What Is Gelmix?

Gelmix is marketed as a “healthy thickener”, primarily because it’s USDA Organic and free from common allergens like gluten, corn, lactose, casein, and soy. It was originally formulated to thicken breast milk, infant formula, and other liquids, making it especially helpful for pediatric populations.

The three ingredients in Gelmix are:

• Organic Carob Bean Gum – known for its gelling and thickening properties
• Organic Tapioca Maltodextrin
• Calcium Carbonate

Gelmix is activated in warm liquids, so the liquid must be warmed (between 100–120°F) prior to mixing.

Who Can Use Gelmix?

Gelmix is intended for:

• Term infants and children under age 3 – can be thickened to light honey consistency
• Children over 3 and adults – can be thickened up to spoon-thick

⚠️ Contraindications:
Gelmix should not be used for:

• Infants under a gestational age of 42 weeks or under 6 pounds
• Anyone with suspected galactomannan allergy

How Much Does It Cost?

You can purchase Gelmix in:

• An 8.8 oz jar (250 g) – thickens up to 624 oz of liquid – $29.99
• Single-serve stick packs – 5 sticks per box – $5.99
  (Each stick thickens 4 oz of liquid to nectar consistency)

Gelmix Mixing Instructions

1. Warm liquid between 100–120°F for best results
2. Sprinkle in Gelmix according to the dosage guidelines
3. Mix well until fully dissolved
4. Wait 5 minutes for thickening and to cool to a safe temperature
5. Stir again before serving

Dosage Guidelines

Infants & Children Under 3

• Half Nectar: 1 scoop per 3–4 oz of liquid
• Nectar-Thick: 1 scoop per 2 oz of liquid
  

  ✅ Tip: Start with the lowest concentration, especially for infants 6–12 lbs, to avoid gassiness.

Children Over 3 & Adults

• Nectar-Thick: 2 scoops per 4 oz
• Honey-Thick: 3–4 scoops per 4 oz
• Spoon-Thick: 4–5 scoops per 4 oz

👉 Note: Gelmix may gradually thicken over time, so reassess consistency before serving.

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My #ThickenedLiquidChallenge Experience

Last night, I figured—why not give Gelmix a try AND combine it with the #ThickenedLiquidChallenge?

I heated up both water and milk, then followed the honey-thick guidelines for Gelmix.

My Results:

• Water:
  Using a spoon left me with clumps, so I switched to a whisk (highly recommend!). The water had a slight discoloration—pretty common with thickened water—but the flavor didn’t change.
• Milk:
  The milk turned into a pudding-thick consistency and held up well—no color change and no added flavor.

But let’s be honest—I am not a honey-thick person. I failed miserably at the #ThickenedLiquidChallenge and made my donation to the National Foundation of Swallowing Disorders (NFOSD). 😅

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Final Thoughts on Gelmix

If you’re looking for a more natural, organic thickener—and have access to warm liquids—Gelmix is definitely worth a try. It’s especially promising for infants and toddlers with dysphagia.

Have you tried Gelmix in your practice, particularly with your littlest patients? I’d love to hear how it worked for you!

👉 Did you enjoy this post?

You might also be interested in reading: The Cost of Thickened Liquids 

Not sure about how thickened liquid levels?   You can read more about IDDSI.

Are you ready for a deeper dive with even more resources available? Join the Dysphagia Skills Accelerator today. You will get so many great tools with new tools being added all the time! Click here to join now!

Have you ever wanted a way to create a more standardized protocol for your Clinical Swallow Evaluation?   Do you often forget or leave out parts of the CSE, you know, the parts that are important for your Plan of Care?  You probably need the Clinical Dysphagia Assessment Toolkit if you answered yes.   You can get your copy here.