Hello all! Anyone out there who has a child with a very strong gag reflex? “Orally oversensitive” is what I think it’s called. I would love any tips on how to manage solid foods when the gag is just so pronounced…
I started her on solids at 7 months once she had begun to sit. The first few weeks she wouldn’t put anything in her mouth. Just the sight or touch of food would make her grimace. Even a bit of yoghurt on her lip or the smell of an orange could make her gag… I wasn’t surprised because I noticed early on that her gag reflex was sensitive (for example, being congested can make her gag or throw up). It’s possible she has the slightest of tongue ties.
Now at 8 months, thankfully, she is trying some foods. It tends to work better if she sits on my lap rather than in the high chair. I wanted to do a combo of purées and finger foods like I did with DS1, but every finger food I’ve given her has made her throw up! DS1 gagged loads the first month or so but he never once threw up.
My instinct is to take a step back and go really slowly, focusing just on smooth purées and itty bitty things like rice or tiny bits of meat or egg, and then gradually make it more lumpy before reintroducing finger foods once she’s made some progress. I also use a little silicone mesh feeder so she can taste different things. But I spoke to a (very unhelpful) HV who said I should just continue as I’m doing now, not withholding finger foods and just letting her throw up… it’s so unpleasant for me, and often for her, though. I feel like food won’t be a very positive thing for her if she throws up every time she eats! The first finger food she had made her throw up three times in a row 🥲