https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:11:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355810 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 15:02:16 +0000 catomd00 2355810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did BlW so lots of gagging, luckily no choking. It's scary but it's obviously necessary for them to learn. The sooner they explore different textures, the better. I took a CPR class which really helped me feel at ease. I also preferred to give DD stick sized bites of food that she could bite a piece off of instead of little bite sized pieces. You have to be really careful of chipmunk cheeks at this age - they sneakily hoard it and you don't realize so you keep letting them have more. The more practice the better he will get and quicker. It only took a few weeks before DD had the hang of it and we could rest easy a bit. Not freakingg out when they're gagging or beginning to choke is pretty key. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355747 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:35:51 +0000 snowjewelz 2355747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PastaAndPotato: Yeah, stick with stuff that can dissolve or very small pieces that he can swallow for sure. I totally understand it can be so scary. Baby steps! DD loves shoving everything in her mouth, so in the beginning I could never give her a big piece of anything b/c she would not portion it for herself. Everything I gave her had to be something she could have just swallowed if she wanted to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355737 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:30:19 +0000 youboots 2355737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby cpr and choking class gave me some confidence. Have you done it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355736 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:30:00 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2355736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PastaAndPotato: Yikes! that is so scary :( I totally get where you are coming from &lt;3 </p> <p>If I was in your position I would skip the thick goop stuff for now an practice with tiny things that are too small to choke on like diced cooked carrots or peas, or large strips of things like grilled chicken and sweet potato fries. the large stuff he will suck on and swallow mostly just the juice, and the tiny stuff (still mashable) is safe and great fine motor practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355719 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:23:25 +0000 PastaAndPotato 2355719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: @snowjewelz: the first with puff i think, especially in retrospect, was gagging. but the mashed potatoes was no sound, face turning colors, choking. i think that's what really unnerved me - if he had been moving air and was making progress coughing it up, i would've felt better about it, but the no sound choking scared the daylights out of me. i think you're both right, though, that the gagging has to happen so he knows what he's doing, when to swallow, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355682 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 14:01:39 +0000 snowjewelz 2355682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agreeing with Mrs. Lion. DD gagged a ton and it's def scary, but she had to go through the phase of gagging to get used to it and after like a week or so of that, she was fine from there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355657 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 13:45:16 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2355657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PastaAndPotato: was he actually choking or just gagging? gagging makes a sound and is actually a very normal part of learning to eat. choking there is no sound. I felt so much better about things once I learned the differrnce. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355638 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 13:23:53 +0000 .twist. 2355638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PastaAndPotato: Yea, it helped us A LOT. We take it yearly now (DH has to for work, but I just join him now). Good luck, it definitely does get easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355633 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 13:21:02 +0000 PastaAndPotato 2355633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: i had taken one when i was younger (like, more years ago than i would like to count haha) and we actually are planning on taking it soon - i think you're right, just knowing that i can do something about it will help me relax a lot.</p> <p>@Autumnmama79: ohhh the toast is a good idea! i might try that next - i like the idea that he can hold it himself, and then just suck on it until its soft! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355618 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 13:09:22 +0000 Autumnmama79 2355618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That does sound scary! What about a small piece of avocado? Would be hard to choke on something so soft I would think. Or a big piece of toast? DD would love to suck and chew on that, too big to swallow whole and if he were able to bite off a piece it would be soft from his saliva.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355615 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 13:07:30 +0000 .twist. 2355615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if you have or not, but before I started solids, DH &amp; I took a CPR course (which includes child heimlich procedures). It REALLY calmed my fears about solids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-scared-to-feed-him-solids#post-2355611 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 13:05:15 +0000 PastaAndPotato 2355611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hi (again!). i haven't posted in quite a while, and kind of returned to lurkdom, but i couldn't think of anywhere better to come for advice.</p> <p>to be perfectly frank, i am petrified of feeding my 9 mo. old solids.</p> <p>he does fine with purees, but has had two choking incidents, back to back - once on a puff that i was able to pull out of his mouth/throat as it started to melt, and the other on some mashed potatoes that required the heimlich to get it out of his throat. to say that both events were terrifying is an understatement.</p> <p>and now, i feel like i'm scared to get back on the horse. i made him small pasta that he can pick up and i let him try those (although very, very few actually make it into his mouth, he's getting better) - but i feel like i'm holding my breath and scared the entire time he's trying to eat.</p> <p>this just isn't sustainable, and i guess i'm looking for advice on either how to get over it and start letting him eat like a baby his age, and also anyone who's gone through something similar, what worked for you and your LO.</p> <p>thank you so much. </p>