boxed it in again – please excuse my terrible stitch lines, I am no expert but I get the job done! )
Ta da! Marvel at your handiwork. Get your child to try it on and model it for you.
eggplant / 11716 posts
Very inventive mama! Also, I love seeing pictures of your kiddos. They are just the cutest!!!
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
so clever and it looks so cute on him!
pomelo / 5628 posts
I was going to say Blue Steel : ). Awesome job! A cheery Skip Hop backpack makes everything a little sweeter.
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
Love this! Cute, smart, awesome.
clementine / 957 posts
This is great! Your babes are so adorable!!!
clementine / 750 posts
Great idea.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
Great job!! He’s just the cutest thing, and looks extra adorable in the backpack!!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
This looks so cute and SO professionally done!!! You should sell these
blogger / clementine / 998 posts
that is simply amazing.. the grommets make it happen!!
guest
THANK YOU! No really! I have two backpacks I purchased and have been looking at hoping they would make themselves work for what I need and it wasn’t happening. I didn’t know there were grommets that you didn’t have to have a tool for. I have been enlightened! He is ADORABLE! (Found your blog on Max’s link up!) Thanks again!
guest
A cute backpack can hide the “medical” look!
guest
Are these backpacks big enough to put both a Joey and a CADD pump in the same bag together? Kiddo gets continuous gtube feeds and IV fluids through a PICC at the same time. And my kiddo is 1, so I don’t think he’ll be wearing it just yet. I just need something easier than carrying two backpacks and the diaper bag around!
Thank you!
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@Aleksa: the leash backpack is definitely too small, but the regular skip hop toddler backpack would be plenty big! No chest strap though, so you may want to add that. We’ve been there done that lugging around IV and g tube pumps, I feel you!
guest
Thank you so much for this! I’m waiting to be discharged from the hospital w my 8.5 month old and her brand new NG tube. We aren’t sure how long she will have it, but I’m trying to figure out the logistics of getting all her feeds in and ever leaving the house. This seems like a perfect solution. I know she won’t wear it yet, but it would be easy to bring with us. Is there anything you’d do differently with the backpack for an NG tube than for the G tube? Thanks again!
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@Amy good luck with your little girl! At first you may need to wear the backpack, and then she can wear it when she’s crawling. For NG I would just think about how you would string the tubing, do you want it to go over her shoulder and behind her back, or down her shirt and out of her waistband, etc. You’ll have it all sorted out before you know it
guest
Would this for a Joey pump and a 500mo bag?
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@michele yes definitely!
guest
I followed this the other day to modify the monkey Skip Hop leash backpack for my little guy. It went well and his adorable new backpack is working great. We use a Mommy Hook to hang the backpack from wherever, so I actually chose to sew the little leash clip on the side to roll up slack tubing into. It’s great! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@kallie awesome, go you!
guest
Can I order one of these backpacks from you??
guest
I have looked at your wonderful tutorial and almost have it memorized! Do you yhink there would be a way to make a front flap on the dog skip hop leash bag (without ruining the whole thing!)?
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
@Kim – I’m not sure on the dog backpack, but I recently upgraded D to this one which has a front zipper component – it would be easier to just remove the backing from the front part so you could zipper and access the inside, if that makes sense… https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CE0HPUQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck, so glad this was useful!
@Kalynn – so sorry, my craftmanship is too awful to sell but there are many options on etsy!
apple seed / 1 posts
@Mrs. Tiger: Hi! Love the post! I’m working on redesigning an enteral pump and ambulatory carrying system for children and I was if you’d like to talk? my email is cmzachrich@gmail.com
guest
Thank you for the tutorial, my granddaughter is 1 and she is in need of a new backpack as she has gone from an ng tube to a G-tube. I will be making her a new backpack for Christmas. Thank you again
guest
Where did you get the backpack?
guest
I’m making one tonight for the boy I nanny. This is AMAZING!Thank you for sharing!
guest
Hello!
Given our need for many of these adapted bags and our former vendor not responding, we are considering making the adaptations ourselves. Where did you find the rubber grommets?? Thank you,