Gagging and vomit...

[Sid77]

My 8 month old DS2 is very interested in putting food in his mouth and will try and eat everything. However, he seems to have a very sensitive gag reflex and when he gags to bring food to the front of his mouth, he is then sick. I'm not worried that he's choking but he just can't get the hang of either swallowing the bits or bringing them back with a gag and not being sick. This morning he had some rice cake and was loving it, but gagged back a piece, which was then followed by a big old sick. He's done the same with pear, peach and plum. He's often sick with a cough too, and a big burp has been known to produce sick. We're having at least one vomit a day - and it's not just a little sick, it's a full on change of clothes mop everything down jobby. Are you all going to tell me that he just needs to grow out of it and I should persevere??

[dodi1978]

We had the same problem a fre weeks ago, same age baby as well (DS is now 10 1/2 months).
Have you looked at how your bsby sits in the high chair? We used to have a high chair that was a) difficult to clean and b) meant that DS, even in the most upright position, was slight slumped back and simply not too engaged with eating.

We now changed high chair to a cheap and cheerful IKEA Antilop and it solved the problem immediately. Ds is engaged and sits completely upright
Also has a better firing range for food !

It might be worth a try!!! Good luck!

[Sid77]

Thanks dodi will give that a go!

[chickenfordinner]

Hi, not a lot helpful to say unfortunately but just thought I'd mention that my DD, also 8 months (7 corrected), is very similar. Was always a very sicky baby - huge amounts not just a little and now on solids she often gags and then does a BIG vomit - often milky even though is always more than an hour after milk feeds. She can do this whether having finger foods (which she enjoys chomping on but often gets thrown when a big bit comes off and doesn't know what to do) but actually is just as bad on smooth purées. I think she might be getting a little bit better though. She's just cut her first tooth too and very dribbly and sure the excess saliva doesn't help. I just think she has a very sensitive gag. Can be quite draining some days.... Will be watching with interest to see if anyone has any experience further down the line

Hope your DS grows out of it soon!

[chickenfordinner]

Ps we already have the ikea chair and DD sits well in it so don't think that's the answer for us unfortunately

[ch1134]

Exactly the same as my 5 and 1/2 m.o. HV actually told me to start weaning as he is so sicky and she thought it might help but he actually frightened me when he gagged and threw up so much milk after one teaspoon of baby rice. He is due to start with a childminder soon and doesn't take a bottle so I'm worried about how he will survive without me!