[luckylady]

My DD has always had a very sensitive gag reflex and has always been a vomiter from day one.

Almost everyday she chokes on food and it's at the point now that i am thinking there may be something wrong with her. Here's the scenario:

She STUFFS her mouth FULL and chokes on her food when she tries to swallow. All told in her 27 months of life I have had to heimlich her 5 or 6 times for serious choking episodes where food was stuck and she couldn't breathe or budge it on her own. I am soooooo tired of worrying about her every time she eats.

I have tried to teach her to take small bites, chew and swallow before taking another bite, but it doesn't work. What is wrong with this child???

Is this normal to be choking so much? Is it normal to have such a sensitive gag reflex? Any advice?

 

[thoesly]

The one thing that stands out to me is the mouth stuffing. My son does this. In his case, it is sensory-seeking behavior attached to Sensory Integration Dysfunction. In other words, he is trying to feel the food in his mouth and the only way he can do that is by stuffing his cheeks like a chipmunk. How big of a problem this is truly does depend on your child -- some kids like my son need occupational therapy, but really, most of us probably have some minor sensory issues (I get physically ill from certain loud noises). You might check out The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz for more information.

 

[LuvMy2Kidz]

My dd does this. She's been doing it since she started feeding herself. She's finally learned to take smaller bites, and swallow before taking another bite.

She's a little over 2.5 now

 

[bobica]

i agree with thoesly it could be a sensory issue. kids with sensory needs often need to overstuff just to feel that they have something in there. (i'm a speech-language pathologist, so i have some -not a lot- of experience with this). i just evaluated twins who do the same thing. they'd shove an entire muffin in their mouths

at once.

the out of sync child is a great resource. OT helps sensory integration overall. speech therapy would deal directly with the oral-motor/feeding issues of it.

 

[luckylady]

wow - thanks mamas. She does all sorts of strange oral things that drive nuts - constant sucking. The kid sucks on everything - fingers, her food, her toys...no wonder she is unwilling to stop nursing. I will find that book.

Thanks!

 

[bobica]

good luck! sensory needs can be really strong! if she can tolerate them, try strong flavors & sensations- really tart lemon ices, pickles etc. it can really help increase her awareness!

 

[luckylady]

wow - that's weird because she LOVES sour things - last night she ate a lime. I will do it more often. Thanks!

 

[The Lucky One]

Maybe try giving her smaller amts of food on her plate at a time--even just a bite's worth--or try feeding her yourself if she will let you until she can show you that she can give herself proper sized bites.

How scary that you've had to use the Heimlich!