Paranoid about choking!!!

[mimimilk]

Hi
Any advice or reassurance very welcome!
I have a 13 month old DS. I have read up on all the advice about what are suitable foods etc and he is great in that he will eat just about anything. However, I am sooooo paranoid about him choking! I cannot bring myself to give him anything which might break off into a hard piece so he is stuck with having soft and semi soft foods, and harder foods which mush down easily. He only has four teeth at present.The books seem to say give them strips of fruit, raw veg etc at this age but I cannot entertain this.

The worst thing is he goes to nursery a few days a week and I know he has all sorts there, they seem to give him much more advanced things than I do.The other day he was having lots of finger food such as raw carrot, peppers, apples etc I could hardly bring myself to look (I am sure the nursery is not at fault as they seemed to be prepared into strips etc as the books suggest its just my paranoia!) I am now worried sick every time he goes to nursery!

Can someone tell me if they have the same problem/worry, should I be aiming more for what the nursery is giving him. I know the guidelines on what to do witha choking baby but that doesnt reassure me!!

I have had/still have exac5tly the same worries and concerns as you. I have a ds who is 15 months old and has 8 teeth at the front and two top back ones coming through. I happily give him squares of toast and biscuits etc and he munches his way through them quite easily but when it comes to giving him casserole or shepherds pie etc I am paranoid and still spend hours chopping stuff into teeny tiny pieces. It is a slightly irrational fear based on what I know he eats but we're mum's and we are born to worry. I am trying to wean myself off giving him such tiny cooked veg in his meals as I know he can eat things perfectly well. So now I am trying to increase the size of the veggies I give him, although I like to make sure they are soft. I do a mash test and if it is soft enough to mash then he will be fine eating it. And to be honest he has got such a strong bite on him ( I know from trying to apply teething gel) that I am sure he could quite easily eat harder foods but I am taking this one step at a time - bigger chunks first and then slighter harder food. He'll eat a lump of cheese so I really don't know why I worry so much about cooked carrots. Sorry for the long post but just wanted to let you know that i know how you feel and it's good to change things gradually so that you get used to it!

It's completely understandable that you worry! There really is no need though. Don't forget - it's not all about teeth - their gums are extremely tough and my DD was knawing her way through a big lump of chicken at 7 months. I would be sensible about smooth round things like cheery tomatoes and grapes and cut those in half first but other than that - your LO is well able for 'normal' food. If you are geuninely worried and can't get over it - you could do a Nigella and take him to A&E and give him a picnic lunch including hard things like a chunk of raw apple etc in the waiting room. Then, if anything happens you will be reassured that you're in the right place!!

For what it's worth - they're actually better equipped to handle food if it's in big pieces that they can pick up and then bite a mouthful of their chosen size!

Just try and bite the bullet and see what happens. You will be nervous as anything until you realise that he is persitently ok with what you give him.

Yes, just wanted to add that teeth aren't an issue. You are right to be concerned, as it's sensible to be alert to this, and to know what to do if they do choke, but generally they are well and truly ready at the stage you're at. You would be astounded what they can manage at 6-7 months if let loose, with no teeth at all! Good luck.

Thanks for the responses. I am generally rather an 'anxious' mum (my nerves don't have edges to GET frayed these days lol!!) and the choking thing has really been worrying me. Have been reassured that no one has yet been horrified by the nursery food, too!!

Minimilk - there are lots of photos (including my lovely daughter) of babies eating all sorts of stuff here - I hope it will reassure you, and theres lots of interesting stuff on choking and gagging. THe website is for parents who've chosen to wean on finger food, so a lot of them will seem a bit younger than your son, but you may find it interesting/reassuring.

I was/am exactly the same (DS is now 15 months) we had a rather scary incident with a bit of banana when ds was 9 months old. But other than that he has had no problems. I am pretty sure he's had it at nursery but i only brought myself to give him apple this week He happily eats most things, including the odd chicken nugget - double

i am more relaxed nowadays - which is quite a lot to do with the advice given to me by lulu (when ds was younger)

Hope everything works out - and if yourlo is anything like my ds he will be thoroughly enjoying the food he is getting at nursery!