advice on eating

[MummaLeonax]

Hello please could I have some advice, I feel like my nearly 10month old swallows more than he chews he can chew toast fine but like pasta shells he seems to just down them 🙈 im worried to give him other finger foods if he's just going to swallow them and not chew, first time mum so no judgement please as I still panic giving him finger foods fearing of him choking as he seems to pick the whole piece up and shove it in his mouth it scares me 🙈😢x

My DS is the same. A bowl of pasta is basically inhaled. It's kind of impressive! I always make sure everything is cut in long strips that are thin enough that it is less of a risk and am careful to sit with him and pay 100% attention whenever he tries anything new. Honestly, he seems OK with most stuff and I feel pretty confident now. He's gradually learning to chew things as time goes on but i think he just doesn't bother with some things.

Have you tried something like cucumber sticks? They are quite hard to swallow whole and help practice chewing - and are good when teething.

I also find the solidstarts website really helpful. It tells you what foods are more likely to be choking risks and tells you how to prepare them for different ages.

see he has pasta shells and just swallows them whole 🙈 i havent tried cucumber sticks as like you said they are hard so it scares me I only feel safe with banana as its mushy if you get me or melty things because I know he won't choke, oh wow thank you very much i will definitely look at that website bless you thank you for taking your time to message you've been so kind and helpful xo

@Mimba1
solidstarts.com/starting-solids/safety/choking-hazards-babies/
is this the bit you mean? :) x

I actually use the website to look up individual things. So for example the page on apples (which can be a choking hazard) tells you how to prepare safely from 6mo:

solidstarts.com/foods/apple/

Half way down there's an image that shows you how to prepare for different ages. I would say if they haven't had it start with the 6mo option until you're happy they've mastered that and always try something new with one piece while you're paying proper attention. They have the same thing for most ingredients. It is American so the advice on eggs is different but in general it's a fantastic resource.

You could look up a course online on what to do if your child chokes as well. Gagging is really common - choking less so. But better to be prepared!

aww this website sounds brilliant!
I truly mean it that you so much you've really helped me alot to take your time and help means alot to me. x

Probably not able to hold a pasta shell whilst biting a bit off. I would go with fusilli or penne.

As PP said strips /sticks of things are much easier for little ones to hold whilst chewing.

no they were baby pasta shells 🙈 I was spoon feeding them, im quite nervous to try him with penne or fusilli i know i should be feeding him more finger foods im just petrified especially feeding him on my own 🙈 x

It's a good idea to do a first aid course and to mentally go over scenarios such as "what would I do if he choked?" so you know exactly what to do and you can do it quickly.
first aid for choking
Also, babies gag a lot when learning to chew food - this is an important stage of development and isn't harmful. Although it sounds alarming, it's not the same as choking. If they are coughing and making noise, they are ok, if they are unable to make any noise and are going blue then they are choking.
Choking can happen with any food, even bananas and the puffy wafer things, if they breathe in at the wrong time. Aside from nuts, grapes, blueberries, I wouldn't restrict foods from a fear of choking, but just be very watchful whilst they are eating.