How to get over choking fear while weaning.

[Blu3Bell]

I have a serious fear of choking/other people choking (always have) and I'm finding it especially bad now baby is weaning.

Had a couple of mild choking incidents with milk, one in the first few weeks that did require an out of hours drs visit to check for aspiration and since then I'm incredibly anxious when I have to give baby his bottle and I'm on my own.

Baby is now 6.5 months and have been introducing foods the last 2 weeks, a mix of purees and finger foods and until today just had a small amount of gagging. Today had some mild choking on puree that caused a small amount of sick and a few tears, baby fine after 5 minutes but I am now a nervous wreck.

Hoping someone has some advice on how I can move past this x

Do a first aid course

100% do a paediatric first aid course. You’ll learn all the facts about gagging being normal and expected as your baby learns to eat. It will give you more confidence for sure.

Do a first aid course and go to the Solid Starts website and find the tabs/info about gagging vs choking. Also follow them on Instagram their weaning content is great.

Do some reading of proper information about weaning. Truly understand how babies develop & don't do mixed 'fed purée' & baby led weaning.

Was it really ‘mild choking’? Was the airway actually obstructed? If it caused sick it sounds like gagging, which is a good thing as it prevents choking.

What is mild choking?
Second the first aid course. If your baby is gagging they aren’t choking, there is a big difference. Intervening when your baby is gagging can actually cause choking and panic your baby when they are absolutely fine.

At the first aid course we learnt the phrase ‘loud and red let them go ahead, silent and blue they need help from you’

Thanks everyone, I do have the solid starts app and will definitely start looking for a first aid course.

@AutumnLeaves24 I don't understand, alnost everything I've read says a mix of baby led and purees is the best way, is that not the case? Where can I find this information?

@modgepodge I believe it was choking, he does gag a fair amount normally and it was completely different. When he gags it doesn't bother him really but today he made a choking noise, went red in the face, was sick and then cried. He only managed to spit the food out and then was sick after we tipped him forward a little. Obviously I could be wrong and it could just be a bit more dramatic gagging, I'm aware I'm overly paranoid about this!

Choking is silent as the airway is completely blocked, so won’t be a noise! It is such a valid fear. I got freaked out by gagging (which is normal and part of the process as said above) and read to watch some videos of babies gagging on YouTube however odd that sounds, it helped! Gentle exposure therapy. Perhaps give that a go.

St John ambulance do one