Paranoid with solids?

[Ilovemybaby91]

Does anyone else get severely anxious giving your baby solids?! I'm only giving her things that are age appropriate according to the packet & nhs but im so anxious the whole time that she's going to choke!! I feel like I might be hindering her independence whilst she's eat but if she so much as coughs when she's eating I have to take it away!

How old is she?

She's 7 months

You won't hinder her independence but you will start to make her nervous.
Give her bite melts and if its a cough cough sau "oh careful baby", check she is ok, give her a drink and carry on.
Celery is quite cool for getting used to harder food as it won't break off a such.
Baby biscotti is harder but will still dissolve.

Cough cough is fine. Colour change, lack of noise etc is not.

That's what a friend said to me yesterday, coughing is good... I'm just terrified of the no noise/colour change & what I would do & if I couldn't get it out. Generally I'm not a neurotic mother if she has a cough/cold etc but I've really worked myself up about this! I will try something like celery as you said hopefully she can't bite off a massive chunk like she does with cucumber I really don't want to make her nervous. Thank you for suggestions sleepingstandingup! X

I was like you. Really didn't enjoy beginning solids with dd at all. I mentioned it to the health visitor and she showed me what to do. Once someone had demonstrated it I felt much more confident and actually it was pretty fun after that.

Have you done a children's first aid course? Being confident that you would know exactly what to do in a situation like choking makes a huge difference in how calm you are with things like weaning. St. John's ambulance have some good videos on their website too.

Thanks bornin I will have a chat with the health visitor tomorrow when I get her weighed, see if she has any advice.

nannyr I haven't, I have looked into them but they have been super expensive. Not that they aren't worth the money just a case of genuinely not having it so soon after Christmas. But I will definitely have a look on the St. John's website. Thank you both for suggestions x

Id really recommend a first aid course if only to help your anxiety out. Contact your local childrens centre and see if they have any. We did one with a group of friends through Daisy- they came to one of our house and it worked out at abour 20 pounds each. In the meantime maybe have a look on youtube for some videos on what to do if a baby does choke?

Thanks smurfy I will definitely do that

link to SJA video - what to do if your baby is choking

They also have a phone app with first aid advice that's quite handy.

Thank you nannyr much appreciated

I was exactly the same I think I've watched a million videos of what to do if they choke! It properly terrified me. I told them when he started nursery that it made me nervous and that I probably didn't give him enough at home and they really helped. He's 15 months now and I still panic and cut things up probably too small but he's really good at taking anything our that is too big for him, so it hasn't hindered him.

Just to add, I have always tried really hard to not look like I panic when he coughs, so he doesn't get nervous. He's a very confident eater now and tries most things

Yeah I'm inwardly shitting myself every time he eats. But I make myself do it and don't show my fear.

But if you're really scared it can't hurt to purée stuff for now anyway. Generations of kids have been raised that way (it's always bloody scary though so might as well just get on with it if you can)

Thanks ladies... I saw the HV today she said the same pretty much... just get on with it! Apparently she is no more likely to choke than I am (still not sure I believe that) but she said at her age she can have pretty much anything to chew on. I'm gonna try giving her some broccoli trees & sticks of carrot later... but I must admit I'm not looking forward to it!

sourpatchkid 'yeah in inwardly shitting myself every time he eats' lol! Sums it up! How old is your boy?

14 months

My friend is still as nervous & her boy is 2!! I took the plunge tonight... gave her some broccoli, avocado & cheese sticks. She did cough/gag a few times!! but she is fine!! Still just as nervous though!!

Yay 😊 well done