MunchSprouts - Safety

Safety Guidelines

Understand choking risks and creating a safe feeding environment for your baby

Know What to Do in an Emergency

Before starting BLW, it is recommended to take an infant CPR and choking course. It is important to know the difference between gagging (normal and protective) and choking (rare but serious). Remember - if you suspect choking call 999 immediately!

Gagging vs. Choking: Knowing the Difference

Gagging is a normal, protective reflex. Choking is a medical emergency

Gagging (Normal)

Signs:

Baby is making noises (coughing or sputtering)
Their face may turn red
Their eyes may water
Their tongue may thrust forward
They may vomit or spit up food

What to Do:

Stay calm and don't intervene
Let your baby work it out themselves
Offer reassurance with a calm voice
Continue with their meal once resolved

Choking (Emergency)

Signs:

Silent or no crying
Cannot cough or make sounds
Face turns blue or purple
For older babies, they may put their hands to their throat
Losing consciousness

What to Do:

Call 999 immediately!
Perform infant choking first aid
Give 5 back blows between the shoulder blades - check between each blow
If required, give up to 5 chest thrusts
Repeat until the object dislodges, or help arrives

IMPORTANT: This is not a substitute for proper training. It is recommended to take an infant CPR and first aid course prior to start BLW.

This is advice only - always call for professional medical help

Safe Food Characteristics

Soft & Squishable

Can be squished between thumb and finger

Appropriate Size

Finger-sized strips or small pieces baby can manage

Easy to Dissolve

Breaks down easily with saliva or gum pressure

Age-Appropriate Texture

Matches baby's developmental stage

High-Risk Foods to Avoid

Round & Hard Foods

Whole grapes, cherry tomatoes (cut lengthways), nuts, hard sweets

Sticky or Thick Foods

Peanut butter (by the spoon), thick nut butters, marshmallows

Raw Hard Vegetables

Raw carrots, apples, celery - they must be cooked until soft

Popcorn & Small Seeds

Can easily get lodged in the airway

Creating a Safe Eating Environment

Essential safety practices for every meal

Always Supervise

Stay within arm's reach at all times
Give baby your full attention
No eating while in the car or a pushchair
Avoid distractions (e.g. TV or Mobile Phone)

Proper Positioning

Baby sits fully upright
Feet supported on footrest
Never sit reclined or slouched
Secure with high chair straps

Meal Pace

Let baby control their speed
Don't rush meals
Allow time to chew and swallow
Watch for signs of fullness

Food Temperature

Always test temperature first
Serve food lukewarm, not hot
Stir to distribute heat evenly
Let food cool completely if needed

Minimise Distractions

Turn off TV screens
Try and promote a quiet, calm environment
Focus on eating, not playing
Remove toys from tray

Baby's State

Ensure baby is fully alert and awake
Not overtired or cranky
Not excessively hungry
In a good mood for eating

How to Modify High-Risk Foods

Make common foods safer for baby led weaning

Grapes & Cherry Tomatoes

Risk: Round shapes can block the airway

Make Safe: Cut lengthways and then into quarters for infants under 12 months

Hot Dogs & Sausages

Risk: Round and slippery

Make Safe: Cut lengthways into thin strips, then into small pieces

Nut Butters

Risk: Thick and sticky

Make Safe: Spread thinly on toast or mix into porridge or yoghurt

Raw Apples & Carrots

Risk: Too hard to chew

Make Safe: Steam or roast until fork-tender, or grate finely

Berries (Blueberries)

Risk: Small and round

Make Safe: Squish flat or cut in half for babies under 9 months

Bread

Risk: Can form a sticky ball in mouth

Make Safe: Lightly toast and spread with toppings to add moisture

Emergency Preparedness

Before starting BLW, ensure you have:

Emergency numbers handy (999 especially!)
Completed an infant CPR and first aid certification
Discussed BLW with your health visitor
Practiced choking response techniques