Talk to me about gagging

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

DS2 is almost 7mo and been weaning for about 3/4 weeks. Mostly doing self feeding but sticking to mashed food (what we/DS1 is eating) directly on tray/pre loaded spoon mostly. Some finger foods - broccoli florets, porridge fingers, eggy bread strips, soft avocado and banana.

He's very interested and flaps excitedly at sight of any food and puts anything he can into his mouth. DS1 didn't really eat til he was 8/10 mo so it's great fun to see DS2 so enthusiastic.

But.

We've had two massive gagging fits this last week. First was small piece of ripe avocado. He gagged/heaved went bright red, eyes bulging, until a torrent of vomit (mostly earlier milk feed) poured out of his mouth and nose, 2 or three times. Carried on for what felt like minutes, prob only seconds, with much heaving and spluttering and gagging. I thumped his back as I was sure he was going to die and once it passed he was very shocked and upset.

Same happened today on small piece of very VERY over cooked broccoli stem.

I know that gagging is natural and prompts chewing. I know that as long as he's coughing/snorting occasionally means he's getting air. And I know vomiting means his airway clearly not blocked.

But is it normal for it to be so extreme?! Am sure thumping him didn't help his shock but he looked distressed so I couldn't not intervene. What should I be doing?

Other times he gags a little and i make exaggerated chewing motions/noises while he loves. Somehow don't think that would work when he's purple and vomiting

So what's normal? Has he escaped death twice?? Am giving soft foods, nothing that I think he can actually choke on. Am close to abandoning all finger foods and giving him only purées... What are other people's experience with this extreme gagging?

[MrsL2012]

Sorry no advice but my 8 month old doing very similar. He's vomiting on anything that isn't puréed! Even mashed food he turns his nose up at. No idea what to do!

[dickiedoodah]

Following!

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

So been looking at gagging videos on you tube and DS2 is like 1000 times worse!! Today he gagged, went purple and almost vomited on a bit of mashed banana...
I remembered the other day that he used to gag so forcefully on my very strong milk let down that once or twice I thought he must have swallowed his tongue!!! Beginning to think he has a very strong gag reflux (and is a total drama queen like DP...)

[HeadDreamer]

Have you talk to your HV?

[squizita]

Mine has done this twice. In her case it taught her YOU CANNOT EAT A WHOLE OATY BISCUIT IN ONE GO. Also taught me not to feed her an oaty biscuit when she's sat on a hand wash only blanket. Prune and squash vom ain't nice.

I don't think it's dangerous, if anything the power will protect more from choking.

[jessplussomeonenew]

I have heard one of the risks of doing a mix of puree and finger food early on is that the baby learns to swallow puree and then tries to do the same for solid food. (Doing self-feeding exclusive generally means that they don't learn to swallow until they can chew.) I wonder if this is what's happening. If you want to continue finger foods I'd drop the purees or vice versa.

[SignoraStronza]

Rather than give small pieces that they could fit into the mouth in one go, I find it easier to hand them a large piece of something to nibble on. So, with avocado I occasionally give a big slice of it, but usually mash up and spread on toast. Avocado is particularly slippery and difficult to get a grip on with the gums!