10 Foods You Didn’t Know Could Be a Choking Hazard for Kids.

As a parent, your child’s safety is your top priority. Yet some parents are oblivious to certain foods that present “hidden” choking hazards.

Some of the foods that parents might not realize are choking hazards for kids include:

Raw Vegetables: Raw vegetables are often key parts of a healthy diet for kids and adults alike. However, when a child breaks a raw veggie into large pieces using his or her front teeth, these chunks of food can become choking hazards.
Peanut Butter: Some kids love peanut butter in sandwiches or on crackers, bread or toast. But large globs of peanut butter can be dangerous. In fact, they can quickly conform to a child’s airway and make it tough for him or her to breathe.
Whole Grapes: Whole grapes are loaded with vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants and other powerful nutrients and vitamins. At the same time, they can easily become lodged in a child’s throat. It is advised to cut grapes into smaller pieces so that they can be swallowed without getting stuck in your child’s throat.
Cheese: Cheddar, American and other types of cheese are tasty snacks for kids. On the other hand, large chunks of cheese may be too much for a child to handle.
Hard Candy: Hard candy may help a parent satisfy a child’s sweet tooth. Conversely, hard candy is sometimes the same size as a child’s airway. If hard candy becomes lodged in a child’s airway, choking may occur.
Whole Nuts: Almonds, cashews and other nuts have sharp edges, and as a result, may get stuck in a child’s throat.
Popcorn: Popcorn kernels may be tough for kids to chew and swallow. Thus, failure to fully digest these kernels may lead to choking.
Crunchy Snack Foods: Crackers, pretzels and other crunchy snack foods may have hard edges that increase the risk of choking in children.
Gum: Bubblegum, taffy and other sticky foods may be difficult to chew, especially for kids.
Meat: Large chunks of meat may be virtually impossible for kids to chew, and as such, create choking hazards for children.

Fortunately, there are lots of things that parents can do to ensure their kids can enjoy these foods safely, such as:

Provide Utensils: A child who uses his or her hands to eat risks consuming too much food at once. If you teach your son or daughter how to use a child-size spoon and fork, he or she can carefully eat appropriate food portions.
Minimize Distractions: Dining in front of a TV, smartphone or tablet creates a distraction for a child and parent. Instead, feed your child at a dining table where he or she can focus on eating and be supervised at all times.
Prepare Foods Properly: Foods that are too gooey or too hard create choking hazards. Therefore, use caution when you prepare foods for your son or daughter. By erring on the side of caution, you can identify and address potential choking hazards before you serve snacks or meals to your child. Also, make sure to cut the food into a size is appropriate for your child. If it is too large, it can get wedged in your child’s throat.
Examine Food Labels: Food labels teach parents about assorted choking hazards, and you can use food labels to learn how to safely prepare different foods and minimize choking dangers for your son or daughter.
Get Basic First Aid- and CPR-Certified: Basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification classes teach you what to do if your child starts choking on food. These classes are available in cities and towns nationwide and usually won’t require more than a few hours to complete. Additionally, basic first aid and CPR classes will teach you how to assist kids in a wide range of pediatric emergencies.

You don’t need to be a super-parent to safeguard your child from foods that otherwise present choking hazards. Thanks to the aforementioned tips, you can help your son or daughter enjoy a variety of foods without putting his or her safety at risk.

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