Warnings are forever being issued to parents about which household items and toys are choking hazards to small children. We carefully read the labels, listen to news reports, and do our best to be vigilant about what the little ones are sticking in their mouths.
This should also include food. Since their airways are still small, young children are at greater risk of swallowing bits of food that are too large, which can lead to choking. Whether you’re feeding them, or they’re eating by themselves, accidents can easily happen.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, food accounts for half of choking incidents in small children. To help prevent this, they’ve highlighted which foods pose the biggest risk to children under the age of 4:
Nuts can easily get caught in a child’s airway due to their size. To add to this, tiny teeth might not be able to handle chewing whole nuts, so avoid giving them nuts altogether. Sometimes, the shells from the nuts can restrict airways too. Before giving your child nuts, you should wait until they’re well over the age of 4, can sit while eating, and have learned how to chew their food completely.
2. Candy
Besides leading to cavities, hard candy such as lollipops send thousands of kids to the ER every year. Even a small piece can get stuck in a child’s throat. Avoid giving hard candy and marshmallows to your child until they’re over the age of 5 and can chew thoroughly.
3. Grapes
Due to their size and slippery texture, grapes are a major choking hazard. Doctors suggest a no-grape policy for kids under 4 or cutting them into quarters before serving them to children. Similarly shaped foods like cherries should also be avoided at this age.
According to John Hopkins, one of the biggest threats to kids under the age of 3 is hot dogs - even if you cut them up. Choking on a small piece of hot dog can lead to hospitalization if you’re not careful. If you still want to give a small child hot dogs, make sure to cut them into thin strips.
5. Meat and Cheese Chunks
Like hot dogs, chunks of cheese and meat are difficult for growing toddlers to chew. Food should be diced so that it’s no larger than ½ inch, and your child should be supervised at all times while eating these foods.
6. Peanut Butter
Nut butters can get stuck to the roof of the mouth and the throat. For kids under 2, skip the globs of peanut butter and other nut butters. When serving to toddlers, spread a thin layer of it onto bread or crackers.
7. Gum
Chewing gum can cause dangerously sticky situations for small children. They’re prone to trying to swallow it or accidentally inhaling it while chewing. Don’t give gum to small children at all.
Vegetables should be cooked until soft, and cut into small pieces that are no larger than ½ inch in size. It’s suggested to avoid stringy veggies such as celery or string beans altogether. Chunks of raw vegetables or fruits, such as carrots or apples, should be avoided until the children have learned to chew.
9. Popcorn
Popcorn shouldn’t be given to children until they’re at least 4. Many toddlers and infants have to visit the ER each year due to kernels getting lodged in their airways.
Source: tiphero
Images: depositphotos
Low on Estrogen? Add These 8 Foods to Your Diet...
If you have been told that you need to boost your estrogen levels, here are 8 foods that you should consider adding to your diet.
You'd Best Think Twice Before Consuming These Delicacies!
Here are 10 dishes that can give you an adrenaline rush stronger than that from any roller-coaster, while testing your luck better than the lottery.
Feeling Down? These 10 Foods Can Help Improve Your Mood
The food that we eat can help increase our moods and get rid of depression. Find out more here!
If You Find Yourself Choking, Here's What You Should Do!
If you're choking and there's no one else around to help you, this video might just save your life.
Going Gray? Add These 7 Foods to Your Shopping List!
Adds these foods to your weekly shopping list to prevent your hair from turning gray.
Children of the Past: Historical Photos of Kids Having Fun
19 Nostalgic photos of children having fun playing outside.
Couples Passionate About Each Other Practice These Rituals
It's amazing to think what miraculous things can happen between a couple when new positive, behavior patterns are developed.
Another Good Reason to Put the Phone Aside When With Kids
Extensive research on this topic has consistently shown the importance of giving our undivided attention to our children in order for them to learn and grow.
Husband Guide: How to Make Your Wife Fall in Love Again
Guide: how to show love again in simple ways and how to make your wife fall in love with you again.
Solving 10 Food-Related Problems Some Parents Face
we have gathered 10 common problems and the best solutions to address them, assisting you to get through each family dinner or feeding the baby with ease.
How to Reconnect with Children who Have Left the Nest
very parent must know the effective ways to connect with their older children, not only to provide them support but also be their friend.
Couples Who Stay Together Forever Have 19 Things In Common
Although it looks like everlasting love is but a mere stroke of luck, there are 19 secrets that are shared by all couples that get to experience it...
How to Answer Children's Toughest Questions
Answer your children's burning questions and find new questions to keep the conversation going at every age.
How to Tell Your Children You Have Cancer
What's the right way to tell your children you have cancer, and are there situations where you shouldn't?
WARNING: Before You Buy a Rotisserie Chicken, Read This
Are rotisserie chickens bad for our health or are they just as healthy as regular chicken?
How to Stop a Crying Baby in Just a Few Seconds
There is nothing worse than a baby that just won't stop crying. Well, thanks to Dr. Hamilton, this problem could now be a thing of the past!
Hilarious: Before Being a Parent, and AFTER Being One...
Check out this hilarious photo-compilation of parents before and after children.
6 Embarrassing Parental Moments and How to Deal with Them
Here are 6 embarrassing situations you may encounter. Don't worry - there are ways to tackle them!
10 Timeless Old Family Films You Can Enjoy With Your Kids
These family films may be old, but they can still delight children to this day.
This Short Tale Reminds Us of a Person’s True Worth...
A short story that will remind you what a person's true worth is...
Which Occupations Cheat the Most? The Answers are In...
Research indicates that certain professions tend to have a higher likelihood of infidelity.
Nine Couples Games that Can Strengthen Relationships
Each game is designed to make you a more loving and understanding couple, whether you are just starting out or have been married for years.
This Letter Expresses a Parent's Love For Their Child...
This heartwarming letter is definitely one to share with our children and let them know just how much they mean to us.
These 5 Holding Positions Can Help a Baby in Many Ways
If you've ever wondered how to help your baby release gas, burp, or even just calm them when they're crying, read this article and learn 5 new holding positions!
This Mother's Letter to Her Daughter Touched Me Deeply
There is nothing quite like a mother's love for her daughter, as this heartbreaking letter reveals. Prepare to be moved.
What Happens When Parents Have a Favorite Child?
What Happens When Parents Have a Favorite Child?
7 Ways to Encourage Executive Development in Children
This guide will provide you with the information you need to help your child develop these essential functions.
Study: Why It's Crucial to Talk to Toddlers
This study sheds light on why it's so important to speak to toddlers and how best to go about it.
Print at Home: 24 Characters for Coloring with Kids!
For a fun time for kids of all ages, print out any of these popular characters for them to color.
40 Sentences Every Child Needs to Hear to Succeed in Life
Help your child succeed in life with these 40 sentences.
All About the Annoying Phenomenon of Phubbing
If you know what this phenomenon is, read on for tips to tackle it. Here are four signs that you or your partner may be "phubbing."
Did You Know Grandkids Are Good for Your Health?
In this article, we will introduce the many good ways grandkids influence your life, mind, and body.
9 Mistakes Parents Make When Vacationing with Children
Trips, especially flights with children, are not simple. To make matters easier, avoid these nine mistakes parents make on family vacations.
7 Ways to Combat Passive Aggressive Behavior
Common passive-aggressive behaviors and the recommended responses to situations you may encounter.
Darling Child, Here are 8 ‘Sorrys’ I Meant to Tell You
Dear child, I love you, I always have and I always will, but there are many things I should apologize for. Here are 8 of my 'sorrys'.
12 Classic Christmas Stories All Children Will Love
Enjoy the holidays with your kids by reading one of these heartwarming Christmas books to your kid.
Beautiful: What Kids Should REALLY Be Taught at School!
Children and young teens need to be taught life lessons, that will enable them to be independent and certain, yet respectful.
12 Reasons Why Every Kid Should Grow up With a Dog
Dogs are incredibly beneficial to a child's development. Read this list of 12 benefits that children reap when growing up around a dog.
Guide: What to Feed a Baby at Every Age
Not all solid foods are suitable for every stage, which is why we have created a guide to help you feed your baby according to their age.
Roll Down Your Car Window & Enjoy these Scenic U.S Routes
Roll down your car window and feast your eyes on some of the west's most breath-taking landscapes.
Are These Schools the Most Unusual In the Entire World?
Many of us were educated in traditional classrooms, but the same cannot be said for the students at these 14 highly-unusual schools. Learn about them today.
How to Raise Happy Children: 10 Scientific Steps!
The most important thing for kids' success is their happiness, and these 10 top tips for getting your kids and grandkids happy are backed by science!
Remember This 6-Letter Phrase to Mend Passive Aggression
Emotional intelligence experts swear by this one simple 6-phrase to stop passive aggression in its tracks.
This Father Has the Cutest Way of Handling His Baby...
This father will do anything to help his baby sleep...
WARNING: Don't Let Children Play With These Toys
Today there is a large selection of toys, and although they should be fun some may be real life-threatening, such as those on this list,
A Story of a Little Girl and Her Guardian Angels...
This short story will remind you that there is always someone to watch over you in this life...