Why do babies gag?
Should they be gagging?
Do we need to be worried?
What’s really going on here?
First things first: gagging isn’t a dirty word. But wow, does it freak out parents (and plenty of new therapists, too).
Okay, let’s back up for a moment. Think back to your very first pediatric feeding client. That moment when the baby gagged, did your heart skip a beat? Were you worried you did something wrong? Were you worried your supervisor would swoop in and tell you you’d failed? Or worse…fire you?
We’ve all been there. Especially if you hadn’t spent much time around babies learning to eat.
But here’s the truth: gagging is a normal part of learning to eat and self-feed. It’s a protective reflex designed to keep babies safe from choking. It happens when the brain senses something in the mouth it doesn’t think belongs there, or when the tongue loses control of the bolus.
But let’s be clear, “normal” doesn’t mean ignore it every time.
AND…there are some caveats to the statement “gagging is normal.” Extreme gagging, such as gagging on a large percentage of a meal, or gagging every time a child takes a bite of a certain food or texture, is something we need to take into account and evaluate further.
Gagging vs. Choking
This one’s big: gagging is NOT choking.
- Gagging is usually LOUD (lots of coughing, retching sounds).
- Choking is usually SILENT (wide eyes, panic, difficulty breathing, skin color changes, no sound at all).
If you take away nothing else today, remember this: gagging ≠ choking.
So…why Does Gagging Happen?
In most cases, gagging happens while babies are developing the oral motor skills needed to move food from the front of the mouth to the back in preparation for swallowing. It’s especially common the first few times a new food or texture is introduced.
That’s normal. That’s learning. That’s the process.
When Gagging Signals Something More
Here’s where I want you to lean in.
- Extreme gagging (like gagging on most of a meal)
- Patterned gagging (every single time they eat a certain texture)
- Gagging on purees (yes, even smooth foods)
These are not “typical” learning experiences.
Continuous gagging on purees? That often points to more than “sensory defensiveness.” This is where your feeding therapist brain meets your myofunctional therapy toolbox.
👉 Remember: under age 4, we don’t do formal myo. But we do bring that skillset into feeding therapy to connect the dots.
And here’s the kicker: gagging is not always a sensory issue. Sometimes it’s an oral motor issue. And you may be the exact therapist who helps a child move forward because you caught that pattern.
The Bottom Line
Gagging doesn’t have to send parents or therapists into panic mode.
When we:
✔️ Understand the difference between gagging and choking
✔️ Recognize when gagging is part of the learning process
✔️ Know when it may be a red flag
…we can step into our role as confident, observant, and supportive guides in a child’s feeding journey.
Gagging is often just a stepping stone. And with the right support, it can pave the way toward safe, confident, and successful eating.
Want to feel more confident screening for what’s typical gagging versus what signals something more? I created a free training to help you strengthen your screening skills and catch those red flags early. Save your spot now.
