Finger Food Phobia

[FionaSH]

I had a bad experience a couple of weeks ago where DS (6 months) choked on a piece of pear I'd cut up and I did the terrible thing of seeing it, panicking and thinking "I'll hook that out!" and did the obvious pushing it further down his throat trick. Then remembering that that's exactly what they tell you NOT to do in the resusciatation workshop.
He coughed it up and was sick, but ultimately fine.
Mummy however is not. I lay awake every night now and just run it through in my head, and how I nearly killed him, and now I am petrified of giving him any finger foods. He's going to be on purees at 18 at this rate.
Any words of wisdom gratefully received...

Go on a paediatric first aid course, and then remember to give him big pieces of food - so with pear, give him the whole thing. That way, he'll just gnaw little bits of food off, and is much less likely to gag (what they do most of the time) or choke.

Then put things in front of him, and eat the same yourself, modelling good chewing - that should distract you enough to eat calmly. Failing that, breathe lots...

You poor love, I'm not surprised you are freaked out. The thing to remember is that your little one is fine & if it ever happened again, you would know what not to do. The first aid course idea is a good one (may do that myself actually).

Seeing as he's only 6 mths, you could always give the finger foods a miss for a couple of weeks until you feel more confident again.

Please don't keep beating yourself up over it, it was an accident, you dealt with it, baby is fine - tell yourself that when the scary thoughts pop into your head at night. I find shouting (in my head!) 'STOP!' when I get upsetting stuff rattling around in my head in the wee small hours helps too.

Hope this helps x

I was just about to start a thread on this same topic! I am absolutely terrified of BLW. My DD is 6.5 months now, and I've been giving her bits of banana in the morning and random bits of vegetables in the afternoons. She hasn't choked yet, but gagged a couple of times. I just sit there, my heart beating out of my chest, waiting to pounce if she does choke. I've read on the net about what you should do in case baby chokes, but I'm terrible in emergency situations - I just freak out completely. I'm terrified I won't have the presence of mind to help her if she does choke. Honestly, the whole thing stresses me out no end, and I do not look forward to feeding her. Having said that, she seems to enjoy it - makes movements with her mouth like she's chewing, spits out bits that are too big, etc. I know it's totally irrational, but I just don't know what to do.

Thanks for the responses - reassuring to know its not just me! I did do a first aid course when LO was about 8 weeks, but it appears I only remembered the stuff I wasn't supposed to do.... think I need a refresher course!!

I tried cucumber sticks last night - he didn't like them so put in his mouth and then spat out. Bad mummy heaved a sigh of relief! Haha! I know he hates mango too so maybe that'll be the next finger food attempt!!