BLW questions...gagging

ReeceFamily

Looking for input from more experienced BLWers!  DD just started BLW, she is sitting in her little chair with us at dinner, and for the most part she is still just playing with her food.  However, for the past two nights she has put food in her mouth, as well.  Last night she put some cheese in her mouth and started chewing a little (well, gumming, she has no teeth yet).  She gagged like crazy and ended up throwing up the cheese and some breastmilk, as well.

I know that overcoming the gag reflex is part of the BLW process, I guess I'm just wondering what others' experiences are with this.  Did your kids throw up as well as gag?  How long did it take for them to be able to swallow their food?

alysie89

My DD was a super eater right from the get go and always put way too much food in her mouth and thus did alot of gagging. I'd say for us it took about 3 weeks for her to really get the hang of eating. When she had a really big gag she did throw up a bit. My doctor explained to me that it can be like us adults when we gag, the reaction and force can be so strong that a little bit does come up, and not to worry unless it happened every single time she puts any little piece of food in her mouth. I found the first few weeks a big learning curve for both DD and myself! When I thought she'd eaten nothing, it had turned out that she had eaten some, and often way more than I thought she did! By 7 months she was biting pieces off of things, like a broccoli floret steamed. Good Luck, with the BLW!
*Also just a thought, have you checked out the BLW forums on the website, I found them incredibly helpful when I was starting to get a great sense of what was normal, because it's such a wide range!

blu-eyedwife

We didn't have any throwing up, but lots and lots of gagging at first. Like alysie said, the beginning is really about learning for them - learning what food is, what it tastes like, what it feels like, how much they can put in their mouth, etc.   Last night was a learning experience for her and it really just depends on the individual as to how quickly they pick it up.  We all learn at different speeds.

I would say it was a good 3 weeks or so before my son started actually swallowing food consistently instead of mouthing it/sucking on it, letting it fall from his mouth.

ReeceFamily

Thanks!!  I'll check out the BLW forums!

ForeverEverAfter

It also might go easier if you give her some things that fall apart in the mouth, like overcooked carrot or broccoli. My LO eats just about everything now, but soft foods helped her learn to move things in her mouth better.

ncbelle

Gagging is very common (and good because it prevents choking!) but I agree with forever that you might try a different food.  Cheese is very "gummy" once wet.  Things like roasted root veggies tend to work better when they are learning.