Please help me!

Hi Melissa,

Are you cutting up the food into small pieces? It could also be tooth issues as well. Have you called your pediatrician? They usually have great advice and excellent tips.

Is he choking? Or is he gagging at the new textures? Have a look at babies gagging when weening, as their gag reflex is very strong at that age. I’d also research how to respond when your baby gags. It’s super common for babies to gag when they’re learning about size of food, taste, texture, how to move food in their mouth and how to chew etc.

@Charlotte I would say he is gagging. Like we even tried the Gerber melts and puff things that are approved for 8 month Olds and it says that are supposed to dissolve quickly which is why I got them and they still made him gag. I hate seeing him do that. It scares me and I dont remember my other kids doing this.

Gagging and choking are very different. Gagging is a protective reflex and it's actually physiologically impossible to choke if they are gagging as it closes off the windpipe. Some babies have more sensitive gag reflex, but it's all part of their learning to move food around their mouth and swallow safely. It will reduce in time. The more practice he gets with different textures, the less intense the gagging will be :)

It’s definitely gagging, it’s very rare for a baby to actually choke. But it’s part of weening. Allow him to explore age appropriate size pieces of food (solid starts app will help with this) and urs certainly scary for the parent, however don’t be tempted to rip food out of his hand or mouth if he gags (this is dangerous as he could choke). At 8m, texture, flavour and learning how to eat is all super new. The gag reflex deffo reduces as they grow

Thank you @Charlotte and @Steph. I will continue to offer it and try to just breathe it through while he gags. Only one way to learn right. Im sorry im an old/new mom and I just dont remember experiencing this with my older 2. Cross your fingers me that it doesn't last long ❤️

Is he gagging or choking?

Gagging is completely normal.

I would suggest looking into solid start, their Instagram and their app. It's very helpful. They show you approiate sizes to cut and serve things. They have lots of videos of gagging vs chocking too. Try giving him a teething size of pineapple core. So long enough for baby to hold and chew on and about two adult fingers wide. This is hardish and he won't be able to get much off but the tangy sweet flavor will help "wake up" his mouth so he can map it out better. Their gag reflex is very far foward early on but as they eat more it moves further back. It'll get better