Overcoming problems with textures

[laughingeyes2013]

My 3 year old has always gagged when trying to eat food with lumps as well as smooth texture, for example, yogurt with fruity lumps in it.

Even if I explain it has fruit in it, he takes a spoonful and can't seem to find it until he is choking.

I've always assumed he will just grow out of it when he's ready, but a friend told me that she knows of a 16 year old who still gags on mixed textures like yogurt! The suggestion was to get it dealt with now to save having problems with textured food the rest of his life.

So I was wondering how I could help him overcome it and whether anyone had any experience of this?

My ds 2.4 is the same. He's always been like it, couldn't BLW as he'd gag on everything. He seems to have issues with dry food. Will only eat things like casseroles, stew, soup, cottage pie, fish pie. Anything that's sloppy basically. Wouldn't dream of eating a chicken nugget or a chip or anything like that. Has only recently started eating cake and bread!!
I've worried myself to death over it and been back and forth to the hv / gp but they are totally unconcerned as he does seem to be progressing slowly. He gags very rarely now but I suspect that's because he just point blank refuse the textures he can't eat. They examined him, could find nothing wrong and have put it down the strong preference and sensitive gag. Personally Im still not convinced. I've watched him trying to eat dry food and he struggles. He def can't manage what others his age can.
I've tried very hard not to make an issue of it though as I was texture sensitive and still am to a degree. I couldn't stand bits In food and still gag now on some yoghurts so can remember that's it's really not a nice experience and let him have what he can manage.
As I said earlier, it is improving slowly. He has developed a like for sausages which I never thought I'd see the day, so I'm hoping he grows out of it. Would love to hear of anyone else's experiences or tips though!

Nothing to offer really but I'm interested to hear what possibilities there are to help deal with this as my DS (3) is exactly the same. In my DSs case he will vomit if he eats certain textures (even 'nice' things like ice-cream if has has bits of cookie or lumps of strawberry in it).

Would be great to find some strategies to deal with this.

Gagging is a perfectly normal learning process at the weaning stage - it's how they learn to move food around their mouths with their tongues. It's important to note the difference between gagging and choking (choking is completely silent and desperate with clawing at the throat or arms outstretched - look on YouTube for videos of how to deal with it). Gagging is just something that needs to be got through without fuss - otherwise it can become a psychosomatic issue. Though it may also be worth getting checked for tongue-tie - I believe an undiagnosed posterior tie can prevent them learning to move food around their mouths properly.

It's way beyond the weaning process because he's almost 4 years old! I've googled 'sensitive gagging reflex' and although there seems to be plenty about the subject, there isn't much about any remedy for it. Maybe I need to call the health visitor.

Just come on to suggest tongue tie too.

I've wondered about tongue tie but my ds bf without any issues and still does.
Is there anyway of telling just be looking?