G-tube pads are small, circular fabric pads that wrap around a gastrostomy tube site to absorb drainage and protect the surrounding skin. Making them at home is straightforward, requires basic sewing skills, and lets you customize size, fabric, and color. Most pads use a three-layer design: a soft outer fabric, an absorbent core, and a backing layer, all stitched together with a slit so the pad can slip around the tube.
Why G-Tube Pads Matter
The skin around a stoma site is constantly exposed to moisture from gastric fluid and formula leakage. That moisture, especially stomach acid, causes irritation and skin breakdown over time. A pad acts as a barrier, wicking fluid away from the skin and keeping the area drier between cleanings.
Excess moisture also contributes to hypergranulation tissue, a type of overgrown scar tissue that forms in response to chronic irritation at the wound site. Hypergranulation tissue can bleed, make the stoma leak more, and become painful. Keeping the site dry with an absorbent pad is one of the simplest ways to reduce that risk. Many families also find that colorful fabric pads look less clinical than white medical gauze, which can make a real difference for kids who feel self-conscious about their tube.
Materials You’ll Need
A good g-tube pad has three layers, each with a specific job:
- Top layer (against clothing): 100% cotton flannel works well. It’s soft, breathable, and comes in countless prints and colors. Two circles of flannel form the outer faces of each pad.
- Middle layer (absorbent core): Terry cloth, cotton fleece, hemp, or bamboo fabric all work. For heavier drainage, a specialty absorbent fabric like Zorb locks in moisture quickly and holds significantly more liquid than standard cotton. One circle per pad is usually enough, though you can double it for extra absorbency.
- Closure: Plastic KAM snaps or small pieces of hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro). Snaps are generally the better choice. Velcro can irritate sensitive skin, catch on fine hair, and lose its grip after many washes. Snaps stay secure, feel smoother against the body, and hold up longer.
You’ll also need sharp fabric scissors, pins, a sewing machine (or a needle for hand stitching), and a snap press if you’re using KAM snaps.
A Note on Fabric Safety
Fabric choice matters more than you might expect. Lint and loose fibers near an open stoma site can introduce bacteria. Research on lint contamination in wounds has found that a single cotton thread in a wound reduces the number of bacteria needed to cause infection by a factor of roughly one million. That doesn’t mean cotton is off-limits, but it does mean you should prewash all fabric before cutting to remove loose fibers, avoid fabrics that shed heavily (like raw-edged gauze or loosely woven material), and finish all edges with stitching so threads don’t fray into the site.
Cutting Your Fabric
Standard g-tube pads range from about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. A 2.5-inch circle is a common starting point that works for most button-style tubes. For larger tubes or sites with heavier drainage, go up to 3 inches. You can trace a circle onto cardboard to make a reusable template.
For each pad, cut two circles of flannel and one circle of your absorbent core material, all the same size. If you’re dealing with significant leakage, cut two core circles instead of one for extra absorption.
Step-by-Step Assembly
Lay one flannel circle right side up. Place the absorbent circle on top. Then place the second flannel circle on top of that, right side facing down. You should now have a stack of three layers with the “pretty” sides of both flannel pieces facing inward.
Cut a straight slit through all three layers, running from the center of the circle up to the edge, about 2 inches long. This slit is what allows the pad to open and wrap around the tube. The exact length depends on your pad size, but it should reach from roughly the center to the outer edge.
Pin the layers together so nothing shifts. Stitch around the entire perimeter of the circle, then stitch along both sides of the slit, leaving about a quarter-inch seam allowance. Here’s the important detail: clip small notches into the seam allowance at the inner corners where the slit meets the stitching. This prevents the fabric from bunching when you turn it right side out.
Reach through the slit and carefully turn the whole pad right side out. This can be fiddly, especially with smaller pads. Use a chopstick or the eraser end of a pencil to push the edges out smoothly. Press the pad flat with an iron.
Now topstitch around the outside edge and along the slit to close everything up neatly. A zigzag stitch around the perimeter gives a smoother, more finished look and helps prevent fraying over time. Finally, attach your snaps or Velcro to the two flaps created by the slit, so the pad can close securely around the tube.
Getting the Fit Right
The pad should sit flat against the skin with the tube poking through the slit. It shouldn’t be so tight that it presses on the stoma or so loose that it shifts around. When the pad is closed with its snap, the opening should fit snugly around the tube without pulling.
If you find the pad bunching or riding up, try going slightly larger on the diameter. If it’s too floppy and doesn’t stay in place under clothing, size down. Making a few test pads in different sizes before committing to a full batch saves time.
How Many Pads to Make
Medical guidelines recommend keeping a pad around the tube site at all times and changing it daily or whenever it becomes damp or soiled. In practice, many families go through two to four pads a day, and more during periods of heavy drainage. A working supply of 10 to 14 pads gives you enough to rotate through while a batch is in the wash.
Washing and Care
Prewash all fabric before you sew to shrink it and remove loose lint. Once the pads are in use, wash them in warm or hot water with a gentle, fragrance-free detergent. Fragrances and dyes in detergent can irritate the stoma site. Dry on medium or high heat to help sanitize. Inspect pads regularly for fraying seams, thinning fabric, or snaps that have loosened. A pad that’s shedding fibers or falling apart should be retired immediately.
Some families keep a small wet bag or sealed container nearby for used pads throughout the day, then wash the whole batch together. This keeps things sanitary and makes laundry simpler.
Customization Ideas
One of the real advantages of making your own pads is the ability to customize. For children, fun prints and bright colors can turn something medical into something personal. Some families coordinate pads with outfits or holidays. For adults who prefer discretion, pads can be made in skin-tone fabrics that blend under clothing.
You can also adjust the absorbent core based on your needs. A single layer of cotton fleece works fine for a well-healed site with minimal drainage. A double layer of Zorb or hemp is better for sites that leak frequently. As the stoma matures and drainage patterns change, you can make new batches with different core thicknesses rather than being locked into one design.