The gag reflex brings food forward in your baby's mouth so that they can more easily chew it and safely swallow smaller pieces. Baby gags and throws up everytime with "real" food. For the most part, they will not actually choke on the food. Hello! j. jncastellanos. The gag is usually triggered somewhere on the tongue. The gag reflex helps us to expel food that our bodies feel is unsafe for us to swallow. Then, when the baby coughs or gags, the fluid and mucus come up, collecting at the back of the throat. After all, this is a new skill for them! When this happens, it’s important to let your baby work the food forward on their own and to refrain from sticking your finger in your baby’s mouth, which can make the situation worse. Gagging means your baby is learning, and is not necessarily a bad thing. If your baby gags but then happily continues eating and learning to manage the food, great. Gagging and choking are not the same thing. This often looks very scary, as the child can turn red and appear quite distressed. Choking, on the other hand, can be very serious. Just keep doing what you were doing, slowly upgrading the texture. Choking is when food gets lodged in a baby’s throat and prevents breathing. 8mth old baby suddenly gagging on his food - help please! Gagging after eating becomes less frequent as your baby develops and learns to regulate the quantity of food they swallow. While your newborn gagging can be alarming, try to stay calm and allow your baby's natural reflexes to help clear the airways. The difference is that gaging is where the baby is actively trying to get the food out and sounds like a deep coughing sound. Vic57irb. This reflex is very sensitive and often triggered in young infants, and it becomes less sensitive when they grow older . Gagging, however, is a protective reflex that results in the contraction of the back of the throat. Gag reflex protects babies from choking. When babies are transitioning from breast milk or formula to their first solid foods, the risk for gagging and choking increases.
Children with a very sensitive gag reflex tend to gag more easily than other children on food that is not smooth. Too Much or Too Little Food The flow of milk from your breast or bottle may come out too slow or too quickly, which often leads to gagging … Gagging is a reflex in which food or an object from the back of the throat is pushed into the mouth. Hi guys, My 8 month old has only really been eating 'lumpy' textures for the past month but he was eating a 7mth jar at lunch and tea time and having weetabix for breakfast with no problems whatsoever. I hate to tell you this, but they will. Because gagging while eating is frustrating for your baby and sometimes has dangerous consequences, it’s imperative to understand why it occurs. Gagging VS. Choking. It’s important to understand how to identify when your baby might be gagging or choking on food. It is a natural function and protects us from choking. Guest Posted on 07-02-2012 at 4.33PM . If your baby gags continuously, vomits frequently and is generally upset at mealtimes, it is best to consult a feeding specialist to rule out potential underlying issues. My little guy is 9.5 months old and everytime I try to introduce real foods he gags and then throws it up. Gagging vs. Choking: What’s the Difference? Gags, spits food out, or seems to choke repeatedly when trying to chew or swallow food – I want to differentiate here a bit, because gagging or spitting out after the baby has started eating tends to indicate that a baby may be having difficulty coordinating the actions of chewing and/or swallowing. So here is the deal, your baby WILL gag on finger foods. This may then lead to a gagging or gurgling sound. A baby’s gag reflex is much closer to the front of their mouth than an adult’s, meaning it is much easier for them to gag on food.