confident chewer?

[sparker22]

how do you actually know if your baby is a confident chewer?
my baby is a week away from 7 months and has gummed toast quite happily over last few days. she has got two teeth that have just appeared too...

I ask, because in my baby cookbook I got from the library, some of the recipes state 'only if your baby is a confident chewer' ( the book is 'baby healthy eating planner' by Amanda grant if that helps any?)

thanks

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have no idea what that means sorry. I just offered everything from 6 months, well apart from the obvious like honey etc.

When was the book printed?

[ExBrightonBell]

I agree with JJJ that it is a strange phrase, and makes me wonder if the book is quite old?

I wouldn't worry about it and cook the recipe if you fancy it!

[Smartiepants79]

Not quite sure. Does she bite bits off? Can she manoeuvre pieces round her mouth and expel them if necessary? Can she cough up if it gets stuck?
I would give it a go and just watch her closely.

[sparker22]

the book is 2003 I think.

depending on what it is depends on her biting bits off I think, if its a rush she bits bits off, if its buttered toast she just gums it.

she can move it about her mouth, swallowing is fine mostly I think, she defiantly can push it out her mouth! Lol. but for coughing up food, I'm not sure, I thought she was going to choke on some toast yesterday but turned out to be fine (my heart wasn't though!!)

I'm very nervous about giving he'd food. I'd love to give her things like eggy bread, omelette, pasta but I'm terrified shell get into trouble and start choking

[sparker22]

I'd also like to give her muffins, fruity ones, veggie ones, cheesy ones....

[magicturnip]

I thnk you need to be confident about what to do if she does choke, as babies do. I am terrified of choking too and am a bit too quick to put him upside down and pat him on the back I think!

[ExBrightonBell]

At some point she'll have to start having a variety of finger foods. Things like muffins/pasta are good because they will disintegrate quite quickly into mush when gummed by baby. Gagging is quite common and is not a problem although it can seem quite alarming. It's actually a good thing as it means your baby is not choking. Choking is silent and v scary, but really not common at all.

The more she practices with real food the better she will get at eating it. My ds took from 6 months to about 8 months to get really good at eating - we did BLW from the start and he really enjoyed learning to eat. I've never had an instance of choking and he's now 14 months.

[sparker22]

might sound silly but I never realised choking was silent. I've been watching her facial expressions and looking out for choking noises.

think I'll be brave and try her with some pasta for lunch. do you cook pasta like normal or should I over cook it so its super soft and squidgy?

thanks [

[sparker22]

I am planning on doing a baby first aid course so help give me confidence and peace of mind

[ExBrightonBell]

I started off overcooking pasta until it was squidgy

[sparker22]

I'm thinking she is defiantly a confident chew since she scoffed half a Heinz biscotti with no trouble!! Lol