Is it normal?
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Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: Is it normal?
Posted By: anon
Subject: Is it normal?
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 11:43am
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I have just started my baby on solids. First I tried Farex which he didn't seem to like, then I tried potato, which he seemed to not screw up his face at so much. But both times he gagged now and then.
I think it's because he doesn't know that once there's food in his mouth, he should swallow it. Is it normal for them to gag a bit at the beginning? I am only giving him 2tsp at this stage and he's not vomiting. If it is normal for them to do that, how long does it take for them to get used to it and swallow properly? Should I be worried by the gagging at all? He's just over 5mths old and showing all other signs for being ready for solids. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: NewPhoenix
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 11:47am
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Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 11:49am
| Totally normal. At nearly 9 months we still get the odd gag at new food. I had good success with kumara and pumpkin, not as starchy as pototo and a bit easier to digest. Just encourage him at this stage and slowly he will get the hang of it. |
Posted By: Mum_mum
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 3:26pm
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Yeah we got that alot at the start, especially after a couple of mouthfuls. I just always stopped when she gagged thinking that was her way of saying she didnt want anymore. Our girl really liked pumpkin and farex but hated fruits! We don't get gagging anymore except when i try something a bit more textured which we are moving on to now. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
 Angel baby - May 2008
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Posted By: bun_in_the_oven
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 4:35pm
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have you thought about BLW ??
gagging is a natural reflex and totally normal. Take it slow, and have fun with it !! |
Posted By: Jam08
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 5:29pm
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I know it can be frustrating but the above poster is right - take it slow and enjoy.
DS was offered solids once a day for about a month before he really ate any. He just screwed his nose up and spat things out, and sometimes would gag. He was 6 months so we just kept offering them each day. We would stick with a food for a few days and then try something else. |
Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 8:08pm
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Gagging is not the same as choking, it just looks scary. It's something that's mentioned a lot more under BLW.
A baby's gag reflex is triggered further forward, probably to help prevent choking (from the BLW book). A screwed up face is not necessarily a sign he doesn't like it. For ages DS would screw up his face at the first couple of spoon fulls of pretty much anything, then he'd eat the lot - go figure. Start slow, and have fun. I always find there's something so cute about watching babies eat (or trying to). ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwikid
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 7:35am
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I agree with the others, gagging is totally normal, however I'd start the first month with something a bit wetter than potato - pumpkin / kumara on the savoury side and then good old apple etc on the sweet. Obviously there is the BLW option to consider but if you are going down the more 'traditional' route then I'd build up to potato a little way down the track once baby is used to what's going on. ------------- 
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Posted By: anon
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 3:02pm
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Thanks everyone. His gagging has lessened since I started putting the solids on the tip of his tongue and letting him move it to the back of his tongue (and I guess, swallow from there). Plus, even though they say not to add water to your solids, I had to to the potato because it's so gloopy. I don't really know what other savoury things to try besides kumara and pumpkin that I can make myself and he's not into farex so will just carry on down the road I'm going and use the water I cooked the vegies in to make it more pureed and less "mashed".
Thanks for all the advice and reassurance - it's good to know that when he gags it's nothing to worry about. He seems to have had enough after about a tsp worth of food, but now seems to enjoy it so definitely much better  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: josephnia
Date Posted: 21 April 2010 at 3:05pm
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My DS loved pureed carrot and I added courgette and parsnips sometimes as well. And carrots are super cheap most of the time -------------  
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Posted By: Tigerish
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 2:09am
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Carrot and courgette together are a huge hit in our house. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 22 April 2010 at 9:34am
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What about lentils? ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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