son gags on food from table..... what needs to be done different

Itsa - posted on 05/20/2010

My son has to have his baby food blended until smooth and I mix in a bit of formula until it's like a thick soup... cereal... same way! Some babies have a weaker epiglottis (little flap of skin at back of throat) and when the slightest chunk is detected, up it all comes.

Try using an immersion blender or another kind of blender to grind up his food?

Becca - posted on 05/16/2010

I was told by my health nurse that gagging can help your child learn to avoid choking and that the gag reflex is found further forward in a baby's mouth as compared to an adult so it is not actually a bad thing, just a part of learning and a bit distressing for Mom/Dad.



Also, have you tried offering foods that your son can self feed, like steamed vegetable sticks or pieces of soft fruit? He may be less likely to gag if he is in control of how much is going into his mouth at a time.

*Lisa* - posted on 05/16/2010

Glad you posted this one Kerrie coz my 8.5 month old is doing the same thing. Tonight he threw up MAJOR after gagging. He doesn't eat the purees very well either. Just tiny bits. So it sounds like perseverance is the key?

Christina - posted on 05/15/2010

My daughter refused to eat the stage 3 foods, but will eat any table food I will give her. She eats whatever me and daddy are eating. She still eats stage 2 foods when we are eating something that she cant eat like tuna or hunny, but for the most part she just eats regular food like me and daddy.

Heather - posted on 05/14/2010

wow- i feel tons better, too! my daughter has this problem, too. i've tried bananas, cheese, fruit puffs, and she won't even tolerate baby food with any kind of lumps in it. i do just keep trying and am working not to stress about it, as i don't want meal times to become battle grounds... but man, it does get SO frustrating at times! so glad to hear i'm not alone.

Roni - posted on 05/13/2010

wow..my son is exactly the same way. I guess i feel a little better about it now cause i was worried.

Roberta - posted on 05/13/2010

my son is the same...he's 9mths next week,if the food is slightly lumpy he either gags or refuses it but if its pureed he'll eat it no worries...sorry no help what so ever but will be watch this with much interest

Angie - posted on 05/13/2010

Oh my goodness, I feel your pain. I never knew introducing solids was going to be so challenging! I agree with Sarah; perserverance. You need to be patient and keep trying, but it's important not to push it either. Your son will get it on his own time. My son took 3 whole months to like any type of baby food, whether it was rice cereal, fruits or veggies, he absolutely refused to even open his mouth. He'd clamp it shut and turn his head away. I was going nuts w/ frustration. But then one day, he just decided he liked solids and has been eating pretty good since. He still doesn't love being spoon fed, but he loves being finger-fed people food. He's crazy about real bananas! In fact, I would recommend feeding your baby bananas, if you haven't already. Just put a small portion into his mouth to let him experiment with the texture at first. Bananas are great for exploration because they are naturally mushy and slippery and slimey. They don't require a lot of gnawing or "chewing" and slides down the throat easily.



Also, do you feed your baby the Stage 3 baby food that has the bigger chunks? If not, I would switch to that so your baby can experience the mushy chunks in w/ his traditional baby food that he likes already.



Good luck!

Sarah - posted on 05/13/2010

My lo used to be like that then all of a sudden she just started eating so other than perserverence i cant suggest much, although if hes eating baby food ok then maybe put a spoonful of normal mash in with his baby food and then once he eats that ok add a little more mash and reduce the baby food again and again until he eats all mash! Or maybe try strained carrots or butternut squash or sweet potatoe as most babies prefer the sweet taste rather than mash!
Otherwise just perseverence is the key i believe, even at 9 months old some babies do not eat solids and a few dont eat any solids at all, my lo never really got on with her bottles so she was more than happy to eat whatever as long as it was puree but now she will eat toast and breadsticks and very lumpy food as long as the lumps are soft, a particular favourite is chedder crackers, shes all urs if u give her one of them, lol!!
Just keep trying hun, maybe give him something of ur plate and see if he eats it better?! good luck xx xx