[Shoshana]

Xiomara used to eat anything and everything until she learned how to self-feed. Now anything on a spoon is verboten (even if she is holding it). Finding healthy choices for a 14.5 month old with only the front & bottom 4 teeth is challenging.

Potatoe Lefse is Norweigan - similar to a tortilla but softer, thinner, and rectangular shaped. Tonight I thinly spread refried beans & grated cheese and warmed it. She loved the first half. When she was eating the second half she was making funny faces at me. She started to put too much in her mouth, which she does frequently. I thought to myself, "when do table manner lessons begin." She made a new funny face and it took me a second to realize she was choking! I pried open her mouth and pulled out the food - it was soft and had apparently plugged her throat. Only then did she start to cough and cry.

Talk about scary! Someone just told me that you're never supposed to put your fingers in their mouths because that could push the food further down.

If I was a drinking woman, it'd be time for a strong one!

[Lovebug]

Hi Elizabeth!

Sorry to hear about the choking! It is so scary!!! I learned the best way to get things out from my dad, a retired cop. You flip them over and put them upside down and hit their back hard and it comes flying out. DH did it to DS when he choked on a zywback cookie and boy, it does work. Still very scary! I'm glad DD is okay!

--Renee

[seeking2adopt]

My husband and I just completed a one-day training in infant CPR (a requirement for our upcoming adoption). I am more scared about choking NOW that I ever was before taking that training! I was just thinking about this today when I took my girls out for lunch. My 2-year old tends to take bites that are too big, and I thought, "I will never remember what I am supposed to do if she chokes!"

I'm so glad that Xiomara is okay!

[toyjsu]

Hi,

I am a cpr instructor. I recommend all parents and older siblings take a class. It can happen so quickly. If your child is 12 months or younger give them 5 back blows with the heel of your hand right between the shoulder blades. If they are over a year old, give them abdominal thrusts (heimlick). NEVER reach into the month of an infant or child UNLESS you can SEE the object. You are correct, it can push the object further down. I am glad everything worked out. That must have been scary.

[Shoshana]

Thanks, everyone. I guess I did the right thing because I could easily see the food. I think she just didn't know to keep chewing when she got too much in her mouth. It did happen quickly -- from making silly faces to choking...

I definitely need to take a CPR course. What a scary experience!

[mumofone]

I have never taken first aid even though I know I should. I just never thought I would be able to react in a situation to be of any help to anyone, but I was wrong.

When our son was about 3 1/2, he was sitting on our sofa with a candy in his mouth, and somehow he swallowed it. He started to cry, and I knew something was wrong. Because he was crying, I knew he was breathing.

I scooped him up, flipped him over, and hit him between the shoulder blades with my hand, it thankfully, it came right out.

I was shaking afterwards because I was so scared. I couldn't believe what had happened, and I actually responded without panicking.

[michelec]

shoshana-
My daughter choked on a piece of sourdough bread when she was a little bit younger than your baby. I guess it was just too soft and "gummed" up and she couldn't swallow it properly.

She didn't do anything, but when I saw the look in her eyes I knew something was wrong. I screamed "she's choking" and jumped up, whacked her on the back, and then cried. It was terrifying. Everything was alright of course.

My point is... I know exactly how scary that must have been for you...

Oh yeah, you said you are vegetarian and looking for healthy choices for your toddler. Do you ever buy Amy's brand foods? My daughter loves the soy based mac n' cheese. At that age she also ate veggie burgers, fake bacon, and fake chicken nuggets, all cut into very small bites of course.

She now loves stir fry with tofu, lentils, and just about anything we eat so it does get better!!

Good luck, and i'm glad she's okay.

michele

[roxanna425]

we were eating potatoes for breakfast and my fdaughter went from laughing to no sound and a distressed look. she's 7 but small and i flipped her onto my lap and smacked hard and it flew out and the dog ate it but I WAS SHAKING FOR A LONG TIME.

i know how you feel.

[Shoshana]

Thanks, Michele and Roxana - I think I'm in the process of developing a new psychological disorder - Post Traumatic Baby Choking Disorder - PTCD. I understand totally how she got choked - I just didn't figure that out until afterwards. I ate the same thing for dinner last night and sure enough, it gets soft and gummy. (Xiomy ate scrambled eggs

Michele, she refuses any of the vegetarian 'meat' items - no chicken nuggets, even. I'm going to need to learn to make firm tofu stir fried that has a yummy flavor. I do think it will gets easier once she starts to use a spoon!