How do I get over the fear of choking.

[MotherOfDragon20]

I’ve just started weaning my 6 month old and have been doing BLW. I had done a lot of research before hand and really thought blw was the right thing to do but I find myself panicking and feeling sick the entire time she’s eating! I done a baby first aid course before starting and I should mention I am a nurse so I understand the difference between choking and gagging, and in my head I know there really isn’t anything to worry about but all of this rational thought just seems to disappear the second she takes a bite of a carrot. I dread meal times and find excuses to stop the meals early the second she fusses because I just feel so sick. I’m so tempted to just do purées but I really do want to do blw. I don’t know how to get past this.

Well, there's nothing that bad about starting with purées. It's all food, and it really doesn't matter in the long run.

One of mine did purées, the other BLW (he was my second so got chucked a bit of whatever we were having) and it makes no difference either way.

Gosh if you really feel like that, then maybe it's worth remembering it doesn't have to be either / or! Do some purees sometimes if you want?

Total anecdata rubbish but the only child I know who had a chocking incident was weaned on purees, eventually you have to introduce 'real' food don't you and it was at that point, she was obviously an older baby by then and hadn't had it before. Like I say though that's just the one thing I've heard myself!

If you feel like that then do purées. I don't understand the pressure on people to do BLW. I didn't as I worried about choking, so started with purées and built it up gradually. I never felt stressed and now dd is 3 and eats anything. If it's stressing you don't do it.

Yeah I think I think I will just do purées, ever just for a couple of weeks until I feel more comfortable. I know the risk of choking is so small but it’s so difficult to be rational when it’s your baby 🙈. I do think there seems to be pressure to do blw and purées are looked down on for some reason but realistically it’s ruining the experience and I’m sure she can pick up on my anxiety so it’s just not worth it.

I would definitely switch to purées if it's making you this anxious. It doesn't really matter which route you take as they end up in the same place at the end.

As the pp. said above, you have to introduce real food at some point and the younger they are the further forward the gag reflex is. Can you do a mix? Maybe purées and then some finger foods that would be difficult to choke on? Eg those melty puff crisp things/ toast/ avocado etc.

Do a few purees, but remember there is no pressure for them to eat anything immediately at 6m. Maybe try things like yoghurt with ground flax or chia seeds or ground nuts as well as purees (more fat/nutrients)? Maybe try letting baby self feed with a preloaded spoon with purées on? Nothing wrong with purees, we did a bit of both (tbh, we still do at 15m but we just put the purees in reusable pouches now!) - but if you want to do BLW, why don't you focus on really soft foods like mashed sweet potato (or big bits of sweet potato that turn to mash as baby sucks on it?) etc, or give them porridge to play with/lick. Things will get messy, but it's great sensory play, and you don't have to worry so much about so much food in mouth. solidstarts.com/foods is a really good website for showing exactly how to cut/prepare each food so it is absolutely safest for baby at each different age.

This does not have the intention to scare you; but babies can choke on purees too. It is probably worthwhile talking through your fears and getting to the bottom of them either with your partner or HV or a friend. As someone with such a lot of experience, even if your baby did choke - it seems that you have the knowledge of how to help them.