Tonight Evan got his first teething biscuit and it will be his last for a long, long time. He enjoyed it but he scared Mommy & Daddy to death. So please learn from our mistake, don't give your children teething biscuits until you are absolutely certain that they can handle them.
He was digging on his biscuit and it was keeping him occupied so we could do some of our monthly cooking. It was joy, quiet in the house, and we could get work done. I still had to snap some pictures because it's a first for him.
After a while he had it whittled down to a sloppy mess. And then I knew it the minute I saw his little face. My baby was choking. Arabella had gagged on things now and then, but never fully choked. Evan was gasping and trying to breathe, but he just couldn't. All I can see is the terror in his eyes. As if he were asking me for help. This is the last picture I took.
This is when I knew something wasn't right. I immediately put the camera down and tried to lean him forward thinking maybe it was just gagging him. But he just started to writhe from the lack of air. I ripped the tray off of the high chair and Adam continued to try to lean him forward. I screamed "get him out!" Finally he was loose and instinct kicked in. It has been ages since I took a safety class but I just knew what to do. I turned him over on my knee and proceeded to start Infant Heimlich. After two or three good blows he started puking teething biscuit all over the place and this tiny half an inch piece just fell out. He had tears streaming down his face and this look of disbelief. Never again will he get a teething biscuit. I say that, but for now it won't be happening, just later on when I'm 100% certain he can handle it.
So I say this with all the love in my heart, PLEASE take the time to learn Infant CPR and Heimlich if you do not know it. Had I not known what to do tonight I very well could have sent our infant son to the morgue. That is not something I could have lived with. I'm grateful he's okay, and thankful I took the time as a teenager to learn what would be necessary "just in case." Never in my life did I think I'd actually use it, let alone on my own child.
For more information on Heimlich Maneuver for Infants visit Harvard Medicals Family Health Guide.
For more information on CPR for Infants visit Harvard Medicals Family Health Guide.
For more information on taking a CERTIFIED CPR Course visit The American Heart Association.
