Posted by Keri Hartwright Last updated 21st January 2022 reading time
I saw a tragic post the other day about choking and thought I would write a post on how we can reduce the risk of choking in our house hold.
Choking is one of the leading causes of death in children under the age of 5 and also why most parents attend a first aid course. It can happen in an instant and is not something you can prevent, but there are definitely ways in which the risk of it can be reduced.
Don’t feed them on the move
Meal times can be tricky to negotiate with toddlers who have much more interesting things to do with their day than sitting patiently eating their dinner, but it is so important to make sure your child is sitting when they eat. Children who are moving with food in their hand are much more likely to choke. My own daughter was very close to choking when she tried sprinting across the house with a strawberry 🍓 in her mouth and she was 7 at the time.
Not only should they not be walking or running around, it is important to try and avoid feeding them when they in the car seat often out of your sight. They may be moaning and complaining about being hungry, but if you can’t see them it is important you don’t feed them.
Keep an eye on them
Children are unlikely to let you know when they are choking so it is really important to watch them when they are eating. Checking on them regularly means you will notice if they get into trouble.
Think about what they eat
There are certain foods that will increase the likelihood of choking
Most people know about the risks associated with grapes 🍇
Other foods which can cause problems are:
Cherry tomatoes 🍅
Lollies 🍭
Sausages
Mini marshmallows
Jelly beans
Sweets 🍬
Satsuma segments
Anything that is solid and round is more likely to block the airway, so be mindful of that.
Other items
Small children explore the world through their mouths, they are prone to picking things up and putting them in their mouth. It doesn’t seem to matter how horrid it might taste.
Things like:
Beads
stones
coins 🪙
LEGO
These are just a few things, so if you are at a playgroup with toys out keep an eye on your child while they are playing.
Talking at the table
Meal times are a sociable time with people sharing their activities from the day, talking can increase the risk of choking as choking tends to happen when we are eating and talking. Instead of swallowing the food we inhale it and block our airways.
Try to encourage your children to finish their mouthful before talking. If they are over filling their mouth, move their plate away and encourage them to swallow their food or spit it out.
Don’t put your finger in their mouth to pull it out.
Knowing how to manage choking can be vital in keeping your child safe. Having hands on practise is invaluable, to find out more book yourself on a first aid course today. Safety First Welling provides first aid .
