How to continue BLW after DD choked today??? I'm terrified...

[MrsHuxtable]

Good God, it was scary!

DD is 7 months next week and we started BLW a few days ago. She gagged a couple of times before but today she was actually choking.

The fear in her eyes was horrible. She went red, then white, then blueish. I don't think I can get past this. How do I continue weaning, nevermind finger foods after this? Should I just give her purees instead?

Go with puree for a while,if you're panicking every time she takes a bite of something she'll feel your stress and it won't help her. Gradually progress to more substantial textures as and when you're both comfortable. Do what you feel is best.

Just take a deep breath, carry on as normal. You'll have to give her 'normal' food again eventually so it may as well be now. Dish up her next meal and do your best to hide your terror.

Then once she's in bed.

I wonder how many babies actually die due to choking in the weaning stages. Are there statistics?

I was so convinced BLW was for us, I never even thought about purees but now...I have no idea where to start anymore.

I can honestly say that weaning has been the most stressful part of having a baby for me so far.

have you done an infant first aid course?

Do one! You have to wallop them much harder than you might think if they're proper choking.

In the meantime mushed up food is still food, it's all good. In all honesty I don't see the point in risking scaring, or harming, your child for the ability to say you did BLW 'properly' (not implying you are!).

7 months is a bit old to be having just purees anyway, she needs finger foods and mashed, lumpy stuff at this age.

What did she choke on? Do you need to reconsider the type of food you give her?

Definitely do a first aid course as well.

Not done a first aid course yet, simply because so far I was EBF and DD not taking a bottle so she would have had to come with me.

The offending food was a bit of toasted pita bread with hummus, though obviously the hummus had nothing to do with it. A bit of pita, about 2cm, came off and she DH says he saw how she tried to swallow it all in one bit.

She has no problems with avocado, brocolli, banana and rice cakes but I now see EVERYTHING as a choking hazard.

Pitta is quite tough though isn't it? The other stuff sounds good, food that will dissolve or disintegrate.. I'd steer clear of pitta and other foods that require molar chewing.

It must have been horrifically frightening for you, but I doubt if shell remember it, if you are intent on doing BLW, keep going with softer foodstuffs.

I don't think I care about BLW anymore after today.

I just want her to be happy and healthy and have a good relationship with food. I thought BLW would achieve that. I tried to spoon-fed here some soup as well today and she just kept taking the spoon out of my hand, wanting to put it into her mouth herself. Maybe that's what I should try. Steer clear of bread and things but let her feed herself with a spoon.

Never thought weaning would be my biggest worry.

Titty It was horrific. I feel physically sick just thinking about it. My heart was racing an hour later. I'm not cut out for this...

That is very scary a first aid course is a good idea. The trainer I talked to did tell me that statistically no more babies choke on blw than purees though. Blw babies are learning a little earlier to deal with food lumps but start eating a little later as they are not spoonfed before 6 months.
As pp said even on the purée path you need to be moving to lumps otherwise you might find yourself with a baby who can't eat lumps ( mums post on forums regularly about these). I have found overcooked fusilli is a good food, soft bread with fillings or toppings that mush up. I do give hummus and pitta but have stopped lately as I went off it. Dont toast too much so stays softer. Cut thinner strips so it is safer. Baked potato insides as lumps are softer. I cut meat into tiny cubes as this seems a choking risk otherwise. Make sticky rice or couscous with sticky toppings so they can grab or preload spoons then melt in mouth. Whatever you do you must not be fearful as baby will pick up on it.

We did a mix of blw and purées. One thing we found was there was a period around 7/8 months when we didn't give him toast. He didn't gob it enough and it would get stuck. Perhaps just stick to much softer foods that disintegrate more easily.

Baby led anything is never a good idea.,....

My dd fed herself puree/mushy food from a spoon. I started with purees, moved on to other flavours/textures, then introduced finger foods that would dissolve at about 6 1/2 months. I always let her feed herself with the spoon - I often had to use two spoons continually spoons with her. Do not do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Your instincts are telling you that you don't want to do this again, so don't. I have nothing against BLW, but I decided it wasnt for us and my 1 year old eats well.

I changed from blw to purees because ds was bf all night and I couldn't deal with the mess it's ok honestly, I can promise you he still has a good relationship with food.

I would definitely recommend a baby and child first aid course. I did one with the red cross, which covers a whole range of first aid including choking. (Things like applying bandages, dressings, etc). I did it after weaning DD, but she was never a choker. I got worried because of her climbing. She's a scary climber who made it up and down the stairs before she could even walk. I needed to know what to do if she cut or bumped herself. It's so worth it because not long after the course, she fell off the bed while trying to climb the bedside table.

Worrying about choking is just the beginning, I'm afraid .

Oh and I'm not a negligent mum. She's just a very fast climber. For example, in weekend, I helped DH with putting stuff up to the roof space. By the time I've handed over a box to DH, she was already standing up the second rung of the ladder, trying to climb the third. She's only 17mo!

amothersplaceisinthewrong that is a very odd thing to say.

I would just continue as you did before and just give normal bread. Pita is definitely a bit tough. When I tried it with my DD, she got fed up that she couldn't really eat it. She's fine with normal bread though.

I think it depends on the baby. Mine haven't been chokers and have both happily gnashed pita and hummus. On the other hand, both have struggled with soft bread (getting HUGE gobbets stuck in the roof of the mouth). Strike pita off your list. Try something else. Doesn't really matter what, I don't think - the 'successful' foods will be different for every baby.

How scary for you MrsHuxtable! If you can't get on a first aid course, this Red Cross video is pretty good.

Our babies are the same age (my DD2) and we're doing a mix of lumpy purée (easy, just put a stick blender in whatever veg we're eating, or Ellas sachets when out and about) and finger food (overcooked veg sticks, soft bread, fish etc). You can still enjoy many of the benefits of BLW eg sharing mealtimes, baby choosing to self feed etc. without offering food which worries you, like hard toast or tough lumps of meat, at this early stage. Might make it easier for you to relax?

MrsHuxstable , you ARE cut out for it! You had the entirely appropriate reaction, I know it's a horrible feeling but it's what adrenalin is for

Its entirely your choice whether you do BLW OR NOT, In my opinion it's just the latest fad in child rearing, the point is to pick and choose which fads suit you and your baby.

I didn't do BLW with ds3 (before that it was called "fingerfoods"!) who is now 19 months and he will happily eat any food I offer, the trick is to be relaxed around mealtimes and don't force the issue if they have had enough. I taught ds the sign for 'finished' which has helped us both immensely