CHOKING ON FINGER FOODS!

[Schmauskin]

My 9mth dd is a very good eater, but she chokes on just about every finger food I offer. I have tried well cooked cauliflower, carrot, rice cakes, rusks, cucumber and we always have a 'near-death' choking experience often followed by gagging and vomiting. She recovers quickly, and these episodes have not effected her keeness to try. She is absoulutely fine with slightly lumpy meals so long as they are moistened with milk/liquid and she CAN chew(only 2 bottom teeth though) Basically i'm too scared to offer any of the above but concerned as I have read this may stunt her chewing and therefore talking development. Any suggestions, as she's beginning to get bored with mummy feeding her purees...we have had success with avocados, and grated cheese. I just don't want to risk it if i don't have to.

[Twiglett]

What do you mean by choking

do you mean it gets caught, she coughs and then it comes out - that's fairly normal to begin with

offer small amounts at a time - like one carrot stick

if she coughs, ignore it (if you can steel yourself to)

choking is when they can't breathe through the food and very rarely happens

Have you done a first aid course, would you know what to do if she did choke?

TBH with my first child I was petrified of choking and hovered all the time, didn't let him try finger foods till much later than my peers. With my second I'm much more relaxed because I would know what to do if she did choke and the coughing doesn't bother me as much

[hunkermunker]

If she's clearing the problem (ie gagging, then vomiting), then IMO she's not in any danger of actually choking, but obviously make sure she's sitting completely upright when she eats and don't leave her unattended. It can be scary - I would suggest don't give her 'crumbly' finger foods (crispy breadsticks, etc).

When you say 'near-death choking' do you mean that you have to turn her upside down to dislodge the offending piece of food?

[Twiglett]

Hello Sneaky great minds eh?

[Schmauskin]

God no twiglett, we're talking can't breath, can't cough, just gasping turning bright red, eyes watering, look of terror on her face, then gagging and finally vomiting. during this i pat her on the back and reassure her, but if it goes on too long I whip her out of the highchair and do the whole emergency back slapping procedure. It is VERY scary, and last week she did it at each meal...

[Twiglett]

Then personally I would check with the doctor just to rule out any problem

But I wouldn't panic you she may just be slow to get to grips with it

Personally I would start to offer her roughly mashed food for a week or so (no more finger food), then offer her a rice cake to hold (when she's not in a highchair) - move up to lumpy spoon food (ie with peas, corn in it) just take it slowly

[Schmauskin]

During all of it I DO remain very calm (dh FREAKS when it happens) I have tried soft carrot sticks and they were one of the worst offenders, and yes hunkermunker, all those breadstick, rice cakes things are terrible - I have trouble eating them myself. (p.s I never leave her unattended whilst eating and she is always sat upright in her highchair)

[Twiglett]

I think you're wrong about rice cakes - they turn to mush with saliva and are one of the easier foods to get to grips with

[Schmauskin]

any other 'soft' finger food ideas, please, x

[WideWebWitch]

I've had a choker too although she seems to be getting better. Grated cheese is good as the bits are so small and you could try avocado, soft pear, soft bread, strawberries, bananas. I find all of these less scary. My dd is getting much better but was similar at 9mos. Remember to cut grapes up VERY small, I quarter them now.

[Schmauskin]

thanx www. Sorry to be dim, but I am sooo nervous about this bloddy choking thing - do you cut up the strawbs? and the banana, into discs or batons?? Oh and thanx again for your posts on the other thread...

[Schmauskin]

Grapes - didn't think of those - peeled? ( i'm being serious)

[Twiglett]

I used to peel grapes for DS

just cut them in half for DD

[WideWebWitch]

If you're really nervous then peel the grapes, although I don't now (dd is 16mos). I give her banana in quite big pieces to hold and she mashes it in her gums/teeth. Ditto strawbs, I give them whole since they're so soft, or sometimes cut them in half if they're massive ones. Stawbs and bananas are SO soft it's unlikely she'll choke. your dd will get the hang of it eventually but it is heartstopping in the meantime, I know.
(you're welcome re other thread )

[Schmauskin]

ta twiglett - hope i don't come across as too daft!

[Twiglett]

no mother is ever daft

do a search on my name and some of the questions I've asked

it floors you this motherhood lark, every other day it just completely floors you

[Schmauskin]

It really does x

[handlemecarefully]

Well I was going to offer you some advice S, but then I remembered that I might be told to get off your back!

[WideWebWitch]

Oh ffs HMC, that was completely uncalled for.

[handlemecarefully]

of ffs www - was I talking to you?

[WideWebWitch]

Well no, but it doesn't mean I can't reply!

[Prufrock]

Blueberries - ds loves them. As he is good at finger foods I don't bother cutting them , but you might want to to start off.

[LIZS]

Had problems with lumps and finger foods with dd, who had reflux, at around 8/9 months. The paeditraican looked at me as if I was mad when I asked should I persist or wait. 2 months later she just helped herself off my pudding and was fine. She did have the odd episode afterwards too but it hasn't affected her eating long term so think you could afford to wait longer.