Ok, my daughter is 10 1/2 months old now, has 6 teeth (4 top, 2 bottom) and she's been eating pureed solids since 5 months, and using a sippy cup since around 6months old. I started letting her try eating the Gerber Graduates puffs, which she does okay with, but it seems like if i try to give her anything else with some kind of texture she gags & chokes on it! There have been quite a few instances when she even chokes on the puffs recently, so i'm nervous about continuing to give her those or anything else. She also chokes on her water when she drinks out of her sippy cup almost every time! It scares the heck out of me. I know they say they're ready for finger foods when they've got the pincer grasp down; she tries but she's still not very good at that either yet. She'll pick up the puffs with her fingers, but has to use both hands to get it to her mouth.
Shouldn't she be eating quite a bit of real solids at this point? Has anyone else experienced a "late bloomer" with eating? My sister has a daughter 11 days older, and she eats just about anything now!
**EDIT
She's not 6 months, she's 10 1/2 almost 11 months now. And she is still breastfeeding, and quite a bit at that, so im not concerned about nutrition cuz she nurses a lot and like i said, she does eat pureed foods with no problem. She crawls great, stands up against things by herself, so all her other motor skills are pretty good. Im just concerned about the choking on water, and actually all the gas she has too. Even when she nurses she sometimes chokes. There was one time about 2 weeks ago while she was nursing she started choking so bad i almost called an ambulance! Anyone ever heard of a baby "swallowing backwards"? My dad is convinced that's the problem. I'll be seeing her ped. this week so i'm gonna ask about that once again. And again, i dont rush her into anything. She does things at her own pace, and if she doesn't start eating real solids til 2 years old thats fine with me! Was just curious what others have experienced. Thanks.
Thanks for the comments, ladies! And yes, i know that every child is different, obviously. I'm only comparing them for information's sake. I'm a first time mommy so i have no idea what is the usual age kids start eating what. As for the sippy cups, i think i'm on my 4th or 5th different type now. And actually, it seems the one with the straw thingy is the one she chokes least on, so that's a good start. I am already CPR certified, but it doesn't make it any less scary as im sure u all know! :P As always, i follow my instinct and my daughter's cues as to what she's ready for. My mother and in-laws always try to push me to give her things, but i refuse until i feel that me and my LO are ready for it.
Again, i was really just curious as to how anyone has dealt with feeding solids and trying new things. I've given her mashed sweet potato and a few things like that, but i guess i'll just wait a while longer before i give her more solid solids!
Lord have mercy, when did we make this a contest- Susie Q's little one is doing this, so mine must- knock it off. Kids are growing at different rates- go back to the bottle until she can do this w/o choking- have her choke to "keep up w/ the Jones" see how silly that is?
I bet you already knew this- right?
NO comparisons.
best, k
They normally start actually eating solid foods at a year +. They do go thru a stage of "choking" on things. Not actually choking but coughing stuff up and what not. With the water sometimes it takes them a while to figure out how to control it in their mouth and swallow it. I think she is probably just trying to learn how to do everything. My 11 month old daughter can eat the gerber puffs and gerber cheeto's but gags and chokes on stage 3 baby food! She's actually (accidentally) gotten a handful of popcorn before and swallowed it no prob but stage 3 baby food is just to thick for her at the moment. I think it's completely normally what your little girl is going thru! Don't worry she will get it down soon enough!
Your first mistake is a common one...:) You are comparing your child to another kid! There is no other child like your own, and the very first habit to get out of is comparing your child to any other child--each one is different, and each one learns in their own way and at their own pace...and yes!! It is HARD not to compare! :) Common!!
Second--I would say if she is even choking with the water that she is just eating and drinking too fast..:) very common at this age, as well. She is just learning. The fact that she is choking is a good sign....now don't take that the wrong way!! It just means that the airway is working properly, and not allowing the food to get stuck and nature is working to help her learn to slow down and how to eat. :) The sippy cup may also be dumping water out too fast for her to swallow, and you may want to try a cup with smaller holes or one that pours slower...but keep up with the cup! This is an awesome achievement and you should be very proud of her!
The puffs melt in the child's mouth, and are not a "true" solid, per se, but an awesome 1st food to learn from. If you feel she is choking too much, just give her one at a time, forcing her to slow down, get coordinated to eat and helping her learn. Most kids do not get the whole solid food thing down pat until 1 year or later...:)
I would say you are doing great! Most of all--listen to only one thing--your gut--because more often than not, your gut is right. If YOU feel it is too soon, hold back..if you feel that it is more of a learning curve and with practice, she will improve--then keep feeding it to her. YOU are the best judge of what is best. You will always get a ton of advice--but I would say to trust your gut, and chances are, you will do awesome! :)
OK. Forget the puffs for now.
Cook some carrots or squash or yam and mush it up
and make some little pieces . . . smaller than the puffs.
The sippy cup may have too large an opening.
I think there are sippy cups with smaller openings.
Please don't compare your daughter with your niece.
Each child is different.
I know that is scary! My daughter always choked on her foods when she was a baby she did it for the longest time. It is normal for her to gag being introduced to new foods and textures just be sure to only give small amounts at a time. As with the Gerber graduates puffs, my 8 month old son eats those and he will continue shoving a large amount in his mouth, so I only give a couple at a time to ensure he is fine and sit with him as he eats to be extra cautious. Just continue with the foods she will get better! I reccommend going to baby cpr / first aide classes; that will help you be more confident in case of an emergency and help you lose some of your nervousness. I've had to use the backthrust technique on my daughter, so it helps to be prepared!
My son is 10 months and when he started on finger foods, he did the same thing (about a month ago). He still does it with new textures, but has incorporated the occasional talent of putting his full hand in his mouth and trying to take out the food! So we started small. The occasional very small and super absorbent rice crispies. The sippy cups we have take quite the suction to get water out...he eventually learned, but still uses the block thing in the lid because otherwise it comes out too fast. Then we moved him to Cheerios then organic puffs (again, super absorbent but bigger). Next was tiny peices of plain bread. Then over Thanksgiving bread from the stuffing (definitely not a choking hazard but has stronger flavors and was organic and not strong anyways). Yesterday, he nearly malled me to get to some homemade mac n cheese! He's progressed for sure, but still does what you describe sometimes.
Practice in stages and I'm sure the finger foods will be a natural process and fun to watch:) I wouldn't worry too much though...late bloomer or not, it really is enjoyable to experience this gradual milestone with our little ones!
It could be a texture issue, so I would keep offering these things (but don't force it) and she will adapt to the textures...
I would have her immediately examined by a speech/language pathologist experienced in feeding/swallowing, and suck, swallow breathe reflex to see what is happening. She may have had early trauma to the system that stressed it and now sensory issues are coming out. Please do not ignore it and think she will grow out of it. It always comes back to bite you in other ways. Also have her evaluated by a pediatric occupational therapist. Fine motor skills come from gross motor skills and both pincer and oral motor are a fine motor skill. Hopefully your child is still crawling and will continue to crawl until she is at least 12-14 months. This devlops all the arches in the hands and strengthens neck, jaw and shoulders for eating, swallowing, speech, breath control, and later for handwriting and tons of other skills. Early intervention is the key and DON'T let your Dr. talk you out of it saying she's fine. They always try to and they usually know nothing of development and how it affects later early childhood skills. Also, have her use real cups with a tiny bit of water. Sippy cups do not develop vision skills such as convergence of the eyes. Be patient and in a couple of days she will be using the cup by herself. Sippy cups are causing all kinds of speech problems too.
Until 1year + a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition should be breastmilk or formula. So there's no way on earth she's a late bloomer. If anything you may well be pushing her too fast. :) So take a breathe.
She's showing difficulty with sippy cups and solids. Is there any reason not to let her keep using a bottle for 3-6 months? (I guarantee you, she won't look "babyish"... because she IS a baby). On solids... while dry things are easy, she may well need wet things for some time. Try thick carrot slices boiled in chicken stock. They mush and slide and make a mess... but they can be picked up and slide right down even without chewing. Try canned noodles (like campbels chunky). Just pour off the soup part and put the rest on her tray. Try mashed potato balls. Make sure with all of these things that they're rather wet and that you have a drink near by. But there's no need to stress on any of these. She's still a baby. There's no rush. Promise.
My third child had a problem with textures too. It was frustrating because I found myself mashing and mincing his foods (primarily meats) until he was 2. Frustrating! Just keep trying and don't compare your child to someone else's Every child is different.
If she is gagging hold back on crunchy things.. there is no hurry.. She is still very young.. do not rush and worry about how she holds things.. Getting food into her own mouth is excellent and drinking from a sippy is also excellent..
Each child is different and some will not eat solids at all times till they are almost 12 months.. She sounds great..
My friend's daughter had a similar problem and she found out that she had enlarged adnoids and her throat was restricted. I would definetely check with the Dr to make sure she isn't haven't having any issues with her throat before I put her on solids, it's not worth the rosk of her choking. Good luck!
M.
She's new at this and will be new at riding a bike one day. Let go of the nervousness and just watch and show her how to do things. At 6 months she's still a BABY!!! Relax (easier said than done, I know...)
Take lots of pictures and keep a journal.
Blessings, S.
My 10 month old son does the same "gagging" thing (makes a gagging face/makes gagging sound) when we tried to introduce new foods. We finally realized he wasn't actually choking....it was just his way of rejecting the new textures. Keep trying, but let her go at her own pace...they say it takes something like 15 tries, per food texture, before she'll accept it.
