Gagging vs choking

Gagging is your baby’s in-built protective mechanism against choking. Babies have highly sensitive gag reflexes that are triggered very close to the front of the tongue, especially at the start of eating. 

This means that your baby will often gag when they first start on solid foods and for the first few weeks of solids. This might mean they simply push food out of their mouth with their tongue, or they may retch or look like they are about to be sick. They are rarely distressed by this and will often simply continue eating again straight after. Gagging occurs because your baby needs to develop and mature their oral motor movements with time as they learn to eat. They don’t yet have the control to coordinate chewing and moving food to the back of their mouth to swallow, so they gag to stop food going down the wrong way. As your baby continues to practice eating, the gag reflex will move further back in their mouth and they will naturally gag less.

Choking is very different to gagging. This is when your baby’s airway becomes partially or completely blocked. They may be coughing and trying to remove the offending obstacle, but they may also be unable to cry, cough or make any noise at all. They may be unable to breathe and you may see their lips or face turn blue.

Gagging 

• Airway Clear
• Face may be red and watery eyes
• Sputtering, coughing, and retching noises
• Calmly monitor your baby and count to 10. Do not panic

Choking

• Airway is partially obstructed or completely blocked 
• Face and lips may turn purple or blue 
• Silent or quiet
• Begin choking first aid