I have a gagger and I need help!

My dd will be nine months old on Friday and we have our doctor's appointment this weekend. I am sure they are going to tell me that she can now eat anything we eat except for the obvious and I am getting freaked out just thinking about it. DD will not eat anything that has texture. She gags as soon as it hits her tongue. She could have a little tiny piece of veggie puff on the front of her tongue and she will still gag and choke. She has three teeth but I have no idea how to get her to eat real food if she gags so easily. I tried a stage three lasagna meal and she cried, gagged and choked on every bite. I tried three spoonfuls thinking she just needed to get used to it.
Am I rushing things? My SIL says she should be eating cheerios and puffs and all kinds of stuff by now. HELP!

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

both my kids were gaggers, my son who is 20 months, still gags on some things with too much texture. start nice and slow. she is right on schdule. just try one cherio a day. just one. and let her learn. dont rush her. all kids are different. i know kids who were eating real food so well at 7 months, then i know kids at almost 2 like my son, who still doesnt handle food too well. babies dont use their teeth to chew, they use their gums. they need to learn how to use them. infact, i remember with my daughter i was so upset cause i didnt think she was going to be able to eat her bday cake at her first bday party, cause she used to gag. but she did. a little at a time. she will learn. shes perfect.

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

Sarah is still the same way. She's a year old and will pretty much only eat hard stuff like Cheerios, Alphabits, puffs, zwiebeck toast, biter biscuits. It took a long time to get her to this point, she would put it in her mouth and gag and cry but I would give the puffs to her every other day and slowly we came along.

Now she will also nibble on pancakes, waffles and american cheese, but for the most part she takes a few bites and then just rips them to shreads. Anytime I give her any meat, veggies or fruit pieces she plays with them for a long time, puts it in her mouth and gags. I just keep trying the same things for a few days unitl she gets used to them.

Good luck!

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

I started Jared off by making pastina and mixing it with his stage 2 foods. It took him a little bit to get used to the texture but it worked. He gagged on stage 3 foods at first, but now he's fine. I get him to eat small pieces of white american cheese too. I might hold off on the puffs and cheerios for a while...he only has two teeth.

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

Thanks everyone.


I guess I will just keep at it. I hate to make her cry and gag but the thought of a 5 year old eating strained green beans is worse.

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

If she's not ready why force her is what I say? She'll let you know when she's ready to eat something other than what you are giving her. If it goes on too long maybe she has oral aversions but at this point I wouldn't worry.

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

Not to worry - I also know a kid who will only eat white food. Joseph was a gagger. I always believed it was because I started him too late on food (at 8 months). We would start out by giving him tiny pieces from our plate of things he'd like (apple, avocados, oatmeal, etc). He seemed to be more interested in what was on our plate.

They do get it eventually. Next thing you know she'll be eating three breakfasts complete with maple syrup & whipped cream.

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

I have one of those!! I couldn't help but think "whats wrong with him!!" But it is normal for some kids. They wouldnt eat the puffs until their birthday and he still gags/refuses lots of solids. The doctor assured me that some kids just take their time with food. Its hard when your friends 10 month old is eating table food (I know)...just try and think how easy it is to feed them from a jar for now. I promise it gets better!!

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

she might need intervention from an OT. I gag on certain foods at my age

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

My son never could eat stage 3. I think he was too confused by them. Good luck

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

Thanks again everyone. While eating her stage two dinner last night I snuck in a few spoonfulls of stage three. She gagged but no crying. I think every now and then I will try little bits of table food. I do not want to rush her but it is so exciting to see her try new things. I guess I need to slow down and realize she is just a baby.

Re: I have a gagger and I need help!

I don't think you need to rush it - I think it is still early. My ped actually told me not to start puffs or cheerios until he was at least 9 months old. I however started at 8.5 months and it took him a few weeks to really get use to them. From like 9-11 months, he had very little table food - mostly breads (as teethers) some cheese, puffs and cheerios. Stage 3 foods made him gag and puke as did pastina (which he use to eat when he was 6 months old).

At my 10.5 month visit, my dr told me not to rush table food that there was no reason to. My son all of sudden started to boycott baby food and wanted table food around 11 months so I let him. Once he wanted it he was eating everything pretty much I gave him and had no problems transitioning. Now he loves table food and I miss baby food (which I still sneak in because it is easier). Although now he boycotts cut fruit (which he loved a few weeks ago) but loves green veggies - eat broccoli, spinach, peas and green beans like it is candy - go figure!!

I think babies will do it when they are ready. I would keep gently offering soft mushy foods and show the excitement of them and eventually your baby will catch on when she is ready.