Anxiety about weaning

[Firsttimemummyworries]

Hi
i have a 7mo little girl, she’s been having purées since she was 6mo and has been fine. I want to start giving her some finger foods but I am SO anxious about choking. Can any lovely people give me some advice on where to start/best foods to begin with/give me a shake and tell me she will be ok?
Thank you x

I was like this. They're not the most nutritious, bit I started with the Ella's kitchen melty puffs. Put one in your own mouth first to see how easily they dissolve. They were a big reassurance to me at the beginning.

Then try broccoli that's been boiled to within an inch of its life!

Hey! Have a look at Solid Starts - they have an app, a website and an Instagram page and they're all really helpful. It gives you info on how to cut foods appropriately depending on baby's age to reduce choking risk.

Look up choking vs. gagging too, gagging is normal and part of how they learn to eat 

I was a little apprehensive about choking when I started weaning, but a friend who was really into baby led weaning reassured me, apparently babies are more likely to choke being spoon fed purees than on actual finger foods, don't know if that's true. Getting them to pick food up and feed themselves and get used to the texture of food and how to chew teaches them how not to choke. I personally never followed a guide or gave certain foods at certain stages, I just gave my son anything and everything from 6 months. I would just do a bit of light reading around how to cut certain foods up.....I was actually over cautious with this for example I didn't realise until a few months in that you can just give them strawberries whole. If you're anxious maybe start with softer foods like ripe mango, kiwi etc. As others have said just make sure you know the difference between gagging and choking and what to do if choking happens. My little one is 16 months old now, of course it happens but he's gagged a few times but never choked.

I would 100% percent do a kids first aid course. Your child needs to eat solid food at some point in the next year and you cannot eliminate the risk. Learn what to do if they do choke and you can listen to the sounds between coughing due to change in texture and choking. Always have your child up at the table to eat, no walking about with snacks. Try some soft finger sized food like overcooked carrot or a wee broccoli tree. The idea is to make it big enough that they can regulate themselves how large a piece they want in their mouths.

My DS did choke at a party when he was just turned 2, I broke my own rules and was chatting while he was sneaking sweets from the snack table. I noticed something wasn't right and instantly flipped him on my knee and gave him 2 back blows and he vomited out the skittles that had got stuck. The mums beside me were shocked and said they wouldn't have had a clue what to do so now I always recommend to do a first aid class.

Certainly look up choking first aid - it helps to know, I had to use it too when a well meaning person in a shop gave my 2 year old a booked sweet and she choked on it.

@Imissprosecco has given good advice - a trip down the food aisle for babies and toddlers has lots of easy stages things to introduce texture - spaghetti is good. I did some home cooked stuff but I did use a lot of Ellas and they are good eaters.

Do a first aid course, it will reduce the anxiety.

As PP said definitely check out Solid Starts. Not only can you see videos/diagrams on how eating works and the difference between gagging and choking, but you can look up foods in their free data base on how to serve them based on age. It's brilliant

My baby is also 7 months and I could've written this post myself. My anxiety is through the roof. I've started him on more textured purée now so lumpier food, you could try that?
Mines not even interested in food which makes it even harder. He just throws it around and mushes it in his hair xx