Sometimes it seems like my 10 wk old baby is choking is that normal?

Question

He will start to gag, turn really red, cough and then start to cry. His Dr said gagging is normal but this seems worse. Sometimes it happens around when he eats but sometimes it will happen and hour or so after he eats (he is on formula for a sensitive tummy). It happens one or two times a day. He always recovers pretty quickly but it is really scary.

Answer 1

Yes, it's scary, but it's pretty normal- it happens because the epiglottis (the part of the throat that seals off the windpipe when you swallow) is a little floppy, and is something most babies outgrow within a few months.

If your baby is showing the ABCs: an open Airway (he's coughing), Breathing (crying) and Circulation (turning red), he's A-OK, and you just have to wait for it to pass. It's when he STOPS coughing and crying and starts to turn white, then blue that you have a problem.

TIP: It might help you feel better if you took a CPR class- then you'd know what to do if the choking DID turn bad.

Answer 2

My daughter did the same thing. She would thrash her arms and seem to struggle to breath, most times she had a excessive amount of saliva in her mouth and nose. What I did was I kept my DD upright after feedings and had an aspirator at my side at all times to help suction out some of the saliva and or spit up out of her nose. She would often do this long after eating. My doctor and lactation consultant both thought she had mild reflux and her behavior was a panic response to the digested milk coming partially up . It always seems to be that when she had these "attacks" something was coming up through her nose and because babies are obigatory nose breathers I think a stuffy nose, vomit, or saliva in the nasal passages bring on the choking panic. Also, I noticed she wasn't trying too hard to cough up something it was more like she was struggling to swallow. Either way she seemed to outgrow it. My doctor said a lot of babies have this problem when saliva production starts to pick up speed. Best of luck with your baby.

Answer 3

My daughter did this for the first 3 months. It started in the hospital, but actually got worse at home. I was (still am) breastfeeding, so it isn't necessarily the formula. My baby Abi is 8 months now and never gags. But I just realized she was tongue-tied. It's easy to fix; you might want to check on it.

Answer 4

It is possible your baby has Acid reflux. My son had it & I would have to burp him often. This seemed to help. Check the nipple size on the bottle. Try moving back to a level one if he is on a level two. the higher the level the more holes in the nipple and the faster the milk flow. If there are more holes than he can handle he will not be able to swallow it as quickly. Try to keep him as upright as possible when feeding and NEVER prop the bottle.

Answer 5

I've seen babies choke a bit, but the turning red and getting upset enough to cry doesn't sound familiar. I would get a second opinion, even if it just made me feel better.

Answer 6

It might be acid reflux. babies get it all the time. Is he fussy AFTER he eats? Try to feed him in an upright postion and don't lay him down for about a half hour after eating and see if it gets better.

Answer 7

I would be thinking it's like a baby heartburn or gas reflex that he can't control. I bet it's terrifying to watch. Perhaps even that formula is causing problems?

Answer 8

Are you nuts, GO SEE a doctor asap next time it starts to happen. You are old enough to have sex and a kid and not old enough to know that when something like this happens you should see a doctor ASAP...... Its not your life but the life of your baby at risk......WAKE UP.....................

Answer 9

RUN to get another opinion,gagging is not normal.

Answer 10

Always happened to my son and his is 4 now. Don't worry too much.