gagging

[bitzermaloney]

ds (just over 6 months) has been blw'd the past couple of weeks and has a strange habit of pushing food to the back of his mouth with his finger which results in the most horrible gagging. He gags a bit even without the finger, so why he's doing this to himself I don't know!

Does anyone else's lo do this? And can anyone reassure me about all the gagging? It's making me increasingly nervous about choking. I have read the gagging bit in Aitch's blog, and I have read the infant resus section of my first aid book, but I can't seem to stop tensing myself ready to do the emergency back-slapping, and it's not making for a relaxing atmosphere!

[WigWamBam]

Gagging is OK - it's a completely different thing to choking. Gagging happens a lot at this age because they're getting used to the sensation of food at the back of their throats.

He's probably doing it because he's testing out what this new sensation is.

Don't worry, it's pretty normal!

[finecheese]

Hello, my little DS does the finger pushing thing too although recently he's got a bit better at not doing it. Sounds like it is pretty normal - they must just be hungry little boys who are loving their food!

The only time he has actually choked is when I gave him food that I hadn't pureed enough (rubbish mum!). I had to quickly turn him upside down - poor lamb. And my SIL was there to witness it all. I felt terrible.....

[terramum]

My DS gagged loads at first as well. Perfectly normal. Gagging is a natural reflex designed to prevent choking remember so its a good thing! Eventually he will get better at moving food around his mouth so it doesnt hit his gag spot.

[AitchTwoOh]

my dd actually made herself gag with her finger alone a few times, the little idiot. she must've been trying to work out how it worked, i guess.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Gagging is a reflex, and I think it has to adjust to food. My DS2 did BLW, and he gagged quite badly a few times. But he never choked.

[AitchTwoOh]

NQC's right, evidently it moves further back with age. it's another safety mechanism, i suppose.

[NotQuiteCockney]

It is. It's very much an extinguishable thing, in adults as well. Or so I've heard.

[AitchTwoOh]

begone with you... we talk only of ickle babies here.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh :-P. It was relevant. The gag reflex is extinguishable.

It can also get worse in adults, I think. DH had a gran who would gag when she ate anything solid. Other than pringles.

[AdelaideS]

I always, always gag when I have to pick up a slug. (They get in my house).

[NotQuiteCockney]

AdelaideS, I strongly recommend that you stop picking slugs up with your mouth. Or if you must, try holding onto them with your lips, so they can't slither down the back of your throat and make you gag.

Hope this helps.

[AitchTwoOh]

see? that's why we need a Dr Sex around here...

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'd hope that all the other non-Dr-Sex MNers around here could tell AdelaideS not to pick slugs up with her mouth? I'd hate to think of a 'Should I Pick Slugs Up With My Mouth?' thread sitting around unanswered because everyone was waiting for my magical expertise.

[AdelaideS]

NQC, I did actually gag reading that....a bit

[AitchTwoOh]

i think your professionalism came across loud and clear, my response was more along the lines of 'ugh, ick, eeeuuwww.' not as helpful, i don't think.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I gagged a bit writing it, tbh, so I'm glad the experience was shared.

[AdelaideS]

bitzer...I'll try and be a bit helpful. Ds2, 7 months, gags on all the new lumpy stuff I'm giving him and I'm pleased to say I'm remaining fairly relaxed. He had the most spectacular gagging session in a cafe on thurs, went really red, mouth went into a sort of tube shape and he dribbled gallons. Toast stuck on the roof of his mouth (he's a bit young for slugs yet). It was really embarrassing, I tried to sort of hide him under the table until it was over.

[AdelaideS]

NQC, still gagging and giggling in between....dh mildly curious.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I have to go sleep! But I assume your DH is interested in the gag reflex exctinction thing?

Essentially, the gag reflex goes away as you get used to a situation. So, as babies get used to solids in the back of their throat, they stop gagging from them. The same principle applies to anything else in the back of anyone's throat.

Of course, you need to have control over whatever's in the back of your throat (hence blw being good, as babies move the food to the back of their mouth themselves, rather than sucking it back after mistaking it for puree).

[NotQuiteCockney]

Oh, no, you meant he was curious as to why you were gagging and giggling. Duh. Never mind, information still reasonably appropriate and reasonable.

[bitzermaloney]

Thanks all

pmsl at AdelaideS hiding her ds under the table during a gagging fit. Does make me feel better to hear how it all works and to hear it's normal. Will practise relaxing...

[LOWEN]

my son is 7 1/2 months old, and has been enjoying solid food since he was four months old. On the advice of my health visitor I have just stated to introduce food with a more lumpy texture to them, I was very shocked and surprised to find that he no longer seemed to want his solid food anymore and just spat it straight back out at me or worse seemed to gag then choke, I am becoming very concerned about this pattern of behaviour as it is so unlike my son, who has always seemed to enjoy his food before, I am now getting to the stage where in order to make sure that he is eating I am thinking about going back to foods with a soft texture to them as I know he will eat them, I would appreciate any advise from anyone who has been through the same thing, as I am really starting to worry

[AdelaideS]

Please don't worry Lowen, ds1,7, was a right drama queen when he first had lumps and now he eats fine. So I'm just going with the flow with ds2 (see below ). How about just doing the lumpy food for one meal a day, and smooth stuff the rest of the time till he gets used to it?