i am petrified to wean!!

[ac97x]

might sound so silly but it's approaching the time to wean my baby, i tried today on mashed carrot and he gagged so much it has completely put me off and the thought of even trying again makes me want to cry! any advise or tips anyone? i don't know weather the do purée or blw but when i even try and think of it i just get petrified!
help and advise please

How old is your baby?

I was terrified of trying baby led weaning and I was getting so worked up by it I was making myself ill. So I spoke to my lovely health visitor and she offered to come to my house and sit with me while I fed him solids for the first time. It really eased my stress as knowing she was here I felt safe and the next time I did it on my own I was totally fine as was ds.
Could you maybe try this? Or ask a friend to sit with you?

IF he's gagging on mash, then perhaps he's just not ready, even if he is over 6 months? Things change a lot at this point, so maybe just try again in a few days.

I'm not sure what it is you're petrified of - is it the potential choking, or is it about baby growing up? - because you need to be careful that you don't then attach too much significance to your emotion, rather than seeing this as a happy natural progression for your baby. It's easy for eating/mealtimes to become a battleground for parents, and you want to make it fun and relaxed from the start. It will be easy for your child to pick up on how you approach this.

If it's a fear of gagging, then you can take a first aid course to help alleviate your fears?

I was scared as well. I did traditional weaning, but if I have another baby I'll definitely try blw. My daughter is so fussy and refuses to use cutlery and I think maybe blw would've avoided this. Maybe not though, they're all different. Can you find a local first aid course you can take? That would help you have the confidence to know what to do if needed. Also familiarise yourself with the difference between gagging and choking, so you know when to intervene. My daughter gagged quite a few times, but always managed to sort it out herself. It always scared me though.

I think it is a bewildering time. Don't be put off by all the mums who find it a breeze, it doesn't come naturally to everyone.

Get a book. I used Annabel Karmel Weaning book and followed it letter by letter. Lots of mums on Mumsnet seem to hate her, because they find it all so instinctive and feel patronised by a book telling them what to do - well, some of us needed the book! It's great, she guides you through it step by step.

Try to steam a few veggies (carrot, courgette) and cut into long sticks that your baby can safely hold and suck. That given them an idea of how interesting food can be but they don't ingest much. Do purées alongside, you can make lots and freeze it. If it's totally puréed your baby can't choke.

Remember: gagging is not choking. Babies can deal with gagging, it's a natural reflex.

And good luck! 6 months of just milk is so much easier. Even now, years later I still think parenting is 90% food preparation!!

thank you everyone.
it's not the fear of him growing up because i can't wait for him to be eating properly and getting messy, it's more that i'm just scared it could go wrong! i may take the advise of getting my health visitor to come over and sit with me next time i try in a few days.
i know he gagged and it wasn't a choke but it was just so scary and the more i think of it it makes me want to cry! x