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The number-one fear of most people? Speaking in public. Mine? Choking (in public or anyplace else). Now that I have a kid, I'm petrified that she's going to choke to death too. Chew, chew, chew is our mantra.
Discovering that choking is the leading cause of death and injury among children, especially those under the age of four has done nothing to relieve my anxiety. Did you know that a child dies every five days in the United States from choking on food?
Yesterday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement with recommendations for ways in which government agencies and food manufacturers can make food safer for our kids (such as by redesigning the hot dog, for example).
The AAP also provided these choking prevention safety tips for parents:
1. Don't give children under the age of four round, firm foods unless they have been cut into very small pieces. Cut hot dogs lengthwise and grapes into quarters so they can't lodge in your child's throat.
2. Don't give toddlers other high risk foods—hard candy, nuts, seeds and raw carrots.
3. Never let small children run, play, or lie down while eating.
4. Keep coins and other small items out of reach at all times.
5. Carefully read warning labels on toys.
6. Use a small parts test device (available at many toy stores) to check whether a toy is too small.
7. Take a course in first aid for choking and CPR so you'll know what to do in an emergency. Your babysitters and other caregivers should take a course too.
Reading that list makes me feel slightly better because I'm golden on tips 1 - 6. Unfortunately, I'm a bad, bad mama when it comes to tip 7. I haven't taken a CPR course and I know, I know, I know I should. I'll sign up tomorrow.
I'd also like to add my own safety tip to the AAP's list:
Tell your child to "Chew, chew, chew ... "
Are you worried about your toddler choking? Have you made certain foods off-limits or taken a course in CPR?
Related posts:
Hot Dog Redesign May Curb Child Choking Incidents
Comments (5)
My daughter always chokes. She has developmental delays and sensory motor issues, so she packs her mouth with food and swallows it whole. At one point she was choking so much she was put on a purred diet. She's improved lately, but she still chokes about once a month at least. It used to be several times a week. The first time I had to fish hook an animal cracker out of her throat was terrifying, but I'm much more calm nowadays. I do get nervous about other people feeding her though.
It can be scary especially when my DD thinks she can handle that fist full of cheerios and I pause just make sure I hear her breathe.
There has always been a big fear of our son choking...DH has been worse than mine. We have always sliced grapes into quarters, hot dogs sliced in half then in half again..NONE of #2! I laughed at your chew, chew, chew because we do that with him and he gets dramatic with it by bobbing his head showing he is chew, chew, chewing..We taken CPR and First Aid they shared to that a child can choke on some pasta's. Our son choked once on an apple I sliced into small 1/4 in quarters but a big piece broke off so after that they were chopped up..Part of me has thought 'Our children will not learn to chew properly if we cut, chop, and slice everything." But then I know now that our son is getting older and understands more and we are able to explain, of course at his level he must chew. (Now he pretends to choke, grrr). Also, when he sees us cut his grapes, bananas, hot dogs, he will have a fit and refuses to eat!! There is always something to worry about as our children grow and hit milestones...I will miss my son being this age it really doesn't last long enough!
apracots OMG i thought i cut it up small enough, thank god i and CPR cirtified but i just put my finger down his little throat and fished that little piece out. i have taken to cutting soft canned friuts latly but after today i am sticking to soft pears ONLY.
One thing we were taught in our first aid course..REMEMBER: A child's esophagus is as big as his/her pinkie (the same goes for an adult)...Anything foods bigger than that there is always a possibility of choking. So always cut up a child's food with that in thought.