![]() It is also helpful to ensure your breasts are not too full, which can usually be prevented by feeding your baby every 2-3 hours. You can also try nursing in a side-lying or “ laid-back” position to help slow the milk flow. If your baby is frequently gagging while breastfeeding, try nursing your baby in a more upright position to help ease the force of the milk. If bottle feeding, the nipple may be releasing milk too fast. If breastfeeding, sometimes the force of your milk during “letdown” is so strong that it can cause your baby to gag and pull off the breast. Many young babies can have their gag reflex initiated by milk if it is released from the bottle or breast too quickly. What if my baby gags while breast or bottle-feeding? Pediatric occupational therapists, feeding therapists, and speech-language pathologists can work with babies who may be gagging excessively due to sensory issues or oral motor developmental delays. If you have concerns about gagging, feel it is excessive, or causing your baby distress, talk about it with your pediatrician. Children with a sensitive gag reflex also tend to do better if they feed themselves as much as possible. If your baby has a hypersensitive gag reflex, try offering teething toys and oral development tools* with many different textures (you can even start to brush their gums with a toothbrush). Sometimes it also helps to offer a little water in an open cup to help wash food down the throat. If you have a baby who takes big bites, you can encourage smaller bites by offering only 1-2 pieces of food at a time and role-modeling smaller bites during mealtimes. Baby's abilities can change immensely even within the span of one week during infancy.ĭon’t stop offering a particular texture or food if your baby gags unless advised by a medical professional. If certain textures seem to be causing more gagging than others, it can help to simply wait a week and then try offering the food again. The best way to help a gagging baby is to stay calm and positive and encourage your baby to chew and swallow. If gagging doesn’t seem to be causing baby distress, it’s usually not a cause for concern. To help prevent a gag from leading to vomiting during meals, make sure your baby has at least an hour between milk feeds and solid foods to allow time for digestion. Do not be alarmed if this occurs periodically (if your baby vomits frequently throughout the day or at every meal, consult your pediatrician). Some babies and kids have a more sensitive gag reflex than others, which can occasionally cause them to vomit. As your baby grows, the gag reflex moves further back into the mouth until it is in a similar location to an adult's (usually by around 9-10 months of age.) For most babies, frequent gagging subsides as they grow. That strong gag reflex in early infancy is especially protective of a baby’s airway while babies are starting solids and learning how to eat. Gagging is a normal developmental process as infants explore new textures and learn to manage solid food.Įarly in infancy, the gag reflex is strong and far forward in baby’s mouth, toward the front of the tongue. ![]() ![]() It occurs when an object or a portion of food in the mouth touches a sensitive area, triggering the gag reflex. Gagging is a natural reflex that helps protect infants from choking. In this post, my goal is to resolve confusion about why babies gag and the differences between gagging and choking in order to help parents feel confident and knowledgeable during feeding. Instead of avoiding finger foods out of fear, learn how to feed your baby confidently and safely while offering a wide variety of foods. Understanding the differences between gagging and choking, what causes each, and how to respond appropriately is the best way to reduce stress around feeding. When feeding a baby, concerns about gagging and choking can create anxiety and uncertainty. In fact, I’m often told that fear of choking is the biggest barrier preventing them from starting their babies on solid foods using a baby-led weaning approach. Most parents and caregivers I talk to tell me that their greatest source of stress about feeding their children is fear of choking. So you just started solid foods with your 6-month-old baby… but it feels like every time you feed them, they gag! It can be scary to watch your baby gag, but gagging is actually a natural, normal part of the process of learning to eat solid foods. ![]() Affiliate links are marked with an asterisk (*). This blog contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to purchase a product through a link, I will receive a small commission - this in no way impacts the amount you pay. ![]()
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