Petrified of baby choking

[thefamousfiveplusone]

I realise that this is probably a very common concern amongst parents when starting to wean.

But how do I overcome the fear of my baby choking and feel more relaxed about introducing & offering finger food to my 6 month old? She's loving her fruit/veg purées, weetabix, porridge etc but as yet I haven't tried her with anything more solid. Except for the Ellas Kitchen puff snacks which more or less turn to mush instantly so they don't worry me so much

I bought one of those contraptions that has a little net and you fill it with whatever you fancy and the baby gives it a good old suck. She enjoys this to a certain extent but then gets frustrated I guess when she realises there's no end product to chomp on.

Believe it or not I've already had two children (although it's been some years since they were weaned!) and yet this time around it seems the choking issue fills me with dread more than ever.

Any advice or words of wisdom would be most welcome. Thank you

Do a paediatric first aid course, or at least look up online how to deal with choking. Practise on a doll.

Remember that babies have a really high gag reflex to stop them choking during weaning. That's why they sometimes gag and look like they're choking but actually that's nature kicking in an stopping them from choking, forcing them to spit out what they've put in.

Go for soft mushy food that will break up in her hand/mouth. Or if you're spoon feeding food with tiny lumps that she can't possible choke on.

Avoid hard/throat sized food!

I did a first aid course.
I took weaning really slowly. All my NCT group were giving the babies whole fruits and I was giving purée. I just built it up really really slowly.
Dd is now 2 and eats fine. Take your time

I'm first aid trained would you believe?!

Yes I was like this and built up slowly. Dd eats fine now.

Things like banana fingers, avocado fingers. Kiddilicious did wafer things that melted.

Then toast fingers and well cooked carrot strips.

I diced things as well, she has a great pincer grip.