My 10 month old baby is still having problems with not chewing and instead swallowing food whole. I've always broken solids up into very tiny pieces (even the soft stuff) b/c I'm worried about choking. My husband is a lot braver but she is just expecting to swallow...which increases my choking anxiety. Plus she makes this awful throaty groan when she is trying to jam it down her throat. 
Anyone experience this?? Any tips?
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Have you tried modeling it for her, showing her how to chew? We had this problem sometimes with our LO, we just kept trying, showing him what to do and eventually he got it.
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Can't remember when my LO actually started chewing (ok, more like gumming) her food but it was probably around 9 or 10 mos or so. She's almost 1 year now and she still swallows a good amount of stuff whole. I wouldn't worry too much as long you cut stuff up for her.
I think what helped my LO learn how to chew/gum was snacking on crackers. Baby Mum-mums are great cause they're large so it forces them to bite off a piece but it dissolves very quickly so it's nearly impossible to choke on them.
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Hmmmn. Thanks for the replies so far, Ladies. Shes choked on mummums bc she took a huge bite and tried to swallow it. Tonight she choked on rice. Hubby was feeding her bc we were talking to a caterer and I was sitting On the opposite side. Anyway she collected it in her mouth and then choke gag mini vomit. That was the worse ever. It was slightly embarrassing because we Are ordering food for her birthday party and here she is choking on it!
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DS used to always do this, and it really freaked me out. You could try something long, like a hot dog, and make her take bites. That might help her chew. You could also get those Puffs, they are like little cereals, but are super soft and dissolve if she doesn't chew it. My son still swallows huge things.
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Wow, I have never experienced this! My daughter was chewing/ gumming since she was around 6 months. I second the showing her how to chew though, llittle ones are usually really good at copying.
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@cyndistar3: Thanks....to Looch too...for the idea!
Will try it.
Rosie Girl...I'm a little hyperworried in this dept. I sometimes even break the Puffs up into small little pieces, though they can melt. She's a swallower of that too. I blame myself. I eat so fast!
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Ah, my son is exactly the same. Now at 16 months (since he got molars) he seems to chew much more.
Luckily, he knows how to unchoke himself. (Clearly we are near) but we would start with small pieces seeing he wouldn't break it apart, but at one point he would pull a fit because he wanted to break (himself) the bigger piece.
My mom told me I was the same way. So I just keep an eye on him when he eats. No advice here. Because clearly everything I've tried failed.
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I'm going to bump this thread because my LO just started not chewing his food!
He used to. But at 12 months, I've noticed for at least a few weeks that he's pretty much stopped chewing his food. I've tried giving him bigger bites, but he just spits those out. I feel like it's probably teething related, but I don't think he's actively teething now? He just cut his two top front teeth, though.
Is anyone else dealing with this, or dealt with it and come out on the other side? I would LOVE some advice!
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@allison: I give LO Cheerios when he's not chewing. I feel like it helps remind him. I also do lots of "nom nom" chewing myself while he's eating. Chewing is hit or miss with us and I'm very slowly adding in less soft foods (but not really.).
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Oh this is so long ago-I can't remember what eventually worked but she did get through the phase. I'm pretty sure I tried the modeling and lots of over exaggerated chewing but you know, I can't remember how it was resolved. @allison: I think you are right it is teething related.
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I found this thread looking for help for the exact same issue. My 10 month old won't chew and chokes on puffs and mum mums. I'm still feeding him purees and offering small bits of very soft food but he doesn't seem interested. I feel like I'll be feeding him purees forEVER so I'm glad to see it is a "phase"!
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@808love: my lo doesn't chew either and we had a choking scare. She threw up and I felt horrible and now I am paranoid. Blw was a total fail because she just bit off a huge bite of banana like it was a huge bite banana competition.
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@LomaLinda: me too! I give her smoothies so at least she is getting nutrition but I worry I'll be feeding purees when she's like 5!
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@Greentea:
She'll get better.
I remember now, I gave the Munchkin mesh feeder with apple chunks for awhile. It helped her practice and strengthen her chewing muscles. I saw a big improvement after that.
I only needed it for a week or two, which is good anyway bc those never really get clean and you have to dump it.
Will try it.
She'll get better.Reply
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