new to BLW- 'eating' and spitting up

[P.J.]

DS is 7 months and we started offering him food about four weeks ago. So far he's had (lightly cooked) broccoli, (lightly boiled) carrots, cukes, apples, and sweet potatoes. Until now not much actually gets ingested, which I guess is normal, he's just getting used to it all. He has gagged a couple times, but more often than that he kind of gags but then spits up whatever he just got down. I don't remember reading about this in the BLW book, but it seems like a natural, normal reaction and possibly just part of the gag reflex.

Anyone else's baby did or does this? And for those further along, how long did it take until that gag reflex got less active and your baby seemed to 'get used to' eating and actually got a significant portion of food down?

[Knitting Mama]

Sounds pretty normal to me. The only worry I have (and this may be just me) is the idea of not cooking harder veggies like broccoli and carrots to a softer state first. I would worry more about choking with lightly cooked veggies than ones that are cooked to soft.

I can't tell you when they start to really eat noticeable amounts as it's different for every baby. Cecilia is nearly 9 months and really doesn't eat much at all. She is still all about nursing and not at all about food.

[wannaBmom_NICU_RN]

Mine does the same thing!  He'll be 7mo. next week.  He'll get a small chunk of food in his mouth, then gag and spit up.  Some times it a lot if he's nursed recently.  I'm hoping he gets over it soon!  No advice, but wanted you to know you weren't alone!

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

Sounds pretty normal to me. The only worry I have (and this may be just me) is the idea of not cooking harder veggies like broccoli and carrots to a softer state first. I would worry more about choking with lightly cooked veggies than ones that are cooked to soft.

 Oh no worries there, I think I'm cooking them well enough.  

What I meant by 'lightly cooked' was not mushy, but not raw. The first time I made broccoli for him it was way overcooked and fell apart as soon as he grabbed it and was an utter mess and impossible for him to really eat. I test them all first to make sure they're soft enough. I know especially carrots are a choking hazard for babies and small children. Hey I even choke on raw carrot occasionally!

[Eresh]

That's definitely in the BLW book :) ... I don't have any experience since we didn't do BLW with DS1 and DS2 is 2.5mo, but I just finished reading the book and it did talk about how babies' gag reflex is further forward in their mouths and how, as they are learning to manipulate foods in their mouths, they can trigger the reflex.  That's why it's important for the baby to be sitting upright and important for the baby to be in control of how food enters his or her mouth.

[tzs]

we rarely gagged. i think it really only happened twice but i so remember her puking whatever she had eaten (mostly BM) along with the gagging.