Book 9, Question 141
Why Are Some Foods Choking Hazards?
Some foods are choking hazards because they are round, hard, or sticky and can block a small airway! Whole grapes, nuts, and hard candy are examples, and grown-ups cut up foods for little kids. Sit down, chew well, and tell a grown-up right away if someone is choking.
More fun facts
- Children under 4 years old are at the greatest risk of choking.
- Young children are still learning to chew, so they often swallow food whole, and their small airways can get blocked easily.
- Some foods are dangerous because they are the same size and shape as a child's airway.
- A chunk of hot dog or a whole grape can completely block a young child's upper airway, while a peanut can block the lower airway.
- Experts suggest avoiding foods as wide around as a nickel, which is about the size of a young child's throat.
- Grapes and cherry tomatoes should be cut in half lengthwise and then into smaller pieces, and carrots should be cut into thin strips instead of circles.
- Toddlers' food should be cut into pieces half an inch or smaller, and babies' food into pieces a quarter inch or smaller.
- Hard foods like carrots can be cooked until soft to make them safer for little kids.
Sources: portal.ct.gov, U.S. Department of Agriculture, childcareta.acf.hhs.gov
Questions kids ask
Why are hot dogs cut into strips, not circles?
Round slices are still the shape of a child's airway, so cutting them lengthwise into strips makes them much safer.