Need baby led weaning support

HomelessParrot

My LO is almost 7 months, eats her cereal well, and will grab anything she can get her hands on. I have read the BLW book, I am convince of its merits, I know the difference between gagging and choking, I have watched the videos on baby "Heimlich" - and I have an infant CPR refresher Wednesday night.

 And still, I sit watching her eat with my heart in my mouth, shaking, inside thinking of her choking to death. I feel sick to my stomach every time I think about feeding her anything but mush. I am absolutely sick about it.

Please share your BLW stories with me. I need the positive encouragement! 

 

Schwiingybaby

I know how you're feeling! I gave my LO a bagel to chew on the other day and she choked for the first time. My instincts kicked in and I turned her almost upside down and it came right out. Since that happened I feel a little more confident in my abilities to save her life, but no more bagels for a while.

mrszundelli

I have thought about getting on here with the same concerns...my LO is 9 mos in 3 days and we've been doing BLW since about 6.5mos.  I love the concept of BLW but I also watch with my heart in my mouth, fearing at any moment he'll start choking.  He's thrown up and gagged a few times, and that just makes me sick to my stomach.  I know it's "supposed" to happen if the food gets too far back, and he's gone about his business after it happens, but he also likes to stuff his mouth (the BLW book said that this is less likely to happen because they learn not to fill their mouths too full.....soooo..?)  And once he has food in his mouth he doesn't spit it out if it's too full, he just starts to fuss and wants to get out of his chair and for me to hold him.  He even tries to BF, but he can't because he has food in his mouth.  So we'll have to sit until he FINALLY swallows or I have to scoop it out.  It's very nerve wracking for me...I wish I had the same great experiences and relaxed feelings that so many moms on here say they have.  But I'm continuing on with it!

Jelliebean1982

Why don't you just do finger foods then?

karinothing

We just started BLW two days ago so I don't have many stories to tell. But so far it has gone really well. He has had mango, bananas, cheerios, toast sticks, and cucumber. DS hasn't gagged yet because he mainly just sucks on the food. I think the important thing to do is just make sure the food is big enough so it isn't a choking hazard.

If it helps any, I never ate purees as a baby and I survived! 

bluejetta

We started this at 6 months and is going well so far.  We make sure to have DD upright, supervised and only giving her large manageable pieces or very soft items.  She loves her oats with breastmilk, bagels with cream cheese, ripe bananas and pears, strawberries etc) and meats (she basically gums pork, chicken, steak).

She has gagged a few times but that is a normal reflex and doesn't worry me.  I have not sent any food (except cereal) to daycare as I'm not ready to let other supervise her eating until I know she is more capable of eating more items.

Kyrgyz-American Wedding

Every time it seems completely unbelievable, I just watch the videos and get reassured! also, it appears to me to be more intuitive to our babies than the whole spoon thing. one thing is to make sure baby chews and swallows between bites. My daughter just likes to keep shoveling it in, even when her mouth is full :-)  also, just practice the cpr/choking stuff a few times on your baby (without actually hitting her back of course) and you will feel confident in your baby and yourself

CurbsideProphet

We have been very happy with BLW. DD has gagged a few times, but she has always managed to get the food to the front of her mouth and out. It is a little hard to watch her when she starts gagging, but I know it is helping her learn. I don't feel like she has every really been close to choking/needing us to assist her.

What foods have you been trying?

StefandTodd

I think what helped me was when I was reminded that, realistically, my H could just as "easily" (i.e. not very easily) choke on his dinner tonight as my LO.  So long as your LO is sitting up in her seat, not reclined at all, and feeding herself (do not put food into your kids mouth ever!), there's no reason to be so worried.  Do you sit in panic with your heart in your throat thinking you might lose your husband to his dinner?  Really, it'll be okay.

HomelessParrot

Thanks all. I have some anxiety issues/control issues - and I really want my child to have a good start with eating. I'm working very hard to set these issues aside, but anyone with anxiety can tell you that it's really, really hard.

 We've been giving her banana "sticks" (cutting them thick and wide), as well as apple sticks, avocado mashed a bit, a strawberry. That's about all she's tried. Both times we've attempted to let her feed herself, she's gagged pretty significantly, and I almost had a hard attack. Today, she gagged so hard that she vomited all over herself. It seems abnormal to me to be giving her food that is causing her to vomit on herself (she gnawed off a small piece of apple). 

 Rationally, I know it's going to be ok - but emotionally, the thought of anything ever happening to her just stops me cold. I'm afraid that I'm going to totally ruin eating for her by telegraphing all of my anxiety onto her.

It's eating me up right now. 

mchesney

I have been doing blw for about 2 months now. It has been really nice and fun. To be honest though if I was freaked out or it stressed me out, I wouldn't do it. Why put yourself through it if he'll eat either way?

My daughter really only gagged the first week or so. Today she chose a huge piece of rye bread over strawberries and pretty much waited till it softened in her mouth. Like above, she will keep piling it in her mouth even when her mouth is full. However she does spit stuff back out.