More questions on finger/table foods

ARJ6511 · February 2014

At DD's 9 month appt, the pediatrician told me to start more table foods. Literally to just cut up whatever we were having (no honey or shellfish or things like that) and give it to her.

I have been giving her more things lately, but she is such a gagger. I'm so worried she is going to choke. She just ends up coughing and coughing and I have to finger sweep her mouth.

I been reading a lot online, and I know it was discussed here awhile back, but how do I give her pasta or bread? Does the bread have to be toasted or untoasted? Does the pasta have to be over-cooked? I'm overwhelming myself..obviously.

Do you all just mash up whatever you're eating for LO? Can you tell this is my first child? haha...I feel like I don't know what the heck I'm doing.

ClandestineX · February 2014

Gagging is a natural reflex though. It is just because your mouth is soooo very sensitive. I think it is one of the top places where nerve endings are. So it takes time and practice for your throat to get used to it.

I honestly would not finger swipe her mouth, you can get food lodged that way and then it will become actual choking. It is rather dangerous.

You can give pasta/bread. I have given pasta to Connor since 6 months and he loves it. I am not a huge pasta/bread person myself but I give toast and soft bread to him a few times a week at least. I would give her pasta the way -you- like it. It doesn't have to be made special for baby.

I don't mash up food for him. I make it into small pieces, about the size of his thumb or half the size of his thumb (but never smaller). He has a problem stuffing his cheeks which is why I do not give him large pieces, besides, this way he works on his pincer grasp. I feed him anything I am eating except honey.. though I don't eat much honey.. and I haven't tried to feed him shellfish yet because I think it is disgusting when it isn't fresh.

kgs0505 · February 2014

The only thing my pedi told me was no white bread, and that's because it can lump up and turn into a gluey mess, which is a chocking hazard. Start with toasted bread if you are worried about chocking. It dries it out and makes it a bit more crumbly for them. Gagging will lessen with more practice.

pinottoparenthood · February 2014

Nikki basically said all that I was going to say! Cut into small pieces, don't mash. Start with softer foods if you are nervous about it. Don't do the finger sweep. Just let your baby work the food out. If she were actually CHOKING (NO noise, can't breathe), you would do baby Heimlich, which involves holding her facedown and giving back blows... but it really won't come to that!

Aprilbaby49 · February 2014

pinottoparenthood said:
Nikki basically said all that I was going to say! Cut into small pieces, don't mash. Start with softer foods if you are nervous about it. Don't do the finger sweep. Just let your baby work the food out. If she were actually CHOKING (NO noise, can't breathe), you would do baby Heimlich, which involves holding her facedown and giving back blows... but it really won't come to that!

This.

AprilloMom · February 2014

I'm guilty of the finger swipe once too...but it's so dangerous! It can push whatever they are gagging on into their airway which DOES cause choking. But gagging is ok. I literally have to remind myself "gagging is ok...gagging is ok...gagging is not choking" lol. Like PP said, it is baby's way of getting used to new textures. They will either push it back to the front of their month or they may even throw up, but they will learn. We mostly give LO soft veggies and pieces of tender meat. Our pedi said anything but honey.

if we give bread we kinda roll it in to little balls. We cooked pasta the same, just cut it in to small pieces he could pick up.

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