Weaning and a gagging/vomiting baby

[Tobebythesea]

We started weaning our baby at 5 months. He’s loved trying all the purées and gives everything a go and eats a fair amount. He’s now 6 months and the HV said to give him 3 meals a day. We have also just starting trying slightly lumpy food and he’s not having any of it and immediately gags and then vomits. These are pouches and homemade food.

Anyone else experienced this? Do we keep going despite this or go back to smooth purées for a bit?

Also, when do you start giving meat and fish? All the baby food recipe books say 7 months but we started weaning a month early. Would you wait another month?

When do you introduce finger foods like soft steamed carrots and broccoli? Sorry for all the questions!

When DD was weaning the guidance was 6 months so things are a bit different. At that time we just gave her what we were eating, adjusting seasoning accordingly.

Broccoli florets are v easy for babies to manage, as they’re lumpy and easy to hold on to.

Sorry, should have said, at 6 months we just opened the floodgates and gave her anything, we didn’t phase different foods in at different times.

@ChipBap

Thank you. Did you just wizz up in a blender what you ate?

We did the same as Chipbang. Both DCs started weaning just before 6 months (when they managed to snatch food from our plates). We just gave then everything we were eating from the off, less salt and chilli (added these at the table) and making sure any nuts were finely chopped if eating something like Pad Thai noodles. Don't overthink it, just pop it down in front of them and let them crack on

Also at that age we didn't do 3 meals a day. If they weren't asleep and we were eating, they got a bit. If they were napping then they missed out. Milk is still their main source of calories at 6m.

Sorry, ChipBap not Chipbang 🙈

No blending done in this house unless I was making soup or smoothies!

We went straight into BLW at 6 months, so finger foods immediately, no purees. Is this something you'd be interested in trying? Baby will gag initially as they learn how much to put in their mouths and this is completely normal. Their gag reflex is further forward than ours, which helps them to gag things up rather than choke. I did traditional weaning with DS and we had the same thing as you when trying to introduce lumps in the purees. He would just gag and not eat anything. It took time to gradually introduce lumpy food.
BLW with DD has been brilliant and I'd really recommend it. If you're interested then read Baby Led Weaning by Gill Rapley which literally tells you everything you need to know and will help alleviate any fears about gagging and choking.

Thank you. I’m definitely up for trying BLW.

Didn’t do any purées and just fed what we had.

No, we didn't blend anything. I reckoned that I wouldn't like a haddock puree so I didn't see why DD should either!

Following as in the weaning process at the min with 6 month old. Has been very hit and miss, sometimes she will take nothing from the spoon and prefers finger food, other times she has refused both! Currently doing 3 small meals a day with at least one being finger food and the rest of the time I am using sometimes fruit & veg purées and sometimes what we are having blended

Two books I have found useful: Mummy Cooks Baby & Family Recipe Book; Cook for family, adapt for baby https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788080580/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_mAarEb96XR4SB

Simple & Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Master Portion Sizes, and Identify Allergies https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/164611194X/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_9AarEbVY308SX

There’s good advice here about blw but just be careful with going full throttle on blw if your baby is actually vomiting after gagging. My dd had a very sensitive gag reflex and would vomit food up regularly (several times per week) to the extent that she became very distressed and had an aversion to food. She was better on smoother stuff but still vomited until she was well over 1 year. So my point is if he’s really struggling don’t push it as you could make things worse and if blw doesn’t work don’t be afraid of a purée, they all get there in the end! (Dd now nearly 3 and eats great)

Just tried mashed potato with cream cheese mashed up smooth and he still vomited. Think I might try purées and fingers foods next.

Purées will teach the baby to immediately push the mush to the back of the mouth and swallow, feeding normal food to a 6+month old will teach them to gnaw and chew before swallowing, just give the baby food or the high chair tray and let them figure it out.

Don't worry too much. Mine didn't like lumpy food for a long time and I was worried about it, but eventually he started 'getting' it and now at 16 months he's ok with most foods.
About fish/meat I think I started a month later (pureed as well).

DS1 was like this when he was a baby and is still a nightmare for trying new foods and a very fussy eater - he's 14 now! With Ds2 I went straight into BLW and he will eat almost anything, loves all veg even sprouts and cabbage. Forget the purée is my advice

We did combination, put loads of food in front of him for him to play with and spoon in the rest. Once we moved to lumpy spooning it in was fine as he was used to biting and chewing. He inhales his spoon fed food though so if we didn’t give him food to play with he wouldn’t actually taste anything! It’s definitely worth adding in finger foods so he can practice himself.

Mine slowly grew out of this so please don’t worry. At 9-12 she would gag and vomit each time she tried eating a rusk or baby biscuit. I felt it would be cruel to keep forcing her to BLW so continued with purees and very slowly increased the chunkiness.

There’s a baby cereal by Organix which has loads of tiny puffed balls, about 2mm wide. I added that to fairly liquid warm puree (pear or sweet potato) so it could soften. She was able to eat this without gagging.

There are also Banana, Strawberry and Blueberry rice wafers by Kiddylicious which melt in the mouth much faster than other baby puffs/biscuits. You can also control the size by breaking off different pieces. This was a lifesaver as it’s one of few things she can eat on-the-go without the risk of vomiting.

DD is 14months and slowly improving. Ate small pieces of buttered toast by herself last week and I almost danced with joy! I think all babies develop differently and there are no adults who cannot chew and swallow food so they will get there eventually.

For purees I find that sour or strong savoury flavours can often make her gag/vomit regardless of texture (though this has improved over time as well). Used to happen with anything containing cheese or meat, since you mentioned the cauliflower puree. Sweet, fruity purees tend to stay down better. I sometimes dilute them with coconut milk to reduce the sugar content and without the constipating effect of cows milk/formula.

No purées here. Just real food from 6 months.

There was plenty of gagging. But no choking.

Watch some videos online so you know the difference.

Have seen some family members really overreact to gagging and you just scare the child.

Remember - food before one is for fun. At 6 months, your baby is just starting to explore taste and texture of food and learning how to chew and swallow. They can still get everything they need from milk. Just give them a bit of your food to play with and see how they get on. 3 meals a day at 6 months is wildly optimistic I would say!