Calling All you lovely BLW'ers.....Question about the gagging thing

[JustJAMtart]

DD is now 25 weeks, so in the next few weeks I'm going to let her try some of the food she has got so interested in
Have no concern re BLW, I know it's the best thing for both DD and I, but I do have a fear that DD may choke and I wouldn't have a clue what to do....I know gagging is a natural and excellent reflex that prevents choking...I guess I'm looking for reassurance that I will know the difference between gagging and choking and God forbid if she did choke what would I do?????

How many of your LO's didn't experience much of the gagging/choking issue?? (she asked hopefully )

TIA

verly little gagging here, and i tended to treat it as a bit of a joke so that ds wasn't worried about it either (he looked a bit alarmed the first couple of times). don't worry it is more like hawking than choking and they soon get the hang of not letting the go food so far back.

Thanks fishie, may I ask what foods you tried first that went well?

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dd3 gagged but it was a very successful reflex that allowed her to spit out stuff

gagging is not the same as choking

maybe a child first aid course would put your mind at rest?

Give them a chance to gag food up if they need to. Choking is generally very quiet (apparently - dd has never choked!), and requires good firm pats on the back, and if that doesn't work, tip them slightly upside down across your lap and hit back harder. There's another manoevre that can be used too, but I just can't describe it in writing!

Agree that a first aid course would be good if you can find one, or even a leaflet with diagrams - my health authority provides both, so worth asking if yours does too.

dd2 genuinely choked on a big round chewy sweet (she was about 3)

she went blue

I instinctively leant her across my leg (pressure on chest) and whacked her on the back with the heel of my hand

she sicked it up

was terrifying though

DS2 was a gaggy little thing - still does it very occasionally and he's 13mo.

I found the best thing was to go "you're OK, sweetheart" very calmly and quietly and smile reassuringly at him.

Other people flapped a bit sometimes, but if I stayed calm, they were also reassured.

my dh used to panick when dd gagged (acctually he still does now) but i never got out of my chair until she did it 3 times, then just sat her up straight and patted her on the back.

they have to learn how to deal with it themselves, and if you panick they will panick and wont want to eat lumps etc in case they gag coz they see it as 'bad' iykwim!

Thank you all so much, will look into the first aid course/literature - Enid well done on being so calm with your dd2 and the sweet!
I know how important it is to stay calm, even now as DD is sitting on her own when she topples and looks nervous I just smile and say whoopsee! guess it's the same thing...heart may be racing but grin and sing song "it's ok sweetie"....

It's so obvious I'm a first time mum isn't it

and be prepared for everyone around you (i'm thinking MILs here!) getting into a state when your baby starts gagging. if you remain calm, your baby remains calm. you stress, he stresses. my best thing was to do exaggerated chewing faces and noises at dd to remind her what to do and help her keep calm...nyam nyam nyam...good girl! etc etc.

but it really doesn't happen that often...
me and dh went on a resus course at the maternity hospital. it's really for pregnant mums but tbh i think we got a lot more out of it after 6 months of parenthood than i would've done before. there's also a bbc website. good luck.

thanks dizzy and aitch, will check out the website