That is what the doctor said to me about my son and solid foods. I took him in yesterday because he's been spitting up more and fussier than normal, so I knew his Zantac needed to be increased. He increased the dose and then asked about his diet. When I told him that we're working on table foods but that he gags and chokes a lot, his response was, "I'd let him gag." He explained that the sooner we get him off the purees and onto solid food, the sooner the reflux should calm down. It makes sense but, I hate to make my baby gag until he figures out how to eat this stuff. Has anyone else been given such drastic advice?

Hmmm. I had the exact same problem with my daughter when I started solids with her, however, my doc told me something a little different. When I asked the doctor about it she said to keep the solids thinner, and use only things she likes. At the time, she told me to stop the feeding if she gagged 1-2 times and just give formula, but to keep trying solids each day. I followed this advice, and it worked very well. If I let her gag even more than once, sometimes she would refuse food altogether (formula too)--I guess it made her nauseous?? But if I stuck to foods I found she tolerated and stopped if she gagged, usually she ended up loving it. Now that she's 9 months old, she eats great, but I still find she's extremely texture sensitive, and I still have to feed a lot of pureed baby food, while other kids her age are eating a lot more table food. She can eat those Gerber puffs (most of the time) without gagging, but not cheerios. She won't eat most chunky things without gagging (even really soft things that she likes in puree form, like sweet potatoes!), even after multiple attempts. I just keep hoping it will gradually improve the way solid feeding did.

Just FYI at her last well-baby visit, the doc said gagging can be more common in acid-reflux kids (my daughter also has acid reflux). Nobody is sure why. She said my daughter has a very strong gag response--LOL, duh!! But anyway, she wasn't worried, said to just keep trying. But she stressed to keep mealtime fun and pleasant, in other words, don't let her gag over and over and keep trying that food at that time. So, just from my experience and what my doc told me, I'd have to disagree with your docs advice...but you'll just have to try what works for your child.

By the way, when I was first having this problem, my doc told me to try squash, said it was mild but a little sweet, so was a good choice for a gagging baby, and that I might need to add a little water even. Worked like a charm. Sweet potatoes were a close second. I wasn't able to give her any cereals (or she'd gag) until about 3 weeks later, always mixed with something else. Anyway, if you haven't tried squash, you might want to try that.

Good luck! :)

We had the exact same problem with DD, who is now 11 months. At 9.5 months DD would gag on anything that wasn't completely smooth in texture. The doctor suggested that we keep feeding her pureed foods, but we try and add some chunks to it. I usually did it with fruit, and I would add some really small banana chunks to it. DD really liked the taste, and eventually didn't gag at all. We moved from there to stage 3 foods.

Within just a couple of weeks, DD was eating finger foods like a champ. Hope that helps some.

Hmmm. I had the exact same problem with my daughter when I started solids with her, however, my doc told me something a little different. When I asked the doctor about it she said to keep the solids thinner, and use only things she likes. At the time, she told me to stop the feeding if she gagged 1-2 times and just give formula, but to keep trying solids each day. I followed this advice, and it worked very well. If I let her gag even more than once, sometimes she would refuse food altogether (formula too)--I guess it made her nauseous?? But if I stuck to foods I found she tolerated and stopped if she gagged, usually she ended up loving it. Now that she's 9 months old, she eats great, but I still find she's extremely texture sensitive, and I still have to feed a lot of pureed baby food, while other kids her age are eating a lot more table food. She can eat those Gerber puffs (most of the time) without gagging, but not cheerios. She won't eat most chunky things without gagging (even really soft things that she likes in puree form, like sweet potatoes!), even after multiple attempts. I just keep hoping it will gradually improve the way solid feeding did.

Just FYI at her last well-baby visit, the doc said gagging can be more common in acid-reflux kids (my daughter also has acid reflux). Nobody is sure why. She said my daughter has a very strong gag response--LOL, duh!! But anyway, she wasn't worried, said to just keep trying. But she stressed to keep mealtime fun and pleasant, in other words, don't let her gag over and over and keep trying that food at that time. So, just from my experience and what my doc told me, I'd have to disagree with your docs advice...but you'll just have to try what works for your child.

By the way, when I was first having this problem, my doc told me to try squash, said it was mild but a little sweet, so was a good choice for a gagging baby, and that I might need to add a little water even. Worked like a charm. Sweet potatoes were a close second. I wasn't able to give her any cereals (or she'd gag) until about 3 weeks later, always mixed with something else. Anyway, if you haven't tried squash, you might want to try that.

Good luck! :)

That's good advice if we were just starting foods. We're at the point of transitioning from purees to table foods though, as he's 10 months old. He LOVES food but, some chunky things cause gagging. So, I was basically just wondering if anyone else was told to just let them gag and get them on a "big boy diet," as soon as possible.
I definitely understand the reasoning, as I said. Solid food will reflux less than watered down purees. So, I guess we just keep trying.

your doctor's advice actually does make sense.... he won't learn to chew the foods unless he eats them, so you can't really stop giving them to him, so you kind of do have to let him gag a little.... you can try smaller bites, or slightly softer foods (cook things longer). while you are feeding him, tell him to "chew it up" or whatever you say, and show him how by making some really ridiculous looking exaggerated chewing motions with your mouth. you'll feel stupid, but babies learn by example....

my second daughter gagged quite a lot when she first started on big girl foods.... we just had to keep trying. i would give her a jar of pureed food with a bit of chunky foods to try on the side, and we slowly weaned down on the jar foods and added more chunky foods each time. hope this helps!

That's good advice if we were just starting foods. We're at the point of transitioning from purees to table foods though, as he's 10 months old. He LOVES food but, some chunky things cause gagging. So, I was basically just wondering if anyone else was told to just let them gag and get them on a "big boy diet," as soon as possible.
I definitely understand the reasoning, as I said. Solid food will reflux less than watered down purees. So, I guess we just keep trying

Sorry, I guess I didn't make it clear, but my daughter is the around the same age. She is gonna be 10 months soon, and we are also trying to transition her to table food, but it just isn't going as fast as other kids her age, because she gags on most chunky items. So that's what I was getting at, at her last well baby visit, my doc stressed to make sure mealtime is pleasant--too much gagging and it will not be pleasant. Obviously you don't want your baby on purees forever, but gradual transition is best--I agree with the other posters. And what is working for us is to start with things in very small chunks of things I know she likes already. If she gags we stop that food and try again at a different time (if we don't stop when she gags, she won't eat anything, or she'll end up throwing up anyway). So, I think it's a fine line, you just have to do a very gradual transition, it's working for us, and keep trying occasionally. But you can't just let your baby gag and gag, or he won't even want to eat even pureed food! And you also don't want to end up with a 4 year old who is still on baby food (I read about a mom on the internet lamenting about her 4 year old on baby food...eek).