Baby Gets Food Wrong In The Throat: Treatment Methods
One of the scenarios that worries parents the most is when some food or drink gets wrong in the throat of their baby. This happens more often than you might think as babies are learning to swallow. Therefore, it is important to know what to do if your baby gets something wrong in his throat while eating or drinking.
First of all, you need to stay calm when something is wrong in the throat of your little baby. In most cases, babies can recover on their own immediately.
While many parents’ reaction is to blow on their child’s face, this is not a recommended method. When you do, you cause the baby to stop breathing by reflex, making it difficult for him or her to recover.
Why do babies get food wrong in the throat?
During lactation, especially in the first 6 months of life, babies can often be suffocated by milk. In general, babies suck with great energy and enthusiasm, which increases the flow of milk. This is true whether the baby is breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle.
Therefore, it is important to try to control the dosage of milk that the little baby receives. This is easier to do with a baby bottle as you can simply just switch the pacifier to the baby bottle.
In terms of care, the mother can extract a small amount of milk before breastfeeding. This reduces the flow of milk.
Another reason why babies get food wrong in the throat has to do with stomach or gastrointestinal problems. When babies suffer from gastrointestinal upset, the constant vomiting of milk can often lead to babies being suffocated.
When babies are 6 months old, they start eating solid foods. During this new phase, it is important to offer pieces that are neither too large nor hard as it can be a choking hazard. And of course, you should never leave your baby alone while he or she eats.
What to do if your baby suffocates in food while eating or drinking?
If your baby is starting to have difficulty eating, it is important to remain calm and analyze the problem. If your baby is breastfeeding, then the problem is probably due to the baby drinking too fast. In this case, have your baby sit upright so that he or she can cough. It will more than likely be enough for your baby to recover.
If the problem persists, place your baby face down. Let your baby’s chin rest in the space between your thumb and forefinger and lower his or her head slightly.
The rest of your baby’s body should be more elevated than the head. By doing this, gravity itself will cause the fluid to come out and open your little baby’s airway.
The following steps involve gently patting your baby with the palm of your hand between the shoulder blades. You can apply the same measure when you think your baby is suffocated by food or another object.
If the crisis continues, place your baby on his back and press down on the center of his or her breast but thumbs.
You should always make sure that your baby can breathe and that he or she does not lose consciousness.
Observe the color of your baby’s lips, as a purple line around the lips indicates that your little baby is unable to breathe. If this is the case and your intervention does not work, call 112 immediately.
What are the possible consequences of when babies get food wrong in the throat?
The first thing that happens if the previously mentioned methods do not work is that the baby loses consciousness. This is due to lack of oxygen.
In this case, perform the word of mouth method to restore your baby’s consciousness. It is important to ensure that your baby recovers as this situation can be fatal.
While choking on food is an option when it comes to the little ones, you should do everything possible to prevent this. In the case of breastfeeding babies, it is best to let your baby sit up while breastfeeding. Your baby should never lie flat.
If your baby is learning to eat, start with soft foods. These are easier for your baby to crush and dissolve with the gums. Finally, be sure to offer your baby water, which will help your little baby swallow.
