Love BLW but so scared of choking

[Sarah125]

After Sophie stole her first chunk of food off my plate on Christmas Day we have started BLW. Well all I'm doing is putting her on my knee for each meal and letting her dive in!

On the plus side I can actually sit and enjoy a nice home cooked meal again! I used to have my tea after Sophie went to bed and it was always typical that I'd just sit down to my meal then i would hear her tossing and turning

Up until now she had just been putting stuff in her mouth and gumming it but today she was eating a chip and a bit of potato broke off. I panicked inside thinking she would choke but she didn't and happily chomped off another bit.

Does the feeling of worry subside over time? I am trying to stay calm but I honestly hate how scary it is. I'm such a paranoid mother already and this isn't helping I know I would panic about her choking even if we did puréed then started finger foods later on anyway so I'm not going to be put off BLW. I just presumed she would start later but she seems so into her food. Where did my baby go!?

 

[Sarah125]

Anyone? When does this stop being so scary?

 

[Athena]

I was REALLY paranoid too. The worst Rose has done is when the food goes to the back of her throat she coughs it forward she's only done this a few times and has gagged on a couple of things like a stick of cucumber/asparagus tip. She has never come close to choking. I watch her carefully (like a hawk in the beginning) but she has over the course of a month learnt how to chew and swallow. It's absolutely amazing and I feel so proud of her! My other two were TW and to compare both BLW is so much better and easier. Just be prepared for some mess!

Don't forget trust your baby and have fun xx

 

[noon_child]

The first couple of times they gag your heart stops and it is awful BUT if you stay calm and watch them you'll see how efficient gagging is at bringing the food to the front of the mouth where it is safely chewed a bit more. I think it took about 4 weeks for me to be able to stop watching like a hawk and the more you see them sucessfully dealing with mouths that are too full, difficult shaped food etc. the calmer you get.

It never phased my LO either she'd go right back to eating the same bit of food that just made her gag!

The thing that bugged me was that my OH would keep forgetting to check her mouth for food after each meal, then he'd lie her down to be changed and random food would fall off her palate or from her cheek to the back of her throat, and on her back the gagging/coughing was less effective. I got so mad at him! However at some point you dont have to do this because they know how to empty their own mouths properly. I don't even know when it happened but I just realised one day "Wow we never check her mouth for food anymore!"

 

[cocosianelle]

Like everyone else has said the key is to stay calm. You will be surprised at how well your baby will adapt. They need to get used to swallowing food as they've only ever had milk which is much easier as it goes straight down. Our LO will cough now and again but this is just her getting used to swallowing actual food. The thing is if you do intervene you risk pushing the food down further by sticking fingers in their mouths. Honestly just let her get on with it and she will soon tell you if she doesn't like something as she will gag and force it to the front of her mouth. This is completely normal.

 

[Sarah125]

Thank you so much. Think I just needed a bit of reassurance.

My OH has been off work today so I've been a lot calmer with someone else there (besides my mum who started hitting her on the back when she coughed slightly on a bit of bread ).

I never even thought to check her mouth after a meal noon child! I will definitely do this from now on

I'm starting to feel a bit less anxious each time we finish a meal so I guess it just takes time. Everyone I know has done TW and I think it's them making me more anxious! I just have to trust Sophie knows what she's doing. She's doing brilliantly so far and I've just taking to sitting on my hands if i feel like intervening

 

[cocosianelle]

I usually either put her in the kitchen and keep a close eye whilst pottering around tidying or I will sit down myself to eat which I think is good because they learn from you then too. It takes your mine off it too, I thought I'd be really worried about it too but I'm the one telling people to chill. The older generation are not used to BLW at all so you just need to explain a few times for it to sink in.

 

[Sarah125]

Thanks. I have been eating alongside her but I've just been a bit put off my food watching her like hawk.

My mum read the BLW book and thought it was great but I guess it was a bit difference when she saw it in action.