Written by Laura – resident Baby Nurse at Choice pharmacy
What is the gag reflex (gagging)?
If a baby is gagging on their food they’ll be making noise and looking like they’re about to bring up their food and at times they will.
The gag reflex (gagging) is the body’s way of helping to prevent your little one choking. When they are eating, food moves too far back, your body’s natural reaction will be to try to push it forward again. Babies gag when they’re getting used to eating solid food, they are only used to having milk— some will be more sensitive than others and this can take a while before they learn to swallow. Starting solid food can often cause gagging and while it can be distressing to see as a new parent it is important that you watch carefully to see how their body manages to manipulate the food back into a safe position. Definitely remain calm and do not scream or panic in this situation. You can also then watch as they spit it out and pick it back up for a second try! Gagging is a very handy reflex our bodies have to prevent choking and means your baby is developing normal.
What is choking?
Choking means your baby will be distressed, silent and unable to breathe.
There are two passages at the back of your mouth—the trachea (or windpipe) and the oesophagus (food pipe). Air is taken to your lungs via the windpipe and food goes to your stomach via the oesophagus. If food accidentally heads down the windpipe, then it can block the trachea and stop your little one breathing. If the airway is partially blocked your child may cough, wheeze or make a whistling noise, be obviously struggling to breathe and unable to talk. If the airway is completely blocked your child will be unable to make any noise, will be trying to breathe and start to turn pale or blue. This is why they say choking is ‘silent’.
Choking requires immediate action— call an ambulance immediately. A First Aid course is highly recommended to know what to do in either situation.
You can book our Baby Nurse for in-store consultation online.
Reference:
CPRKids is a wonderful Baby/Child first Aid resource that provides online & face to face learning. This will help you to be better prepared in the event of an incident occurring.
Email:- hello@cprkids.com.au
Phone:- 1300 543 727
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