Intentionally Gagging to Puking

Cara03 · March 2011

Please help if you have any advice. LO is frequently (almost non-stop this morning) sticking his fingers in his mouth, way back until he gags and pukes. This behavior started several weeks ago but is getting more and more frequent. It seems to sometimes be accidental but most of the time be attention-seeking, especially during meal times or if we're doing something he doesn't like (i.e. changing diaper). I am getting so frustrated with cleaning up the puke all the time (2 already this morning) and don't know how to handle this behavior. We've tried ignoring it as best as possible (which is kind of difficult given that we have to clean up the puke). We've also tried taking his hand out of his mouth and saying "no, no, ouchie" as soon as we notice it, but nothing has worked.

Any advice??? Thank you!!

CLAYLIOVER · March 2011

The only thing I can tell you is Abby is doing the exact same thing. I just say "No no baby". Hers is unintentional though so I dont really know any tricks. Shes just a baby bulimic. No fun.

mhenry78 · March 2011

Does he have or had reflux? My son did this and we ended up doing swallow studies and he was aspirating. We thickened his drinks and went to... What I call... How to eat food classes.

he had to learn to eat and not stuff. It took him about 2 years to stop. It is very frustrating!!

2BWEDN2007 · March 2011

UGH! I feel your pain. DS did this and it was awful! We'd be driving down the road and hear him start gagging and yell, "JACOB! Noooooooo!" The one time we didn't reach back in time and stop him he puked all over himself and the car seat. Do you know how difficult it is to remove and clean Britax car seat covers?! I couldn't go anywhere for two days!

Unfortunately, this behavior lasted a good six months (like you said most of the time it was attention seeking or his own experimentation) and although my advice won't work for everyone we ended up giving DS a pacifier. He was never a baby who took a pacifier, but we coaxed him into taking it simply because it was better to force him to take the bink and wean him off of that then to clean up puke 24 hrs a day.

Luckily, DD never did this and I am hoping I didn't just jinx myself by saying that. I hope you find a way to stop him successfully! It is very frustrating!

ETA: Just noticed your ticker. My little gagger was 24w5d as well!!!

Cara03 · March 2011

mhenry78:
Does he have or had reflux? My son did this and we ended up doing swallow studies and he was aspirating. We thickened his drinks and went to... What I call... How to eat food classes. he had to learn to eat and not stuff. It took him about 2 years to stop. It is very frustrating!!

LO does have reflux. Do you know how it's determined whether they should have a swallow study? We have not and I've talked to his pedi about the reflux several times. He seems unconcerned since it's not upsetting LO at this point, and keeps saying to wait until he outgrows it. Thanks!

Cara03 · March 2011

2BWEDN2007:

Unfortunately, this behavior lasted a good six months (like you said most of the time it was attention seeking or his own experimentation) and although my advice won't work for everyone we ended up giving DS a pacifier. He was never a baby who took a pacifier, but we coaxed him into taking it simply because it was better to force him to take the bink and wean him off of that then to clean up puke 24 hrs a day.

ETA: Just noticed your ticker. My little gagger was 24w5d as well!!!

What a crazy coincidence. My LO is Jacob, too! How is your Jacob doing now at almost 3 years old?

I really like your pacifier idea. I hadn't thought of that. We're in the habbit of only using it at night because that's really the only time he's taken to it, but I am going to try during the day, too. Fingers crossed that this works, and also that your DD doesn't develop this behavior!

Thanks!!

2BWEDN2007 · March 2011

Cara03:
2BWEDN2007:

Unfortunately, this behavior lasted a good six months (like you said most of the time it was attention seeking or his own experimentation) and although my advice won't work for everyone we ended up giving DS a pacifier. He was never a baby who took a pacifier, but we coaxed him into taking it simply because it was better to force him to take the bink and wean him off of that then to clean up puke 24 hrs a day.

ETA: Just noticed your ticker. My little gagger was 24w5d as well!!!

What a crazy coincidence. My LO is Jacob, too! How is your Jacob doing now at almost 3 years old?

I really like your pacifier idea. I hadn't thought of that. We're in the habbit of only using it at night because that's really the only time he's taken to it, but I am going to try during the day, too. Fingers crossed that this works, and also that your DD doesn't develop this behavior!

Thanks!!

That IS a crazy coincidence!!!

My Jacob is doing great! He is graduating from the Early Intervention program in 3 weeks and heading to preschool. He still needs speech therapy (very delayed when it comes to talking) and he wears glasses for being farsighted due to his ROP. He only wears them when doing something in his lap like reading a book, doing a puzzle, etc. Other than that he is a normal 3 year old boy and nobody ever knows by looking at him that he was born so early! He is a peanut. His sister (who is 16 months younger) weighs 2 ounces MORE than him!

It was a long haul, but I am finally comfortable with where he is and how is he progressing. I can't believe I am planning his third birthday party this month. These 24 weekers are amazing! If anyone had told me how well he would be doing 3 years ago I don't know if I would have believed them. When I went into labor I was assuming my life was going to be dedicated to raising a severely disabled child (if he even survived) and it still boggles my mind that he has no permanent side effects.

Cara03 · March 2011

YEY! This is so wonderful to hear! I also love to see that your daughter was born close to full-term. That gives me hope for future (hopeful) pregnancies. I hope your current pregnancy goes nice, smooth, and long, too.

I had the same thoughts when I was on hospital bedrest trying to keep LO cooking: that I'd be raising a child with extreme special needs, or have no baby at all. I feel so fortunate for the amazingly positive outcome we have had, as well. We are working on motor delays, speech, avoiding germs due to chronic lung disease, etc, but we somehow avioded all of the major problems. Wow!

mhenry78 · March 2011

Cara03:
mhenry78:
Does he have or had reflux? My son did this and we ended up doing swallow studies and he was aspirating. We thickened his drinks and went to... What I call... How to eat food classes. he had to learn to eat and not stuff. It took him about 2 years to stop. It is very frustrating!!

LO does have reflux. Do you know how it's determined whether they should have a swallow study? We have not and I've talked to his pedi about the reflux several times. He seems unconcerned since it's not upsetting LO at this point, and keeps saying to wait until he outgrows it. Thanks!

He was in Early On and a play group and they are the ones who suggested he have a swallow study done. He was stuffing, gagging and puking all the time. The doctor also told me he would grow out of it but he didn't. He had to be tought not to stuff and gag. I hope you can get a swallow study done.

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