Small Foods a Choking Risk for Young Kids

It's a milestone parents like to see: A child's move to solid foods from breast milk or formula.

But it comes with a risk. Choking sends thousands of infants and toddlers to emergency rooms each year, and food often plays a part.

As curious young children explore their environment, they put in their mouths food and other objects that can stick in their throats. They don't have molars that would help them grind food to a fine consistency, says Kathy Shaw, M.D., a childhood emergency medicine expert and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It's fun to play with food, but eating can't be a game for toddlers, she says. Protect them by creating a safe eating environment and avoiding some foods until your child is 4 years old.

What to do

At meals:

• Supervise your child. Don't leave him alone while he's eating.

• Sit your child upright in a high chair.

• Discourage eating and talking at the same time.

• Cut her food into small pieces until her molars come in.

• Stop your child from running with food in his mouth.

• Set a good example.

You should bar these foods when you feed children who are younger than 4:

• All nuts and seeds

• Chunks of peanut butter

• Hot dogs

• Chunks of meat or cheese

• Popcorn, pretzels, potato chips, corn chips and similar snack foods

• Hard, gooey or sticky candy

• Whole grapes

• Raisins

• Raw vegetables, especially hard ones

• Chewing gum

If hot dogs are the only food you have, Dr. Shaw suggests you get rid of the tough skin and cut the meat into small pieces.

Choking emergencies

Choking can occur even if you take precautions. If your child has a forceful cough, and is crying or vocal, let the child get the food out, says Dr. Shaw. If your child can't make a sound, do the Heimlich maneuver. Learn the version that's right for your child's age.