Infant Teacher's Guide to Staying Calm When Baby Gags
You're feeding a 7-month-old and she gags- her little face turns red, she makes a cough sound, and you feel that spike of panic, ‘Is she choking?’ Every infant teacher knows this feeling. As a pediatric speech language pathologist that provides feeding therapy, a prior child care owner and provider, and a mom of 2, I know this feeling!
If you don't have clarity on the difference between gagging and choking, that panic can lead you to react in ways that actually increase the danger.
Understanding gagging vs. choking is one of the most powerful tools you can have as an infant teacher.
Why Knowing The Difference Between Gagging & Choking Matters
Gagging is protective, not dangerous. A baby's gag reflex is located much farther forward in the mouth than an adult's gag reflex. When a baby is born, the gag reflex is in the first third of the mouth. But around 6 months of age, it naturally migrates backward where it settles in the back third of of the mouth (This is where an adult gag reflex is).
This is important to know because it means babies (6-12 months) will likely gag when using teethers, mouthing objects, starting solids, or trying new textures. This is completely normal development.
Gagging vs. Choking: The Key Differences
What to Do When Baby Gags
The most important thing you can do during gagging is... usually nothing. But I know you are like, NOTHING?! I need something! Here are a few what to do and what not to do’s to keep baby safe and mealtime positive.
Stay calm and observe. A baby's gag reflex is doing its job. Watch without intervening.
Give it a moment. Within a few seconds, the food will either come forward and be spit out, or baby will continue trying to manage it.
Respond warmly. During and after the gag, offer comfort and reassurance. “You got it. Push it out.”
What NOT to Do
Don't panic.
Don't intervene immediately.
NEVER stick your fingers in baby's mouth. I cannot stress this enough. If you put your fingers in baby's mouth during gagging, you risk pushing food farther back and potentially causing choking.
Don't slap baby on the back while they're actively gagging.
Don't assume they don’t like the food. Or that one gag means baby can't handle that texture.
This is a page from the Mealtime Struggles Handbook which is included in your training for child care providers
Preventing Choking
While gagging is normal and actually protective, true choking prevention requires specific strategies:
1. Get CPR certified. This is non-negotiable for infant teachers. You should take CPR training annually.
2. Let baby self-feed when possible. When baby sees, smells, and touches food before it goes in their mouth, their brain has time to prepare.
3. Feed baby when they are sitting. They should be well supported in their high chair or booster.
4. Do the squish test. If you can easily squish it between your two fingers, it’s likely safe
5. Avoid high-risk choking foods.
Small, round foods: Whole grapes, cherries, grape tomatoes, and hot dogs if not cut properly
Sticky foods: Large spoonfuls of nut butter, marshmallows, and globs of melted cheese
Chips and popcorn
Trainings for Child Care Providers
Earn 3 approved child care training hours (We are approved in DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, PA, SC, WY) and 0.3 CEUs so you feel confident handling common mealtime struggles in infant, toddler, and pre-school classrooms.
