11Month Old Keeps Trying to Choke Herself

M.,

My daughter did the samething she will be 1 on Sunday she started around 9 months and I freaked out also the doctor told me this was normal and when I asked people on this site I received alot of insite. Quite a few people told me just to ignore her that she just wants the attention it was hard but I did. She never threw up but she would really gag. So I ignored her and wala she stopped she would do it here and there to see if we responded and since we didnt she doesn't do it anymore.

Jen

Strange as it is to believe, some children actually enjoy and are stimulated by the gag reflex and/or vomiting. They are still to young to associate gaging and vomiting with something icky, and children your daughters age often engage in gagging themselves. Most likely, though, she is doing this because she knows she will get your IMMEDIATE and UNDIVIDED attention as soon as she starts trying to vomit - self vomiting is a HUGE attention getting ploy because, as parents, its really hard to ignore a vomiting child for more than one reason (I dont want to have to clean up a vomity kid for no reason either).
My daughter went through the gagging herself phase at about 10 months - and seemed to enjoy it just as much as your daughter did! Basically - its a phase. The less attention you give her when she gags herself, the less she will continue to do it. So, let her gag herself - ignore it - and if she throws up let her sit in it for as long as you can stand (which is HARD). Allow her to feel and smell how icky it is - and as long as you keep ignoring it, it will stop. Also remember that children her age are very easily diverted to other activities - so if you see her starting to bring that hand to her mouth, hand her something to hold or divert her attention to a toy, an activity, etc. I know its a totally gross phase, but lots of children go through it, and it will stop sooner rather than later as long as you try not to react to it (either positively or negatively, they dont care what kind of attention it is).

Hi M.. Sounds pretty normal. Unless she's watching someone who's bulimic, (I knew a boy who learned it from someone who was), she's just learning her body. My son did it just because it was new, and so did my friends children. She'll learn that it's not too fun and she'll stop. Actually, my son hadn't done it in a long time until a few months ago. Then he would do it when he was angry. He stopped again. Phases, everything they do is a phase. You're daughter is just fine. Maybe when she does it you could pull her hand from her mouth and tell her, "ow". She may connect the two a little faster then. Good luck with everything.

Hi, and I'm glad that your little one is over the bought of her stomach virus. What she is doing though is really quite normal for her age. She's still finding out what her body can do and will do, and after something as horrible as having the stomach flu, she's very intrigued by the fact that something actually came up out of her mouth. (sorry about that).

I would say, as hard as it is going to be, try not to make a big deal of her gaging and and even when she goes as far as throwing up.
I know it will be hard, but if you just act as everything is "no big deal" and clean up the mess, then I think she will get tired of doing it because it will be old news.

Hang in there you sound like a great mom and your daughter is going to be fine.

Hope I was of some help,
Kathy A.

Hi

I agree with Kristen, this is an attention getter. also she will stop, it may take a month or two. Ignore it!! I read up on this.
This is just normal behavior. She is trying to get your attention, because she was sick and you were right their for her.
She liked that...

She will be fine. Also this is something new for her. she is just experimenting...

You must ignore it...

Hang in there mom!!

M.,

I know this sounds horrible - what your daughter is doing, but it seems like she's doing it for the attention. My son is now 2 1/2, but he went through this too. He would do it more and continue to do it the more I drew attention to it. I know it's hard not to say anything like don't that yuckie, but she'll probably keep doing it if you do that. My son used to laugh hysterically when I told him no and he'd do it more. Just ignore it and she should stop. I really don't think she's going to hurt herself doing it. Hang in there and don't stress over it.

L.

Dear M.,

fortunately you can control her environment. Just ignore what she is doing, and then get her interested in something else. Take her outside to see the birds - talk about something she loves to do, but ignore, ignore, ignore and do not talk about it in front of her. She is really a strong minded smart baby, isn't she? Better gird your loins and begin reading about babies anywhere you can find some information. Go on line and see what Dr. Greene says about babies. Also About.com Pediatrics Guide. Dr. Greene has a looong list of topics that seem helpful, www.drgreene.com, I think.

Good Luck, C. N.

Well I would definitely talk to your pediatrician about this, but it does seem that she likes that she gets a reaction from you. My sister actually did this when she was about one and when my mom quit paying attention to it, she stopped. She didn't however get to the point of making herself throw up, just choke and gag.
Best of luck,
S. G.