my 3 year old tells me she feels like she is going to choke

[panda860]

My 3 year old feel's like she is going to choke every time she is going to eat any solid food after she choke on bagle 2 weeks ago.

[specialmom]

There is something that happens when a child chokes----  it is stored in their memory.  My son has motor planning issues and chewing was hard for him,  He's gagged or choked on various items----  and then reintroducing them into his diet is difficult.  He can immediately gag when the food item hits the back of his throat.  This is a commen reflex action.  Smell can do it as well,

Example, ever vomit on something that then was very unappealing to you afterwards??  I did when I had the flu---------  and still haven't had the item two years later.  Adults tend to just isolate to the item that made us sick or we gagged on or choked on, but kids will then  become fearful and anxious overall, and that gag memory is real.

I'd cut her food into fine pieces and start with softer items and less chewy items.  Get her going on the solid food in the least intimidating way possible.  Then keep introducing more items slowly.  She'll come back around but has to get rid of that gag/choke memory which is now causing an involuntary reaction that she can't help.  

(get sick on something with a strong smell and then smell it . . .  you will gag involuntarily for a while----  same brain chemistry at play here.)

good luck

[margypops]

It sounds like a reaction from choking the previous week on a bagel..I suggest you kind of ignore it, make sure her food is cut up small so It cant happen again, less issue about it .. she'll be okay ..

[momathon1486]

she is probaly overeacting or trying to get out of eating certain foods.