Anxiety and finger foods

[Whichoneisbest]

My anxiety is flaring up and it’s really affecting my weaning of DD who is 7.5 months. I was nervous with my DS but this is different, even reading about potential finger foods is making me panicky and anxious.

She’s a champion eater and loves homemade purées, I’ve given her mashed avocado and she happily tries toast, steamed broccoli and Ella’s melty puffs but for the life of me I cannot bring myself to give her any other finger foods.

I feel I’m holding her back developmentally. What can I do? I’m signed onto a paediatric first aid course to try and calm myself but so far watching the choking first aid videos on YouTube is just making it worse.

How big should steamed veg and fruit sticks be? How do I know if she can manage them? If I give her blueberries can she choke on them? I don’t think I can do this

Try not to worry, you're absolutely not holding her back.... so what you're comfortable with for now, purée is fine, progressing to soft lumps.

My DS had a choking scare at 9 months on a stick of mango and it put me right off finger foods. He's now 5 and eats everything having been largely fed mush for a long time after the scare.

Either is fine, as is combining purée and finger food. Sweet potato 'chips' are great, super soft and mushy but still finger food. Same for well steamed carrot batons and broccoli florets. Pear is nice and soft too.

Thanks so much for your reply! Feeling a lot calmer this afternoon, I appreciate you taking the time to reassure me

I think I’ll just focus on giving her lumpier mush and slowly brave a few steamed veg. I don’t want to put her off with my panicking either!

For fruit/veg you want batons that are longer than her clenched fist, you can crinkle cut things to help with grip if you like. I always squish blueberries slightly which makes them easier to pick up too. Banana can be split lengthways into three, by pressing on the end (there are YouTube videos!). Things like green beans or broccoli are fine as they are.

Have you watched videos of gagging v choking.

@egdehsdrawkcab agreed completly with everything you say here and if it's worrying you so much op then just don't do it unless it's something super soft and pre squished, it wont hold her back at all and she is tiny still

Do you think that doing a Paediatric First Aid Course would help to ease your anxiety @Whichoneisbest?

My LO probably has a gagging incident every week.

Definitely do a first aid course, i did and it helped so much. There is a difference between gagging and choking.

Gagging is normal, they will be making a sound and you can hear them breathing. Don't panic otherwise they will feed off you and just pat their back to help. Babies gag reflex is much further forward than adults to help them learn.

Choking is when something blocks their airway which means they are silent, thats when you need to intervene and get the food dislodged.

The teacher said so many people make mistake of thinking baby is choking when they are only gagging.

In terms of veg, i just over steam brocolli, green beans, carrots, asparagus ect so it is easy for her to gum and swallow.