18 months old - safe foods?

Most 18month olds can eat apples and other harder things like toast and crackers etc. It can be very scary introducing these though if you're anxious about choking. Perhaps try to take a pediatric first said course that can teach you what to do in the event of choking and how to recognise choking, while you may never have to use this, it may give you confidence to try more food into your LOs diet?

There are also loads of apps/books explaining textures at different ages that show you how best to prepare food. Solid starts is one that comes to mind, you may find you're a little behind schedule if you still mash all her food, that's ok, just start where you're comfortable and move on from there ❤️

Download the Solid Starts app. It tells you how to prepare each food. I'd ignore the ages they recommend for now because it sounds like your LO has mostly don't mashed foods so you want to start at the lowest age (even if it's not her real age) and work your way up as she becomes accustomed to each food.

Make sure you know the difference between gagging and choking because their natural gag reflex sometimes looks scary but is part of the process of them learning to eat different textures.

Also, look up choking hazards. Most things are fine cut certain ways or with skin removed. Real foods they shouldn't have until age 4+ are things like popcorn and marshmallows (foods that back thrusts won't dislodge). Make sure you know what to do in a real choking emergency but that should be a very rare occurrence.

Agree, with something like apple you don’t have to give her a full apple or even a wedge, you could shave down some slices using a peeler or similar to build up from. Sometimes refusal at home vs at nursery is to do with the environment too, ours eats absolutely everything at nursery but at home he picks and chooses with much more consideration! X

I understand your worries, we had a scary experience with potato at the beginning of weaning.

If your daughter is reluctant to try more textured food at home, you could give her some along with whatever else you're giving her. She'll get more exposed to the textures but there would be no pressure. Apple is quite tricky for them to get used to so maybe as a step in that direction you could try things like cubed of boiled sweet potato or some very ripe pear.

Just keep offering alongside what you know she'll eat. She may pick up on your anxiety, and it doesn't really matter if you're behind on solid starts. I started apple stewed then later with peeled thin slices, as it made me nervous too.. then around 18 months he was eating peeled apple wedges. Personally I think it's better starting where you're comfortable as she'll pick up less anxiety from you, she's getting the textures at nursery at this stage anyway.

Coughing and gagging is different from choking, but it can still make you feel nervous. Hope you get some encouragement from these suggestions.