Afraid of BLW

[Huxley]

Im a single mom and my daughter is six months old. She seems ready for food. I want to do blw but I'm scared to feed her.

Today I gave her a piece of banana. She put it in her mouth and broke a piece off and my heart just stopped. I was so scared. She just spit it out fine. She didn't gag or chew or anything. She did great.

I just am so scared something will happen and I'll be all alone to deal with it.

How did you do blw? Any advice on how to do it so I won't be afraid?

Thanks so much.

[Done at 3]

I'm interested in this info too I'm intrigued but such a nervous nelly about choking.

[crazyeyesmcgee]

I take and kind of smoosh of tiny piece of banana between my finger and thumb and then put it in her mouth. I probably wouldn't give her a piece to hold, but that's just me. Your LO might be more able to work with it than mine. I know my DD is interested in food, but she does not have enough hand/mouth coordination to get food to her mouth yet and that frustrates her.

As she gets older, I will just give her bits of smooshed food to play with and eat. For me, BLS is simply not relying on "x jars of baby food per day" --instead, baby is just trying out food. For some that could mean letting the baby touch/play with food on their own to see what they do and for others that might mean just giving them easier to eat versions of what we are eating so they can experience the taste. Or maybe a bit of both.

I don't know that there is any more to it then following your instinct--if you feel nervous giving your LO a piece of food, don't do it. Put a bit on your finger and let them try it that way. Kwim?

[crazyeyesmcgee]

Also wanted to add--the choking reflex is REALLY strong in babies so don't be afraid if you see them gag a bit. It's normal, and how they learn NOT to choke on food

[anne_josh]

Originally Posted by crazyeyesmcgee Also wanted to add--the choking reflex is REALLY strong in babies so don't be afraid if you see them gag a bit. It's normal, and how they learn NOT to choke on food

This, plus it is my understanding (someone PLEASE do correct me if I'm wrong) that true choking, as in an actual airway blockage, is rare with soft food. The warnings are on things that are hard or chunky--raw veggies, apples, nuts, some meats. If you stick to squishy things like avocado or cooked rice for first foods I think choking is very unlikely. But it is important to know what you're dealing with, so it's a good time to review what to do in the case of actual choking. http://www.babycenter.com/0_infant-f...rticlesection1

[Rdesonia]

Originally Posted by anne_josh This, plus it is my understanding (someone PLEASE do correct me if I'm wrong) that true choking, as in an actual airway blockage, is rare with soft food. The warnings are on things that are hard or chunky--raw veggies, apples, nuts, some meats. If you stick to squishy things like avocado or cooked rice for first foods I think choking is very unlikely. But it is important to know what you're dealing with, so it's a good time to review what to do in the case of actual choking. http://www.babycenter.com/0_infant-f...rticlesection1

Yes an obstruction is true choking. However most people consider it gagging and coughing. With liquids and purees if a child has issues swallowing it, they could aspirate. (It could go in their lungs and cause pneumonia). To prevent aspiration, most doctors recommend thickening the food. When food is thicker (like a real piece of avocado versus a blended puree of avocado), it forces the eater to swallow differently. It is also easier to form into something that can be swallowed.
(Babies suck milk and other liquids. The liquids don't pool in their mouths. To test this:compare the muscles and swallowing from a straw versus from an open cup. You will feel the difference. The straw swallow is often "stronger")

[Huxley]

I thought you weren't supposed to help them by putting food in their mouth?

[moonlightblonde]

Originally Posted by Huxley I thought you weren't supposed to help them by putting food in their mouth?

You're not, also no need to smush it between your finger first...if baby cant pick it up & get it into their own mouth they don't need it.

I'd get the book if I were you, it helped calm dp's fears when dd1 was little. Their gag reflux is so far forward at this point.

I can't wait to start with dd2 - she is attacking us for food/water.

[crazyeyesmcgee]

Originally Posted by moonlightblonde You're not, also no need to smush it between your finger first...if baby cant pick it up & get it into their own mouth they don't need it.

Whoops. Guess I'm not doing BLS/BLW, then.

[Huxley]

Thanks. My dd has no problem getting food to her mouth. I'm going to buy the book. I couldn't find it for my iPad unfortunately. I might also feed her when I have people over for the first few times. I've been watching YouTube videos of babies gagging to help me figure out the difference between choking and gagging. How do you tell?