Afraid to feed babies finger foods in case they choke

My DS have been eating pureed solids for 2 months and I have read that I should start giving them pieces of fruit and veggies instead of pureed but I am terrified that they will choke. The are going to be nine months in a couple of weeks but they havent started teething yet. Mind you they like solids better than their bottles now, what foods are best to start with, I am just sooooooo worried :unsure:

 

If you give them a bit thicker babyfood, that is a good indication. I make my own, so I can make it thicker if I want. Or, just try some thicker cereal. If they can swallow it easily, then you can keep advancing. My girls are close in age to your babies, and they are nowhere near ready for anything other than pureed food.

 

Puffs are great to start with since they dissolve.

Dianna

 

Around 7months old I would give mine little (tiny) pieces of banana off my finger, just for them to get used to food that is a bit firmer. They loved it, and it let me see how they did with firmer textures - plus, I didn't have to worry about them chocking! Then I progressed to cheerios - as I have NEVER heard of a child chocking to death on a cheerio - I don't think that cheerios are big enough to block an air passage. I would also cut up soft pieces of fruit and just put it in front of them after we did pureed foods - the pieces were very small, so I knew they wouldn't choke. YOu just have to watch that they dont' shove it all in their mouth at once. Mine had more fun trying to get them in their mouth then actually eating them (as their hand eye coordination wasn't fully devloped, so they only got every 10th piece in their mouth anyway). Try a few pieces of soft cut up banana, or tiny cut up grapes (I would cut mine up into about 10 pieces/grape at that age - yes I was paranoid!), or some peas, or tiny pieces of cooked carrot. I found I could try nearly anything for finger food as long as it was soft and cut up quite small.
Just don't leave them alone when they are eating the foods, as you don't want them to put too much in their mouth.

Good luck - have fun. Remember - I have never heard of anyone who chocked to death on one cheerio!

 

I am the same way!!! I have been terrified. A couple weeks ago, I gave them pieces of puffs. Sofia gagged a little, so I didn't do it again. LOL Then this past weekend I decided to try a full puff and Sofia did great! It helped that she had a hard time getting it to her mouth and it was mush when she finally got it in I also started stage 3 foods to get them used to chunks. But I am still terrified of finger foods that don't melt in the mouth! You are not alone!

 

I also make my own baby food and I've been making it super thick since the girls were about 5 months. In the last 2 weeks (they are 7 months old), I've been giving them ritz crackers and saltines (without the salt). They do great with these. I gave them cheerios last night and they did great. Of course the moment I walked out of the house, DH comes running out saying one of them is choking. I come back in and she has the biggest smile on her face. DH is VERY freaked out by food with babies. It drives me up a wall. Remember that babies are going to gag but that doesn't mean they are choking. This is what my DH does not get.

 

I was very paranoid about choking and still am! When I first started puffs and Cheerios, I'd break them into pieces. (Yes, even though they are small to begin with!)
I think just take baby steps and you'll get more used to it as you do it.

 

Glad to hear everybody's responses. Our girls are 10 months (only about 7.5 adjusted!) so we are just now trying puffs. I worry so much about choking on food too! They can handle pretty thick purees and rice/oatmeal.

 

i wrote the exact same post like two months ago. i know EXACTLY how you feel. and, others do too, as i can tell from all the responses..... just take it slowly and do what you're ready for.

take care, jl

 

I have to say, I am the exact opposite. I try stuff too young..
I am trying to figure out why.
Perhaps because I HAVE already had to do the heimlick on my kids and know they can survive? Or because I know how to insert a breathing tube in a throat if necessary? (Only from First responder classes for lifeguards, anyone can take them!)

If you are concerned, take classes. I am no longer a certified lifeguard, but I still have the knowledge!

 

Jody, I agree that puffs, Cherrios and crackers are a good start. HTH .

 

I always worried about choking too! It made me feel better when I learned how to do the Heimlich manuever on babies, for just in case it ever happened. I never needed to use it but I was glad to learn for just in case.

 

I agree, start with puffs. I tried one and they really can't choke on it. Mine have been on puffs and cheerios for a few weeks now... They still gagged on them a month ago though.

I tried little pieces of canned fruit today (with light syrup, wish there were some with no syrup!), they slipped through their fingers all the time but they let me put some in their mouth and they liked them... so there's some hope! They still gag on purees with chunks, so go figure!

 

Thanks for all the advice Ladies! Glad to know Im not alone!

 

QUOTE(Fran27 @ Dec 11 2008, 01:33 PM) [snapback]1107182[/snapback]
I agree, start with puffs. I tried one and they really can't choke on it. Mine have been on puffs and cheerios for a few weeks now... They still gagged on them a month ago though.

I tried little pieces of canned fruit today (with light syrup, wish there were some with no syrup!), they slipped through their fingers all the time but they let me put some in their mouth and they liked them... so there's some hope! They still gag on purees with chunks, so go figure!


Im going to try puffs, they do make canned fruit with pear juice, I have found peaches and pears so far, I usually throw them in the blender.

 

QUOTE(dlong83 @ Dec 10 2008, 11:01 PM) [snapback]1106503[/snapback]
Glad to hear everybody's responses. Our girls are 10 months (only about 7.5 adjusted!) so we are just now trying puffs. I worry so much about choking on food too! They can handle pretty thick purees and rice/oatmeal.



Mine can too, just worried about the pieces of food , puffs sound good to try.

 

QUOTE(sharerc @ Dec 10 2008, 10:50 PM) [snapback]1106479[/snapback]
I also make my own baby food and I've been making it super thick since the girls were about 5 months. In the last 2 weeks (they are 7 months old), I've been giving them ritz crackers and saltines (without the salt). They do great with these. I gave them cheerios last night and they did great. Of course the moment I walked out of the house, DH comes running out saying one of them is choking. I come back in and she has the biggest smile on her face. DH is VERY freaked out by food with babies. It drives me up a wall. Remember that babies are going to gag but that doesn't mean they are choking. This is what my DH does not get.



Thanks, I think thats my problem too! DS are just so busy and sometimes they gag and it scares me too!

 

I have never worried about them choking for some reason. I gave my kids big bits of banana to hold and they just sucked at it until it was gone. They have gagged a few times but nothing major.

 

I think starting with thicker purees is a good idea. Also ripe bananas (you can mash as much as you wish), soft pears, avocado...this is what we started with. oh, and cooked sweet potato, you can make it very soft. I was really worried for the first couple of weeks, and they did gag at first b/c the texture was all new, but it got much better within a couple of weeks!