S.D.
Hi Mary,
Your email made me smile. When my oldest brother and I go get donuts I can look over and ALWAYS see him shove the whole donut in his mouth...he is a guy. I saw my boss walking towards me the other day and he shoved the whole cooke in his mouth. I asked him if he wanted to taste it, and he said why? He then said doesn't your son shove everything in his mouth. I have boy/girl twins and the minute he said that I realized a cute difference between them. He SHOVES it in and sometimes swallows the whole thing. If he is excited about it and likes it there is less chance chewing will occur. :)
Yes, it is scary...I was so afraid of choking, that I hated to feed them both when I was alone. So, at about 10 months I started asking "are you chewing" and it was a fun thing to ask as most things when you are eating with the little ones - now, both of them open and close their mouths when I ask and bob their head up and down to show me they are chewing. He still doesn't sometimes, but then again my brother and boss still don't! PLEASE do not go back to pureed food, that will be so much worse in the long run. Just make small pieces of everything so you know he is going to be able to swallow.
hopes this helps lighten up the moment...little boys are so so so fun!!!