Daycare Girl Brings Grapes....

[Oneluckymom]

When I was a kid (about 9) I choked on a Jawbreaker. My dad had to do the Heimlech (SP) on me...I survived thank goodness...I'm lucky he was there.

Since then that episode has left a DEEP memory with me. I NEVER let my own (7.5 & 5) kids have ANY hard candy and they know me VERY well. When ever we go any where they hand the hard candy right over. Or if they can chew it they chew it right in front of me.

My own son when he was about 2 had a ly pop and was sitting down eating it. He got up to walk over to grandma and tripped and it got lodged in his throat with the stick still visible where grandma could pull it out. Lesson learned there too.

So, needless to say the possibility of choking is alsways at the front of my mind.

[spud912]

This reminds me of when my father in law tried giving my older dd (who was ~18 months old at the time) a whole cherry (yes, the kind with a pit).

[daycare]

I would toss them in the food processor and spin it a few times..now they are all chopped up and bite size...

I don't serve grapes whole to any of my DCK. and never serve hot dog

[Country Kids]

I would double check state regs. Last year my state amended the regs regarding this to a more strict stance....no choking hazard foods, AT ALL for 3yo & under. Even if it is cut up...not allowed at all. No corn, raw carrots, nuts, nut butters, grapes...the list is very long.

My own 2yo sons get cut up grapes and carrot...but not any of my non-school age dck's.

So what are these kids suppose to eat! Oh, my goodness-I'm so glad none of these kids lived before 1990. They absolutely would not have survived I don't think.

[queenbee]

Looks like I'm on the other end of the spectrum

I only cut up food until 18 months and then it's a free for all. Grapes? Raw carrots? At 18 months I think children NEED to learn how to chew food up so its digestible and safe to swallow.

I've never had a child choke on anything while in my care and while that won't always be true, all my children sit correctly while eating which I think reduces the risk of choking

[Blackcat31]

Looks like I'm on the other end of the spectrum

I only cut up food until 18 months and then it's a free for all. Grapes? Raw carrots? At 18 months I think children NEED to learn how to chew food up so its digestible and safe to swallow.

I've never had a child choke on anything while in my care and while that won't always be true, all my children sit correctly while eating which I think reduces the risk of choking

This is so true and probably part of the rule changes some programs are seeing. It seems to be much like the "warnings" put on things such as coffee being labled "HOT" so the consumer knows....

Since children eat on the go and table sitting, and proper manners aren't a realistic solution, the "dangerous" food items are just not allowed instead.

[Oneluckymom]

I got this off the NY department of helth website...nothing came up for california.


•Hot dogs (especially cut into a coin shape), meats, sausages, and fish with bones
•Popcorn, chips, pretzel nuggets, and snack foods
•Candy (especially hard or sticky candy), cough drops, gum, lipops, marshmallows, caramels, hard candies, and jelly beans
•Whole grapes, raw vegetables, raw peas, fruits, fruits with skins, seeds, carrots, celery, and cherries
•Dried fruits, sunflower seeds, all nuts, including peanuts
•Peanut butter, (especially in spoonfuls or with soft white bread)
•Ice cubes and cheese cubes
•Foods that clump, are sticky or slippery, or dry and hard textured
•Food size and shape, especially round or a shape that could conform to the shape and size of the trachea (windpipe). The size of a young child's trachea (windpipe) or breathing tube is approximately the size of a drinking straw in diameter.
•Combinations of food size, texture, and shape can pose a threat. For example, a slippery hard candy with a round shape about the size of a drinking straw could block an airway (windpipe)

HMMM...that bolded one leaves a lot to imagination.