How do I get him to swallow?!

Telly21182 · May 2012

Does anyone else have this issue? I've mentioned it before, but never really asked for advice, but now I'm at my wits end trying and will take any advice I can get.

Ty eats purees like a champ. He chews table foods really well. However, he does not swallow table foods. He will store them in his cheeks (or roof of his mouth with "sticky" foods like cheese). He's a pro at hiding the food too because he will lock his jaw if I try to see what's left. He'll act like nothing is there, and it won't look like it so we'll give him a little more. At that point though, it is sometimes too much and he throws up because he ends up trying to swallow it all at once.

So, does anyone have any suggestions on how to get LOs to actually swallow their food. I try to tell him, rub my throat, etc. but obviously he doesn't get that! This is just a skill that's nearly impossible to express to a baby!

Suggestions and advice totally appreciated!!

11kacey · May 2012

This is what Molly did when we started whole foods back. Just go with it. Eventually he will figure out how much he can chew and swallow. I would definitely limit how much you put on his plate at once so he can't stuff himself silly.

It probably takes a few weeks and I would not give any purees except for maybe yogurt to encourage him to eat the new foods you give him.

How does he do with crackers and puffs?

MrsSparklesMcGee · May 2012

11kacey:
This is what Molly did when we started whole foods back. Just go with it. Eventually he will figure out how much he can chew and swallow. I would definitely limit how much you put on his plate at once so he can't stuff himself silly.
It probably takes a few weeks and I would not give any purees except for maybe yogurt to encourage him to eat the new foods you give him.
How does he do with crackers and puffs?

I agree with eliminating the purees. Also, have you been able to tell what his favorite foods are yet? Maybe you could sort of bribe him with his favorite foods and see if he's more likely to swallow those?

cassoppea · May 2012

What about trying to get him to drink after each bite? Maybe drinking some liquid will get him to swallow.

A will sometimes "pouch" her food. 20 minutes after she's done eating, I'll see her chewing something. I'll fish it out thinking it's something she picked up off the floor and it's just leftovers! Maybe it's just the age.

Telly21182 · May 2012

Mrs.SparklesMcGee:
11kacey:
This is what Molly did when we started whole foods back. Just go with it. Eventually he will figure out how much he can chew and swallow. I would definitely limit how much you put on his plate at once so he can't stuff himself silly.
It probably takes a few weeks and I would not give any purees except for maybe yogurt to encourage him to eat the new foods you give him.
How does he do with crackers and puffs?
I agree with eliminating the purees. Also, have you been able to tell what his favorite foods are yet? Maybe you could sort of bribe him with his favorite foods and see if he's more likely to swallow those?

He is a kid after my own heart and hates yogurt (we're weird, I know!). I'm hesitant to eliminate purees because I feel like he won't be eating enough, but I guess it's worth a shot.

He was doing really well with puffs and cheerios (not a fan of yogurt melts), but the last few days he's been gagging on his puffs (the cheese-puff looking ones), but he's been sick so I haven't thought too much of it.

He loves cheese, and I give him cheese every time I give him table foods, and he seems to do a little better with cheese, but not awesome with it.

Crackers are actually the worst culprit! For awhile it was actually only crackers he'd throw up, and I was beginning to think he had a gluten allergy/intolerance.

ETA: And, we give him water while he's eating and sometimes it seems to make it worse. It's like that's what's causing him to swallow the food, and therefore throw up. Maybe I'll start "forcing" him to drink some water after every 2-3 bites.

Jills83 · May 2012

cassoppea:

What about trying to get him to drink after each bite? Maybe drinking some liquid will get him to swallow.

A will sometimes "pouch" her food. 20 minutes after she's done eating, I'll see her chewing something. I'll fish it out thinking it's something she picked up off the floor and it's just leftovers! Maybe it's just the age.

I was going to suggest this. If V starts hoarding food in his mouth, I give him a drink and that helps him to wash it down. I also limit the number of bites I put in front of him. Try to check his mouth before you put more down for him to eat.

klingb52 · May 2012

Not sure that this will help, but what about blowing in his face after a couple of bites? I know that this works when trying to get them to swallow medicine. Perhaps after a couple of tries, he will learn what he needs to do on his own? When DS first started non-puff foods, he would throw up and store food, too. He did better with foods that are more moist and then with time did better with other foods.

Telly21182 · May 2012

klingb52:
Not sure that this will help, but what about blowing in his face after a couple of bites? I know that this works when trying to get them to swallow medicine. Perhaps after a couple of tries, he will learn what he needs to do on his own? When DS first started non-puff foods, he would throw up and store food, too. He did better with foods that are more moist and then with time did better with other foods.

I may try blowing in his face as well! He stores all foods - meats, pasta, cheese, eggs, whatever. I used to think it was funny - now it's honestly just annoying!

LauraOTR · May 2012

Try stroking his throat downward. You can also take an infant toothbrush (Nuk) try stimulating his gums, tongue and cheeks prior to, and occasionally during his meals. It could be that he doesn't yet know how to move his tongue to get the food out of his cheeks or off the roof of his mouth. You can practice the tongue movement by putting a puff or a yogurt melt (or something he really loves) on his back gums and then he'll need to use his tongue to 'get it.' I also agree with giving a sip of water after every couple of bites..it can help him learn the pattern of chew, chew, chew, swallow, then hopefully you can cut back on the water until he doesn't need it anymore.

Telly21182 · May 2012

LauraOTR:
Try stroking his throat downward. You can also take an infant toothbrush (Nuk) try stimulating his gums, tongue and cheeks prior to, and occasionally during his meals. It could be that he doesn't yet know how to move his tongue to get the food out of his cheeks or off the roof of his mouth. You can practice the tongue movement by putting a puff or a yogurt melt (or something he really loves) on his back gums and then he'll need to use his tongue to 'get it.' I also agree with giving a sip of water after every couple of bites..it can help him learn the pattern of chew, chew, chew, swallow, then hopefully you can cut back on the water until he doesn't need it anymore.

Great tips! Now, any tips on how to get something on his gums without him screaming at me or biting!? lol!

LauraOTR · May 2012

Telly21182:

LauraOTR:
Try stroking his throat downward. You can also take an infant toothbrush (Nuk) try stimulating his gums, tongue and cheeks prior to, and occasionally during his meals. It could be that he doesn't yet know how to move his tongue to get the food out of his cheeks or off the roof of his mouth. You can practice the tongue movement by putting a puff or a yogurt melt (or something he really loves) on his back gums and then he'll need to use his tongue to 'get it.' I also agree with giving a sip of water after every couple of bites..it can help him learn the pattern of chew, chew, chew, swallow, then hopefully you can cut back on the water until he doesn't need it anymore.

Great tips! Now, any tips on how to get something on his gums without him screaming at me or biting!? lol!

Haha, yeah, there's that. Is there anything that he DOES truely love? You could start with that. Even if it's yogurt, or something else tasty that you dip your finger into, then put it on his gums.

Telly21182 · May 2012

LauraOTR:
Telly21182:

LauraOTR:
Try stroking his throat downward. You can also take an infant toothbrush (Nuk) try stimulating his gums, tongue and cheeks prior to, and occasionally during his meals. It could be that he doesn't yet know how to move his tongue to get the food out of his cheeks or off the roof of his mouth. You can practice the tongue movement by putting a puff or a yogurt melt (or something he really loves) on his back gums and then he'll need to use his tongue to 'get it.' I also agree with giving a sip of water after every couple of bites..it can help him learn the pattern of chew, chew, chew, swallow, then hopefully you can cut back on the water until he doesn't need it anymore.

Great tips! Now, any tips on how to get something on his gums without him screaming at me or biting!? lol!

Haha, yeah, there's that. Is there anything that he DOES truely love? You could start with that. Even if it's yogurt, or something else tasty that you dip your finger into, then put it on his gums.

It's so hard to tell what he loves since right now so much is pureed foods. maybe I'll try with some cheese crumbles for now.

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