BLW I can't cope with this choking....

[Rosduk]

DD is 7 months and been weaning for just over a month. Anyway, she has absolutely no intention of eating purée or mashed anything so I have started doing finger foods. She seems to have a very sensitive gag reflex - gags at absolutely everything she sucks and sometimes goes red in the face, tears streaming down her face and looks like she's choking and I can't cope! Everything I read says it's normal but I just cant get used to it! Has anyone else felt like this?

Maybe I am lucky, my DD is really good with finger foods. Like yours, she makes it very clear she doesn't want that spoon near her mouth. She's 8mo and I can count on one hand the number of times she's gagged. And when she gagged, it's just a very small one that doesn't bother her at all. She coughed up the food easily.

I think if my DD went red with tears, I'd be worried too. What kind of food are you feeding her? Does she prefer things that turns easily into small bits like burger patties? Or things she can chew and suck on like a strip of chicken? Have you tried purees again? How about soft food like plums, pears or tomatoes? They turn completely into mush in the mouth, as long as your DD can handle the large piece of skin.

I am still trying purées but anything with spoon and she stays tight lipped! Even porridge! BLW wise I have tried most fruits, veg, toast, crumpets, rice cakes but I haven't tried any meat. I have mince in the freezer so will try that tomorrow. She doesn't chew at all so she always sucks. The only thing she seems not actually enjoy and not gag on is rusks but they are so sugary! I'm just worried because she even gags with purée still. I have decided not to get too worried as at one point it has to get better and she is still young- i am beginning to dread all mealtimes because it's such a struggle and I don't think she enjoys it either!!

You say you are both beginning to dread mealtimes, this will in the long run create an issue for you both so, my suggestion is this; forget food for a few days. This will give you both time to relax and start again. Remember food before 1 is just for fun, so there is no hurry as its just tastes, milk is most important.

How many meals are you feeding? I'd strip this back to 1 or 2 for a few days/week and ease back in.

Are you cutting the food into large pieces that she can gum/suck? Do not be tempted to break off a small bit and put it into her mouth, even if she appears not to be eating, this doesn't matter.

You say she likes rusks? These are pretty 'melty', have you tried porridge fingers? www.babyledweaning.com/recipes/breakfast/hub2dees-porridge-pancakes/

It's really scary when they choke, but with time she will get better.

No I haven't tried porridge fingers but I will thanks. I always cut into chunks and never put anything in her mouth for her unless I'm trying purées. I had started doing 2 mealtimes a day but might cut back for a while. She is not distressed or crying at any point but she's just not interested. She will take one or two sucks of things If I'm lucky(normally gagging from both sucks) then can't be bothered anymore. I have taken the view that I don't need to force the issue but at the same time feel like I should keep up with it so she has the chance to explore different tastes. I should add that one of the first times I fed her purées she choked and turned blue. It seemed as though she kept taking food from the spoon (I even waited between spoons) but didn't swallow it and it all slid down her throat - she then vomited a huge line of pure purée. That's definately made me more nervous than I should be- not helped by her super sensitive gag reflex! Obviously since them she has stopped taking spoons anyway. I am a relaxed mum in every way except when it comes to this!