BLW concerns

honeydew01

DD is 7.5 months and it's been a month an half since we started BLW. My concern is that she's not chewing down what she bites off, she just keeps them in her mouth and keeps taking more bites. We've tried giving her only one piece of food (like a stick of carrot). At the end of meal time we give her water in a cup (we hold it for her) and lots of stuff comes out, pouring into the cup that she's holding onto in her mouth. I'm just wondering when she'll learn to chew what she bites off and also concerned that she'll choke if we don't catch whatever is in her mouth when she lays down..She also hates us digging in her mouth for the pieces.

I appreciate any advice you guys may have...
thanks!

wbsmetrosphoenix@yahoo.com

I did purées until dd learned to swallow, then started blw. Haven't had a problem!

SLGILL1978

My daughter does the same thing. But I also give her purees as well. It looks like to me she is chewing but then depending on what it is (pasta, eggs) I am always picking up little pieces of food.

MrsG071809

My DD stores food often too... I don't dig it out though.  She usually ends up swallowing it or spitting it back out when she drinks water...as time has gone on she has been doing it less and less so I think it's just a matter of her learning to swallow.

ebp913

I would reread some of the basics on BLW.  Reaching in their mouth can be really dangerous.  I think your LO is just learning and it will take some time to figure it out.  You can always keep them sitting up for awhile after meals if you are concerned.  

honeydew01

Thank you guys.

She doesn't open up for purees that's why we started with finger food. She wants to be in control I think.

I have read 2 books on BLW but neither really discussed the issue of them holding onto food in the mouth that's why I was asking here..I don't try to dig in her mouth right after mealtime. We usually do sit up for a while after the meal then if she starts gagging I watch her closely to see if she can sort it out on her own, I know she's learning and if I jump in she won't learn.

The last couple of nights we have moved on to the floor after meal time and suddenly she has started gagging..then I see lots of food in her mouth still. We sit her up and let her work at it, sometimes give her water in a cup and stuff comes out..then if she's ready to go to bed and I still see stuff we try to get it out before she goes to bed.

So should I just let her be and she'd swallow it later? Usually she goes to sleep an hour after meal time..she's not going to choke in sleep if there is food in her mouth while she's asleep? I feel stupid asking these but I'm a FTM and it scares me..

MrsG071809

honeydew01 said:

So should I just let her be and she'd swallow it later? Usually she goes to sleep an hour after meal time..she's not going to choke in sleep if there is food in her mouth while she's asleep? I feel stupid asking these but I'm a FTM and it scares me..

I'm a FTM too, so take my advice for what it's worth

DD goes to bed shortly after mealtime too, and we've never had an issue.  She gags while eating still, but I just let her be and she eventually swallows it down or spits it out.  I think if she really has something in there still her saliva will break it down and she will swallow it in her sleep, unless it is something hard that would get stuck in her throat - but she really shouldn't be eating that anyway.  All this to say I don't think you have to worry about it

SidraJedi

OP, I understand your concern. DD's mouth would make a chipmunk jealous!