2 Year Old Gagging

At 2 she's still experimenting, and stimulating the gag reflex that can happen by accident and then kids try it over and over, especially when they see they get a reaction out of you. Here is my suggestion (based on my own experience and experience with kids friends), be VERY no nonsense about it. If she gags herself, she loses her food and absolutely does not get anything else. Gagging can quickly escalate to induced vomiting and is a common means of control that kids use on their parents, by vomiting in order to get out of eating what you put in front of them, and to make you give them something they want. It can be a way to get what they want, but also is a way of making you jump through hoops for them, whether they understand what they're doing or not, and it sets an incredibly bad precedent. Nip it in the bud now. Kids will go to extremes to see what they can get away with, and it's easier to avert this kind of behavior by putting your foot down at the beginning of any potential issue.

Of course, this may seem extreme to you, and it is entirely possible that your daughter may just be playing you may never have a problem, but I've seen it happen...MANY times where kids push it to the limit because it wasn't dealt with effectively in the beginning. It doesn't have to be a big deal, just put your foot down now and let her know that it's no acceptable.

Best of luck!

My 3 oldest children all did this at around 2 yrs old. I found it is because they are in such a hurry to get sone eating that they forget to chew their food.

I just recommend calming her down and sitting with until she starts chewing her food completely again. Teach her the good eating habit by doing it yourself. Hope that helps!

Have a GREAT day!

S.

I know just in the past few weeks my 22mo old son has started over stuffing his mouth. He'll gag routinely when he has simply put too much in his mouth at one time. Not sure is this would happen with the very soft types of foods you described, but it's a thought. Try noticing how much she's shoveling in at one time and encourage her to slow down. Good luck!

We have experienced this with our 2-year-old as well. She still has gagging bouts. I am not sure what a doctor would say, but we remind our daughter to take little bits and swallow before she takes another bite. I think she forgets she is eating, or that she has food in her mouth and just puts more in. When we watch her every bite it is fine. Good luck!

Seeing it is more stuff that is soft like applesauce and yogurt it isn't anything to do with her chewing as much as it is that it may be a texture thing. I wouldn't be concerned either if it is just new things.
Sounds like she is testing things out and not sure if she likes it or not. If she was gagging every time she ate or drank I would worry.

Give her small bites first, remember too she is a toddler now so if you react to something it will then become a game whether good or bad reaction, so try your best to know if she has applesauce in her mouth, she isn't choking on it as much as maybe looking to get a reaction.
It cannot hurt to talk to your Pediatrician over the phone but the fact that she does NOT do this with ALL foods, I wouldn't worry, just keep reenforcing trying new things so she doesn't end up picky! :)

I had this problem for a little bit with the boy I nannied for. He would gag on things he just plain didn't want to eat. Sadly, children can turn their gag reflex on and off. I just told him that gagging wasn't allowed and if he proceeded to spit it out anyway (and I do mean spit, not throw up) he had to eat it. He only did this a couple times after that, usually with a veggie that he liked but hadn't had for a while, or if he wanted a treat but I had told him no.

My other question would be is how have you reacted to her gagging? My daughter would do the same thing or start to "choke" to get a reaction out of me. I didn't figure it out until I noticed she did it most if I was talking to someone else, or looking away for a minute. She also grinned at me one day and then did it This may not be the case, but its food for thought. Best wishes.

I tend to agree with Shawnasie, but if she has a history of reflux, it's worth getting it checked out. It can be a sign that the reflux is not under control. GL!