The day you introduce solids to your baby is an exciting milestone but it's natural to be worried about your baby choking. Your little one will explore taste and textures for the first time but there are ways to help those first bites be happy and safe.
In this article, we’ll explore food safety, signs of choking, what to do if your baby chokes, and more.
Choking vs. Gagging: Knowing the Difference
As your baby embarks on the journey of eating solids, distinguishing between choking and gagging is a necessity.
- Gagging is a common, natural reflex that babies experience as they learn to manage new textures and sizes of food. It often involves coughing, spluttering, and even turning red, but it's usually noisy and resolves on its own.
- Choking is a silent and serious blockage of the airway that requires immediate intervention.
Understanding these differences can help you remain calm and provide appropriate responses when your baby starts eating solids.
Common Causes of Choking in Infants
A baby uses their mouth to taste and learn about the world around them. Although unlikely, on rare occasions can inhale a small object which can then become lodged in their throat, obstructing their airway either completely or partially - which leads to choking.
Common causes of choking in babies often include small, hard foods that can easily block their tiny airways.
Items like whole nuts, popcorn, hard candies, and even whole grapes can pose significant risks.
Non-food items such as small toys, buttons, and coins are also possible culprits.
Choking hazards can arise from foods that aren’t appropriately sized or textured for a baby's developmental stage, so make sure you research how to prepare different foods for your baby.
Never leave an infant unattended when eating. Always closely watch them for any signs of distress.
Recognizing the Signs of Choking in a Baby
Every parent should familiarize themselves with the signs of choking in a baby. The faster you recognize that your baby is in distress and choking, the quicker you can act
Here are the signs of choking to watch for:
Symptoms of baby choking include:
- Inability to cry or make noise
- Difficulty breathing
- Weak cough
- Skin starts to turn blue or very pale.
- Baby may put their hands on their throat.
- Depending on the item inhaled, some babies may make a high-pitched sound when inhaling.
If your baby shows signs of choking, you must act immediately to clear the infant’s airway.
Baby Choking First Aid Techniques
Below you will find immediate steps to take when your baby is choking.
When providing first aid for a baby who is choking, it's essential to act quickly and carefully.
Here's what you can do according to MedLine Plus: DO NOT perform these steps if the infant is coughing forcefully or has a robust cry. Vigorous coughs and cries can help expel the object from the airway.
Proceed with these steps ONLY if your child is not coughing forcefully or does not have a strong cry:
- Back Blows: Hold the baby face down on your forearm, supported by your thigh, ensuring their head is lower than their chest. Use the heel of your hand to give five firm back blows between the baby's shoulder blades.
- Chest Thrusts: If back blows don't clear the blockage, turn the baby over so they're facing up. Place two fingers in the middle of their chest just below the nipple line and give five sharp chest thrusts.
- Repeat: Alternate between five back blows and five chest thrusts until the object is expelled or the baby starts to cry, cough, or breathe normally.
- Call for Help: If the object does not dislodge, or if the baby becomes unresponsive, call emergency services immediately.
IF THE INFANT BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE
Should the infant become unresponsive, cease breathing, or exhibit a blue tint:
- Call out loudly for assistance.
- Start administering infant CPR immediately. After 1 minute of CPR, contact 911 or your local emergency services.
- If the object obstructing the airway is visible, carefully attempt to remove it with your finger. Only try to remove an object that you can see.
DO NOT:
- Engage in choking first aid if the infant is coughing forcefully, has a strong cry, or is breathing adequately. Be prepared to intervene if the condition deteriorates.
- Attempt to pull out the object if the infant is conscious.
- Perform back blows and chest thrusts if the infant's breathing has stopped due to other conditions like asthma, infection, swelling, or a head injury. In these instances, continue with CPR.
These techniques can help dislodge an object from a choking baby's airway and are vital skills for caregivers. If you are a parent or take care of a baby or children, you should always consider taking a certified course in pediatric first aid and learn how to perform infant CPR to be fully prepared.
When to Seek Medical Help
Seeking medical help is crucial if your baby shows signs of choking and you cannot quickly clear the airway.
Immediate actions include performing infant CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive.
Even if the choking episode seems resolved, it’s important to have a healthcare professional evaluate your baby to ensure no partial blockage remains or injury has occurred.
Always call emergency services if there is any doubt about your baby's breathing or general condition after a choking incident.
Choking Prevention Strategies
As your little one grows and explores, preventing choking becomes a critical aspect of their daily safety.
Choking Hazards to Avoid:
- Keep small objects like coins, buttons, and small toys out of reach.
- Avoid giving hard foods like nuts, seeds, and whole grapes to young children.
- Be cautious with sticky or hard candies and chunks of cheese or meat.
Tips for Choking Prevention:
- Always supervise meals and ensure little one eats sitting down.
- Cut food into small, manageable pieces appropriate for the child's age and chewing ability.
- Educate caregivers and older siblings about the risks and preventive measures for choking.
Safely Introducing Solid Foods to Your Infant
The expert advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is that introducing foods other than breast milk or formula should start at around six months old.
To determine if your child is ready to start eating solid foods please read How to Wean a Baby, and look for signs of readiness such as:
- Sitting up with support
- Good head and neck control
- Ability to transfer food from the front to the back of the tongue to swallow.
When introducing solids, there's no required order of foods; infants can enjoy a variety from all food groups, including fortified infant cereals like oat, barley, and multi-grain instead of only rice cereal to avoid arsenic exposure . Research has found that infant rice cereals can contain up to six times higher levels of arsenic than other cereal types.
Start with single-ingredient foods to monitor for any adverse reactions, such as allergies, and introduce new foods every 3 to 5 days.
Include a variety of foods to ensure a balanced intake of essential vitamins and minerals.
Foods to Prevent Choking in Baby
Offer your little one smooth, mashed, pureed, or strained foods, as these textures are easier to manage for early eaters. As your baby’s oral skills improve and develop, you can gradually introduce thicker and chunkier textures.
Be mindful of potential choking hazards by providing appropriately textured foods that dissolve easily in saliva and require minimal chewing.
Here are some preparation tips:
- Thin cereals and cooked grains with breast milk, formula, or water for smooth consistency.
- Puree fruits and vegetables until smooth.
- Cook hard fruits and vegetables to soften them for mashing or pureeing.
- Ensure meats are cooked well and free of bones, fat, and skin.
- Dice fruits, remove any seeds or pits, and cut into small pieces.
- Slice cylindrical foods like hot dogs and cheese into thin strips, and chop small round foods like grapes into tiny pieces.
- Soften whole grains through cooking and mashing.
Always supervise your child during meals and encourage slow eating to prevent choking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my baby is choking?
If your baby cannot cry or make noise, appears unable to breathe, or has a bluish skin tone, they may be choking.
Should a baby go to the ER after choking?
Yes, take your baby to the ER after a choking incident to ensure no partial blockage remains and to check for potential injuries.
What to do if a baby chokes while eating?
Administer back blows and chest thrusts (only if the baby is not coughing), and call emergency services if the obstruction does not clear.
At what age can you stop worrying about choking?
Always be cautious, but the risk decreases as children improve their chewing and swallowing skills, typically around age 4 to 5 years.
What to do if your baby is choking?
Perform immediate back blows and chest thrusts only if the infant is not coughing and shows signs of choking. If these don't work and the baby becomes unresponsive, begin CPR and call for emergency help.
What not to do if your baby is choking?
Do not attempt to remove the object with your fingers if the baby is conscious.
What can babies choke on?
Babies can choke on small objects, for example, certain foods like nuts and grapes, and toys that fit entirely in their mouths.
Does baby-led weaning increase gagging and choking?
Baby-led weaning can cause gagging, which is normal, but it doesn't necessarily increase the risk of choking when supervised properly.
What is the difference between gagging and choking?
Gagging is a normal reflex as babies learn to manage new foods; it's noisy and resolves by itself. Choking is silent and blocks the airway, requiring immediate intervention.
Learning the difference between gagging and choking and knowing how to respond is a necessity for all parents and caregivers. It's natural to worry about your baby choking. Equipping yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to react if such a situation should occur can help alleviate your fears.
Preventing choking in your baby is always the key so you should familiarize yourself with safe feeding practices and never leave your little one alone during meals. Consider investing in baby utensils by doddl which have been specially designed for tiny hands and mouths.