Gagging Vs Choking: What’s The Difference?

If you've ever watched your child gag while eating, chances are your heart skipped a beat. As parents, our instinct is to protect our children, and seeing them cough or gag can be scary.

Parents will often report to me that their child chokes regularly when eating, when what they really mean is that their child gags or coughs frequently.

While gagging and coughing can be alarming, they are very different from choking–and knowing the difference can help you respond appropriately and confidently.