please talk to me about choking...

[missytequila]

do i need to take a red cross class about choking... am about to start weaning and am very confused as to how to prevent baby from choking...and if she does, do you just wack them on the back?

I baby led weaned both of mine (google blw gill rapley). It is very natural for babies to gag as they have a very well developed gag reflex. It is important to try and stay calm if they gag as it usually worries you a lot more than it does them!

As for what to do if they choke, never actually had to put that into practice. Think we covered it in county run classes when DD1 was born. Wouldn't like to advise in case I have remembered incorrectly!

I didn't do a class (always meant to!), but a friend of mine did so I just asked her. Choking is silent (unlike gagging which is lots of coughin), but is quite obvious visually. Pull baby out of the highchair, pop them over one arm (face down) while you wack them on the back with the other hand.

But there are lots of good websites and videos available online if you just google it.

I did an infant & child class at St. John's Ambulance just before weaning (it's about £40). Never had to use it but the main thing to find out is the difference between gagging (normal,healthy NOISY reflex to remove too much food from throat / gullet) and choking (blocking airway and silent, potentially serious if actually rare). My nanny reckoned my son nearly choked once in her care and she had to whack him on the back but he's never done it with me - just some spectacular gagging. He's BLW and a food-shoveller (like mummy).

Also, hate to be morbid but babies choking on food is very rare - compared to adult choking and babies / kids choking on non-food items.