Which of the following statements about cyclic feeding is true?

• A. Cyclic feeding is used to prevent nutritional adequacy
• B. Cyclic feeding is used to give the patient a few hours without tubing, aiding daytime oral intake
• C. Cyclic feeding must be continuous for 24 hours
• D. Cyclic feeding is only for pediatric patients

Answer: (B)

Cyclic feeding means delivering nutrition over a defined period with planned breaks, so there are hours when the tube is not delivering formula. This setup is often used to allow daytime oral intake and activities, usually by running the feedings over several hours (often overnight) to free time during the day.

This approach is not about preventing nutritional adequacy; it’s about providing the same nutrition in a shorter daily window while enhancing flexibility. It’s also not restricted to a full 24 hours of continuous feeding—cyclic feeding is, by design, non-continuous. And it’s used in adults as well as children, not limited to pediatric patients.