XP from 9-12mo: Swallowing Problems

AliW220

I've been MIA from TB for a few months now, but thought maybe some of you great Bumpies would have some advice/words of encouragement.

My almost 11 month old I believe has swallowing troubles, and I'm wondering if any other moms have dealt with the same thing... To put it simply, if food needs to be completely pureed (like stage 1 food, and non-textured stage 2)... if there are ANY chunks, texture, he instantly gags and projectile vomits.

This means no stage 3 foods, except for some like sweet potatoes. No yummy puff things, no cheerios, no yogurt melts, absolutely no table food. Even mashed potatoes are a no-go.

My pedi has ordered a swallow study - where he drinks contrast and they image how it goes down, then they will also try feeding him foods that usually make him puke. Joy. I am so extremely nervous, scared, terrified to put him through all this.

Anyone got any happy ending stories? TIA ladies!

{update since I posted on the babies 9-12 month board...}

... so reading some posts on here about what other babies this age eat, I'm in tears. Cut up bananas? Pizza crust? Hot dogs? Oh my gosh, I can't even think about giving my baby that. I love food, I love cooking, I love sharing my cooking with my family. I'm so devistated that my little one is so far behind, and that he probably won't even be able to have birthday cake....

Sorry for the sob story... but man I'm gunna get an ulcer with all these emotions bottle up!

jnickers98

My DD didn't start catching on to chewing before swallowing until 2-3 weeks ago.  Once she caught onto chewing, she no longer gagged and vomited solid foods. 

Does he chew the food and still gag/vomit?  Or is he not chewing and that's what's causing the problems?

Sorry I'm not much help.

AliW220

He doesn't chew at all, it gets in his mouth and instantly gags. Funny because he knows how to chew on non-food things just fine. Like everything... and anything...

I'm glad to hear that there are other babies who are late on this!

namara5532

I don't have much experience with this issue, but don't be too upset about other babies' progress.  You mentioned that you've offered food with more substance, so it's not like you're only offering purees.

My first thought is it sounds medical.  I hope you'll get results from the swallow study.  If it's behavioral and they're just refusing solids, best I can suggest is to keep offering it.  Young children won't willingly starve themselves if a certain type of food is all that's available.  It could also be that for whatever reason they need more time to adapt to solids.  What I know helps DS when he is startled when he gags is to offer him encouragement.  I praise him for giving the harder food a try, and I keep feeding time fun by not forcing the food at him.  If he doesn't eat, I figure he wasn't hungry and try again at the next meal.

Best of luck to you.

shotzie

I don't have experience with the solids issue, but DD2 had a swallow study done several months ago, due to reflux. It was very quick, and she didn't mind it at all. Of course, we didn't have the issue with solids to contend with, so I can see why that part is stressing you out.

I would contact Early Intervention in your area for an evaluation. If he needs PT/OT/Speech therapy to help with his swallowing, they provide free, in home services up to age 3.

Good luck! I hope you get some answers soon!

meltycheeseburger

I'm a speech language pathologist who works with kiddos with swallowing difficulties. The swallow study will show why this is happening anything abnormal anatomically, if there are any strategies that work safely during the study and if therapy would help. It's usually not something anatomical and can be something like a super gag reflex, fear or just practice. It helps see what we can't "see". I hope helps and good luck!

AliW220

Thank you ladies for your input, and the pats on the back

Wow, I must have been super hormonal on Friday.. or maybe just had the weekend to wind down about it. DS has been extremely healthy, everything since we found out we were expecting has been run-of-the-mill, normal, and no issues - I think that's why now that he's got something not quite right I'm totally freaking out...

Man, this whole medical stuff with your kid is hard!

I'm hoping too that we get some answers tomorrow.