Have you seen this?
Information on choking and gaggingCan you sign up to an infant first aid course in your area? They can cover how to respond to a choke incident and although you are unlikely to have increased risk of choking by following BLW (as opposed to purees) it may increase your confidence. For what it's worth the only near-choke incident we had was when I was whilst my LO ate chunks of kiwi and I licked the smallest slither off my own finger (about the size of a grain of rice) and it was me that started to choke. Very scary and I barely found enough breath to force some hard coughs out to clear my airway, it reminded me just how small a piece need be to make breathing more difficult (if not a full on choke), easily the size offered in pureed, mashed and lumpy foods. My DS had a good number of coughing fits whilst trying to drink water but no chokes during eating solid food.
I would avoid all small round foods, cherry toms, grapes, blueberries etc until your LO is a bit older an you feel more confident, likewise I would avoid chopping things into circles which produce more of a choke hazard, so carrots cut into batons not circles, sausages cut lengthwise into a long finger, don't cut into rounds. Offer large sticks of food (the size of your finger) for instance steamed green beans, asparagus, carrot batons, roasted sweet potato chips, baked apple wedges, large chunks of meat, toast 'soldiers'...although the point is to offer foods that are normal for your own family so that baby can join in with regular meals and learns to accept those flavours and textures more readily. When a piece of food is large they can hold it in a fist and gum or chomp on the exposed end, they know when they take a bite where the food is in their mouth, there is no surprise of texture, taste or size like there might sometimes be with mashed foods.
One other experience I had which made me stop and think...a button fell off my LO's cardigan, I saw it by him on the floor and quickly took it away, I went almost cold with the thought of what might have happened, I was so glad he didn't put it in his mouth. Contrast to a large plate by the side of him which I do not mind if he puts it in his mouth. I have no fear of him choking. Larger pieces of food do not increase the risk of choking.
You must do what you feel comfortable with though as LO will pick up on any stresses you have and this could lead to a negative association with his food, also if you respond in an inappropriate way (for instance slapping on the back when he gags) this could actually cause a choke rather than avoid one. Weaning and BLW is a wonderfully enjoyable experience. Ease yourself in xx
