7 month old still on puree food - petrified of giving finger food

[Biosblbay]

I decided to give my 7 month old scrambled egg and roasted sweet potato as sticks the other day and the whole time I just kept panicking thinking she was going to swallow way too much. She would gag occasionally and that caused me to freak out resulting in me taking the food out of her mouth. Since then I have gone back to pureed/ blended food.

When I google “finger foods for 7 month olds” I still think that some things that are suggested just aren’t soft enough for a baby of 7 months. Like pasta, what happens if they swallow the whole piece, or boiled egg, what if they inhale a bit of it and choke? Any ideas on how I can get over this fear or any suggestions? Thank you

They won't swalllow the whole piece of pasta - they gag really easily and before the food gets very far into their mouths, so if you are seeing gagging, that means their gag reflex is working properly and protecting them. I'd suggest doing a baby first aid course if you can, then you'll know what's normal, and what to do if they actually do choke (neither of mine ever did). You could also read 'Baby-Led Weaning' by Gill Rapley even if you don't want to do BLW, because that has stuff on the physiology and how to safely prepare the food (and why) which could be reassuring.

Get yourself booked on to a first aid for babies type course - there's usually one not too far away they seem to run regularly , look on eg Red Cross, St Johns, or ask your HV.

That will give you the confidence to know what to do if she really chokes such that she can't breathe - in reality the reflexes mean she'll invariably cough up whatever rather than actually choke choke.

Babies have a much higher ga reflex than adults, they’ll gag earlier, with the food at a higher point. It’s very protective, but it does mean a lot of babies will gag a fair amount when starting solids. You fishing the food out of her mouth is probably more dangerous when she’s not actually choking, you could push it down accidentally.

I know it's scary, but you have to try really hard not to pass that anxiety onto her, and not to hinder her development.

Gagging is not choking, and as the PP said it's actually good that her gag reflex is working and protecting her.

I'd look up Solid Starts - it's years since I weaned DD now, but I remember they had useful help on how to prepare basically every type of food for different ages. Just remember some of it is US centric, so their tuna isn't like our tuna for example in terms of mercury content so in a very few cases the advice might be different.

Also look up Charlotte Sterling Reed - she has books out, but if you find her as SR Nutrition on Instagram she gives a lot of useful content and tips, and it might be worth investing in one of the books or getting from the library. I remember that she was quite balanced and didn't insist you had to do finger food (we did from the start but not exclusively) but had good help on moving through the textures to get there eventually.

Oh, and also agree with the first aid course - DH and I both did one, and I also printed out the infographic/ instructions on what to do if baby is choking and stuck it next to where her high chair was to reassure me I'd know what to do!

Gagging is totally normal and shouldn’t be confused with choking. See if you can do a paediatric first aid course- really good for anyone to do but should hopefully help with anxiety knowing that you know what do if there is a choking incident. Also, look up solid starts for safe finger food ideas. You shouldn’t just stick to purees because it will hold back their development- chewing helps develop the muscles for speech and picking the food up works on the pincer grip.

Mine swallowed half a ripe strawberry at six months and was fine.

https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2024/11/how-to-serve-finger-foods-to-baby-from-6-12-months/

Pasta is a great first finger food! For one it has a great big hole through it! Just cook it an extra minute so it's nice and soft.

Gagging is just going to happen, it's unavoidable while their learning. It's not the same as choking. I'd look up some videos on it and what to do if your baby actually chokes.

Like pasta, what happens if they swallow the whole piece,
well yes, what happens? They just have a whole piece in their stomach.

she has to learn at some point but teaching her it’s scary probably isn’t ideal. Taking food out of her mouth is also considered now to be a bigger risk of choking.
try to be calm with it, learn the difference between choking and gagging. Learn safe ways to prepare foods, and start slowly. That might help you feel more confident. It can be scary though I understand but you can’t let your anxiety get in the way of her development (I’m not saying you have so far, it’s just what I told myself when I needed to relax)
If you’re ever worried, Go below her and put your hand out under her mouth so she looks down not back, and gets used to spitting into your hand if you need her to.

fwiw I think most injuries from choking come from non edible items.

I agree doing a first aid course may help. I bought a LifeVac because first aid doesn’t always work. It’s currently the only device like this that’s been approved by the government to use if first aid fails.