A feeding tube apparatus comprising a catheter, said catheter formed of a tube having an outer diameter of up to 4.0 millimeter (0.156 inch) comprising: a catheter proximal end, a catheter distal end opposite said catheter proximal end, a single catheter channel extending along a length of said catheter from said catheter proximal end to said catheter distal end, an inflatable balloon component positioned along an outer surface of said catheter proximate said catheter distal end, said inflatable balloon component being sized so as to contain from 1.0 milliliters (ml) to 5.0 ml of inflating fluid, one inflating channel extending along the length of said catheter and within a sidewall of said catheter, said inflating channel comprising an inflating channel inlet opening proximate said catheter proximal end and an inflating channel outlet opening along an outer surface of said catheter positioned underneath said inflatable balloon component, a coil reinforcing material extending along and forming an inner surface of said wall with individual coils of said coil reinforcing material extending substantially perpendicular to said length of said catheter, one or more side holes, wherein each side hole extends from said inner surface of said catheter along said catheter channel to an outer surface of said catheter and is positioned between said inflatable balloon component and a catheter distal end tip, one inflation tube attached to said catheter along the outer surface proximate said catheter proximal end, one pilot balloon positioned along and in fluid communication with said inflation tube, said pilot balloon being positioned so as to indicate whether said inflatable balloon component is inflated or deflated, and one valve that temporarily prevents inflating fluid from exiting said inflatable balloon component once inflated; and a removable stylet, comprising: a stylet proximal end, and a stylet distal end opposite said stylet proximal end, said stylet distal end being sized so as to be insertable within (i) a catheter opening at said catheter proximal end, and (ii) said catheter channel. a catheter proximal end, a catheter distal end opposite said catheter proximal end, a single catheter channel extending along a length of said catheter from said catheter proximal end to said catheter distal end, an inflatable balloon component positioned along an outer surface of said catheter proximate said catheter distal end, said inflatable balloon component being sized so as to contain from 1.0 milliliters (ml) to 5.0 ml of inflating fluid, one inflating channel extending along the length of said catheter and within a sidewall of said catheter, said inflating channel comprising an inflating channel inlet opening proximate said catheter proximal end and an inflating channel outlet opening along an outer surface of said catheter positioned underneath said inflatable balloon component, a coil reinforcing material extending along and forming an inner surface of said wall with individual coils of said coil reinforcing material extending substantially perpendicular to said length of said catheter, one or more side holes, wherein each side hole extends from said inner surface of said catheter along said catheter channel to an outer surface of said catheter and is positioned between said inflatable balloon component and a catheter distal end tip, one inflation tube attached to said catheter along the outer surface proximate said catheter proximal end, one pilot balloon positioned along and in fluid communication with said inflation tube, said pilot balloon being positioned so as to indicate whether said inflatable balloon component is inflated or deflated, and one valve that temporarily prevents inflating fluid from exiting said inflatable balloon component once inflated; and a stylet proximal end, and a stylet distal end opposite said stylet proximal end, said stylet distal end being sized so as to be insertable within (i) a catheter opening at said catheter proximal end, and (ii) said catheter channel.