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Hand gag definition9/12/2023 Most babies who are doing baby led weaning gag more in the beginning, since the food sizes and textures are more challenging from day 1, but their gag reflex quickly diminishes after a couple months of practice and increased development of their oral motor skills. What’s cool is that the gag reflex is designed to be more sensitive in the beginning (makes sense…when they’re newbies) and, as infants begin to put objects/food in their mouth more and more (aka practice eating!), the gag reflex trigger will begin to move further and further back, until it sits near the back of the throat. It’s actually totally fine for them to experience gagging (and encouraged) so they can advance in eating skills! This isn’t something to run away from, or a sign you should switch up the type of food offered. It could be that your child is experiencing a texture or size of food they aren’t used to, or perhaps, it’s a very familiar food type and size, but they’re just having a hard time moving food around in their mouth. It also doesn’t necessarily mean your child doesn’t like a particular food. With gagging, the airway is open and safe! They’re good mama! There are a few reasons why a baby may gag, and some may surprise you!įirst off, gagging does not mean that your baby’s choking! They are two different, mutually exclusive events. Then, as your baby gets more and more practice with various solid foods, the reflex moves further and further back, until it sits right at the top of the throat, where most adults’ gag reflex is. In the early stages of starting solids, your baby’s gag reflex is initially located at the front 1/3 of their tongue. It’s a reverse swallow! Gagging allows babies to move food from the back of their throat to the front of their mouth (like a cough) where they can better maneuver the food. Although gagging may seem scary or uncomfortable for your child, it’s a completely normal and natural response when babies are transitioning to solid foods. Gagging is a protective mechanism that we’re all born with to help prevent food from entering the back of the throat where your airway is, or in other words, the ‘danger zone’. ![]() ![]() So, let’s clear the air, and let me help you ease your thoughts a little, as educating yourself and understanding the what, why, and how of gagging and choking is key to making mealtime so much more stress free! What is Gagging? “How do I get over my extreme fear of choking!?”Īs parents, our minds whirl around endlessly with the “what ifs” and “how to’s” on this topic, and to be honest, mine did too when starting solids with my babies! “How can I tell the difference between gagging or choking?” “How do I prevent my child from choking?” Like most parents, you probably have a long list of questions such as… ![]() Two of the most concerning topics for parents when introducing solid foods to babies.
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