My experience as a first-time mom and pediatric RN starting solid foods.
When my first son was ready to start solid foods, I was nervous about choking. How would I know if he was safe? Will my husband know how to feed him solid foods? Should we feed him purees first? What’s Baby-Led Weaning? How do we do this?!
Now, I am a pediatric RN of over 7 years, and we have added two more sons to our family since I sat in anxiety, scouring the internet for answers. I have completed my master’s in nursing education, and opened my private practice as your Mama Coach, because I do not want families to be lost in the black hole of the internet looking for answers. I am here for you, to empower and educate you on all things parenting. Today, I want to talk about the fear-inducing…choking (and gagging).
First, this is not medical advice, rather this is educational information about how choking presents in infants and young children. If you would like to learn choking first aid or CPR, chat with me or check out my private classes, here!
Gagging
Retching, Coughing or Crying, Let Baby Keep Trying
This can be scary! Even as a RN and mom of three, when my youngest gags, my instincts tell me, “ah!” But, my knowledge that–“wait, he’s crying, he’s retching; he’s ok!” truly help me stay calm. When baby stimulates their gag reflux–which is a good, life-saving reflex that babies use to protect their airways from foreign objects–they are learning. They learn, “Yuck, that didn’t feel great, how can I keep that from happening again?” And if we demonstrate to baby the act of chewing, they will try it! You will be surprised at how much they learn from watching you!
Choking
Panicked, Silent, or Wheezing, Baby’s Not Breathing!
When a baby’s airway is blocked (or occluded), they are unable to pass air through, or if they can, it’s less than is required for them to get normal amounts of oxygen to their lungs. When this happens, baby will panic. Their face will start to flush red, their eyes will get big, and the majority of the time, they will progress to silence. Where with gagging, baby is crying and upset, when a person chokes, they are unable to make noises because the area that noise comes from (the vocal cords) is blocked by a foreign object. This is where we need to intervene and perform life-saving Choking First Aid.
Arming Yourself Before Starting Solid Foods
I have the privilege of training and certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization (PEARS)–but not all parents have those certifications. Or, even some that do (ahem, me), may feel nervous about performing Choking First-Aid for their little one. This is where I can help!
I offer one-on-one and group CPR/Choking Classes for parents and caregivers. I love working with families to gain the skills to care for their most precious gifts, and teaching a life-saving skill truly gives so many families peace of mind. My classes are education-only, and certificates are not provided after our time together. I have taught these classes to loved ones in my family, and they have walked away with a skill that they hope to never use, but are so grateful to know nonetheless.
You are capable; you can gain knowledge; and you can give your baby exactly what they need.
I am here, for all of your stages of feeding, sleep, safety–and beyond.
You’ve Got This!