As a parent, you spend 90% of your time cutting your child’s food into small pieces and only 10% on everything else.
It can seem like all you do when you have a child who eats solid food is cut up bananas, dice peaches, slice hot dogs, and check every food source for choking hazards. Advertisement.
Because a) there are so many of them (no child asks for just one grape), b) they’re already pretty small, which makes them a pain to cut, and c) we’ve been told over and over that grapes are poisonous, so you don’t want even one whole grape to get away. Advertisement.
But if you’ve ever wondered if your strict grape-slicing was based more on fear than actual risk, don’t worry—you won’t waste your time cutting those slippery suckers into quarters. A viral X-ray photo thats re-surfaced is once again reminding parents of their choking hazard.
The shocking photo, from Australian blogger Angela Henderson, shows a grape lodged in a five-year-olds airway. The little guy survived, but needed surgery to remove the grape. Advertisement.
“He is VERY lucky that part of his airway was open or else this could have ended badly. Remember that some kids don’t chew their food, are in a hurry to get to the playground, etc. ,” Henderson wrote on her Facebook page last year.
Grapes are dangerous because they are almost the exact size and shape of a child’s esophagus, making it easy for them to get stuck. S. speech and feeding therapist Lupé Garcia told Romper on Thursday.
“When a whole grape gets saliva on it, it makes it extra slimy and slippery, and it doesn’t take much to swallow it wrong,” Garcia said.
“When you slice them into quarters, they arent as hard, and arent prone to occlude [obstruct] the airway.”Advertisement
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that kids younger than four shouldn’t eat whole grapes. But Garcia said that even older kids eat too quickly sometimes, and that’s why parents should “watch their maturity and go from there.” “.
The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) says that choking is one of the main ways that babies and toddlers die from accidental injuries in Canada. Most foods involved in choking cases are small, round, or cylindrical in shape, CPS noted. Hot dog rounds, whole grapes, carrot slices, peanuts, seeds and hard candy, are some of the worst offenders.
“Every year in Canada, babies and children die from choking. It is possible to stop almost all of these deaths, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) said on its website. The hospital says that until a child is at least five years old, they should cut hot dogs and grapes into small pieces.
A recent article in the medical journal BMJ about grapes asked people to be more aware of the risk of choking. Grapes are the third-most common cause of food-related choking deaths after hot dogs and candies, the authors noted. Advertisement.
Their report highlighted three cases of young children who choked on grapes. Two of them, age five and 17 months, died.
As parents, we all want to keep our children safe while encouraging their independence. This includes making sure they don’t choke on their food. Grapes are a tasty and healthy snack for kids, but their round shape and skin can make them a choking hazard for little ones. So when is it safe to give your child whole grapes?
Why Grapes Pose a Choking Risk
Grapes are one of the top choking hazards for children under 4 years old. Their round, slippery shape allows them to fully block a child’s airway if swallowed whole. Additionally, the skin can make them even harder to chew and swallow properly. Children under 4 lack the coordination and chewing skills to break down grapes before swallowing.
Recommendations on When to Stop Cutting Grapes
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends cutting grapes for children under 4 years old Some sources suggest cutting them until age 6 or even older for children who still swallow food whole
Here are some general guidelines on when most kids can handle whole grapes:
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12-24 months: Continue cutting grapes in quarters. Their chewing and swallowing abilities are still developing.
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2 years: Some children can start having grapes cut in halves, supervised. Watch to ensure they chew thoroughly before swallowing.
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3 years Cutting grapes in halves should be fine for most 3 year olds but continue monitoring.
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4 years Most 4 year olds can now eat whole grapes safely. But some may still need them cut depending on maturity.
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5 years and up: Grapes don’t need to be cut for children this age as they have mastered chewing and swallowing.
These ages are just guidelines though. Every child develops at their own pace. Even after age 4, some kids may need grapes cut for a while longer if they have swallowing issues.
Signs Your Child is Ready for Whole Grapes
Don’t just go by age alone when deciding if your child can handle whole grapes. Look for these signs of chewing and swallowing maturity:
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They chew food, including grapes, thoroughly before swallowing.
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They can bite through and chew firmer foods like carrots and apples.
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They don’t gag or choke on other small, round foods like blueberries anymore.
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They understand to take small bites and chew slowly when you tell them.
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They sit still to eat and don’t walk around with food in their mouth.
If you see these signs, try giving your child a whole grape and observe them eating it. If they chew well and don’t gag or choke, then they are likely ready for whole grapes with supervision.
Safety Tips When Introducing Whole Grapes
When you decide it’s time to let your child try whole grapes, take precautions:
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Only allow whole grapes at mealtimes when seated. Don’t let them walk around with grapes.
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Watch them closely the first few times to ensure proper chewing and swallowing.
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Remind them to take small bites and fully chew before swallowing.
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Make sure larger grapes are cut in halves until your child perfects eating smaller grapes whole.
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Don’t give them too many at first. Stick to 2-4 grapes at a time.
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Demonstrate putting a small bite of grape in your mouth and chewing it thoroughly.
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Teach your child what to do if they feel like they are choking.
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Keep grape pieces small and round to reduce choking risk. Quartered grapes can have sharp edges.
With patience and the right precautions, your child will master eating whole grapes safely. Trust your instincts on when your child seems developmentally ready. If in doubt, just cut the grapes a bit longer until your child has the chewing skills and maturity to eat grapes whole without choking.
Responding to Choking Incidents
Hopefully your child will eat and swallow grapes normally with the proper precautions. But accidents can still happen. Choking is scary, but try to stay calm. Here’s how to respond if your child starts choking on a grape or anything else:
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Look for signs of choking – clutching their throat, difficulty breathing, inability to cough or speak.
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If able to cough, let them try to dislodge it themselves by coughing. Don’t interfere with back slaps.
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If choking signs persist, call emergency services if someone else is present. If alone, begin back blows.
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Perform 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
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If the object doesn’t dislodge, do up to 5 abdominal thrusts. Use less force on small children.
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Alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until the object dislodges or the child becomes unconscious.
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If they become unconscious, begin CPR immediately. Chest compressions can dislodge an object.
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If the object comes out but they are having trouble breathing, get emergency help.
Don’t ever try to sweep an object from their mouth with your finger. Take a CPR class so you know how to properly respond to choking.
Prompt action can save a choking child’s life. Though scary, try to remain calm so you can follow the proper steps. With preparation and making safety a priority, you likely won’t ever need to use these techniques.
Enjoying Grapes Safely
Grapes make a convenient, healthy snack for kids. With some safety precautions like cutting grapes and close supervision, you can confidently give your children this tasty treat. Pay close attention as your child develops to know when they have the skills to handle whole grapes. Teaching them to chew thoroughly and take small bites is also key. With time and maturity, your child will outgrow the need for grape cutting and you’ll worry less about the choking hazard. Until then, enjoy grape time together and relish watching your child grow up safely.
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Its basic math: parenthood is 90 per cent cutting your childs food into small pieces, and 10 per cent everything else.
Once you have a child who eats solid food, it can feel like all you do is cut up bananas, dice peaches, slice hot dogs, and otherwise scrutinize every source of food to determine whether its a choking hazard.Advertisement
Grapes are particularly pesky, because a) there are so many of them (no child requests just one grape), b) theyre already smallish, so super annoying to cut, c) weve been told over and over again that theyre dangerous, so you dont want to let even one whole grape slip through the cracks.Advertisement
But if youve ever wondered whether your militant grape-slicing was based more on paranoia than actual risk, rest assured that youre not wasting your time quartering those slippery little suckers. A viral X-ray photo thats re-surfaced is once again reminding parents of their choking hazard.
The shocking photo, from Australian blogger Angela Henderson, shows a grape lodged in a five-year-olds airway. The little guy survived, but needed surgery to remove the grape.Advertisement
“He is VERY lucky that part of his airway was open or else this could have ended badly. So please be mindful that not all kids chew their food, are in a rush at school to get in the playground etc.,” Henderson wrote on her Facebook page last year.
“Please be careful. And when in doubt just cut the damn grapes, baby tomatoes etc.”
The issue with grapes is that theyre almost the exact size and shape of a childs esophagus, so they can get lodged very easily, U.S. speech and feeding therapist Lupé Garcia told Romper on Thursday.
“When a whole grape gets saliva on it, it makes it extra slimy and slippery, and it doesn’t take much to swallow it wrong,” Garcia said.
“When you slice them into quarters, they arent as hard, and arent prone to occlude [obstruct] the airway.”Advertisement
Although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping whole grapes away from children under age four, Garcia said even older kids sometimes eat too quickly, and a parent should “watch their maturity and go from there.”
Choking is one of the leading causes of unintentional injury deaths in infants and toddlers in Canada, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). Most foods involved in choking cases are small, round, or cylindrical in shape, CPS noted. Hot dog rounds, whole grapes, carrot slices, peanuts, seeds and hard candy, are some of the worst offenders.
Grapes should be sliced lengthwise, CPS said.
“Every year in Canada, babies and children die from choking. Almost all of these deaths can be prevented,” the Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) said on its website. The hospital recommends cutting grapes and hot dogs lengthwise and into small pieces until a child is at least five years old.
A recent report about grapes in the medical journal BMJ pleaded for there to be more awareness of the choking hazards. Grapes are the third-most common cause of food-related choking deaths after hot dogs and candies, the authors noted.Advertisement
Their report highlighted three cases of young children who choked on grapes. Two of them, age five and 17 months, died.
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HOW TO CUT GRAPES CORRECTLY TO PREVENT CHOKING IN BABIES AND TODDLERS
How long should grapes be cut?
Instead, they should be cut lengthwise, and “ideally into quarters.” The Canadian Paediatric Association also advises that grapes should be cut lengthwise, and recommends that hot dogs and sausages be cut in the same way. The AAP says that whole grapes should never be fed to young children, and that all foods be cut “no larger than one-half inch.”
What is the method to wash grapes to get rid of pesticides?
Scientific evidence shows that bicarbonate of soda might be effective for removing pesticide residues. The general recommendation is to soak for 15 minutes in 2 cups of water with 1 teaspoon of bicarb.
Can you cut grapes in half if you eat them?
Cutting grapes in half widthwise can still pose a choking hazard if the halves are swallowed without being chewed because the pieces are still wide enough to block a baby’s air supply, which can turn into an emergency situation within seconds.
When should kids stop eating grapes?
Experts advise cutting food like grapes (along with cheese sticks and hotdogs) until kids reach about the age of 5. Phew. In the meantime, this hilarious but heartfelt list of 49 Parent Fears–And How to Get Over Them might be what we all need because we do need something!