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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Finger food gagging

10 replies

newmumwithquestions · 25/02/2015 23:04

I started weaning at 4.5 months (after discussing with health visitor). I've pureed or mashed and spoon fed.

DD is now almost 6 months, sits up on her own, etc, so I have started trying to introduce finger foods - avocado, melon, cooked carrot / broccoli. I don't know if its relevant but her first bottom teeth are through. Apart from the broccoli which decorated the floor, everything goes straight in her mouth and she chomps a big piece off. A little has been chewed and swallowed, but it always ends with me panicking and taking it all away when she chomps too big a piece off and gags on it. On the carrot she got upset when she gagged, the other times it's me panicking.

Do I just need to let her get on with it? It just seems dangerous! Does anyone else struggle or am I just overreacting?
Thanks :-)

OP posts:
CultureSucksDownWords · 26/02/2015 09:37

Gagging is protective - it's the food being ejected before anything untoward happens. It's normal and part of the learning to bite, chew and swallow process.

If you can, try to leave her to it. If you get upset and alarmed then so will she.

Buglife · 26/02/2015 11:39

The gagging isn't a problem, it's a sign they are clearing their throat which means they know what to do. So the gagging is a sign they're not going to choke as they are clearing their throat. It's learning to swallow, they have to do it and as far as I have read they are as ready to learn that at 6 months as they are at 10, so if you kept her on soft purée she will then still gag on solid food at 10 months. My DS gags a bit but only for a second or two. If food was blocking their throat entirely then they would be silent. If she doesn't like the big lumps, she'll learn to take smaller ones and chew more.

Nolim · 26/02/2015 11:47

If you are anxious about gagging have you considered taking a pediatric first aid class?

I took one precisely for that reason and it was money well spent :)

bonzo77 · 26/02/2015 11:49

Echo advice above. Gagging is a normal part of learning to manage solids. Definitely a good idea to do a first aid course. I've had to deal with 3 choking incidents and did so quickly, calmly and effectively due to having done the course.

Original poster
newmumwithquestions · 01/03/2015 08:10

Thanks all. I will try to let her get on with it, I'm usually pretty calm about everything but am struggling a bit with this one. A pediatric first aid class is a great idea, I put my name on a waiting list for one a couple of months ago but there must be others I could go on so will have a look at whats on in my area. Nolim - who ran yours ?

OP posts:
Nolim · 01/03/2015 08:14

The red cross.

TwoLittleTerrors · 01/03/2015 08:56

I did one with the Red Cross
Too. It's brulliant. It teaches more than choking. Imagine in a few months your little one will be crawling and then walking and getting into all kinds of trouble, potentially.

Original poster
newmumwithquestions · 01/03/2015 10:19

There's one running near me in a couple of weeks ??. I'll book on.

OP posts:
WineIsMyMainVice · 11/03/2015 22:55

The gag reflex is natural. My DD used to gag a lot but never once got anything stuck thank goodness. Try not to panic just stay near in case. Good luck!

Original poster
newmumwithquestions · 17/03/2015 11:22

Hi all,
Just to update I go on my first aid this week (randomly the one I put my name down for months ago finally came round) but in the meantime we are managing a few bites of finger food (carrot/avocado). Very little makes it to the mouth of course but I'm managing not to panic too much when it does :-)
Thanks for the reassurance!

OP posts:
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