Do You Cut Up GRAPES For A 4 Year Old?

[Loveyoustinkyface]

Curious to know if you cut grapes in half for 4 years old. I recently had a parent come during snack time and DCB was eating grapes. DCD looked shocked when he walked in and saw him eating the grapes whole, he mentioned to me that he would prefer them to be cut in half for choking reasons. I thought a 4 year should be fine eating them whole.

Does anyone else cut up grapes for 4 year olds?

[kitykids3]

For a 4 year old?! Um, no. They have teeth and know how to take bites. I don't even cut them for my 2 year olds.

Tell dcd if he wants them cut for dck, he can come cut them up or bring some. :: j/k

[Meyou]

I don't but I do make a point to keep a close eye out when they eat them.

[MamaBearCanada]

No. I wouldn't much after age 2 unless they have food issues or developmental delays.

[Lianne]

I don't cut them up for most of my one year olds. I am NOT cutting up grapes for a 4yr old.

Sometime between 12-15mos, when I notice the child is capable of chewing better, I start offering them whole grapes. If they manage them, they get them whole. If they struggle, I continue to cut them up for a few more weeks then try again.

[momofsix]

As long as a child is in my care they get their grapes cut up, no matter how old they are I'm just too paranoid to take the chance ever.
I know a child that choked on a hot dog and died. So sad and so easily preventable.

[VTMom]

I have a 3 1/2 year old that I still cut grapes for. I'm too paranoid about choking. It's not worth the risk for me. I also care for a 1 and 2 year old, so I'm cutting anyway, but I think regardless, I'd still do it. I'm not sure when I'll stop. I don't even send grapes to school for my kids' snacks!

I know a lot of people do offer whole grapes at a younger age. It's just not for me. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[canadiancare]

I rarely serve grapes because I can't keep up with their eating with my cutting....I also cut up any sausage type food. My friend is a nurse who treated without success an 8 year old girl who had a piece of hotdog in her throat. I can't get that story out of my mind so I quarter everything.

[bunnyslippers]

As long as a child is in my care they get their grapes cut up, no matter how old they are I'm just too paranoid to take the chance ever.
I know a child that choked on a hot dog and died. So sad and so easily preventable.

This! I feel like the time it takes to cut them is worth it ~ I would never want to risk it for even a second!

[lovemykidstoo]

I cut them in half for that age and I actually cut them in quarters for under 2. Whole grapes for under 2 are not recommended. I've read that many times. Definate choking hazard. It takes seconds to cut a grape in half. I had a 3 year old choke on apple pieces once. I mean I cut them up in little tiny pieces but she must have had a few in there at once. I mean she was CHOKING. She was not taking in air at all. I did my move on her and it worked thank God. It's not worth the chance. I did have a mom one time tell me that I should skin the grapes to ward off choking. Yea, have you ever tried to skin a grape? UGH!

[Willow]

As long as a child is in my care they get their grapes cut up, no matter how old they are I'm just too paranoid to take the chance ever.
I know a child that choked on a hot dog and died. So sad and so easily preventable.

I do and feel the same way.

If God forbid anything like that were to happen to a child in my care I would need to know I did everything I could to have prevented it.

[LK5kids]

I always halved grapes for kids under five. They are on the top ten choking foods for kids four and under. They are not much smaller than a hot dog and a hot dog about is about the same size a young grade school child's throat.

Hot dogs freak me out! I'd cut them in fourths for sure!

[LK5kids]

I rarely serve grapes because I can't keep up with their eating with my cutting....I also cut up any sausage type food. My friend is a nurse who treated without success an 8 year old girl who had a piece of hotdog in her throat. I can't get that story out of my mind so I quarter everything.

I would quarter hot dogs also!

[JenNJ]

I don't serve grapes at all. Or hot dogs. Just not worth the risk to me.

But my son is 6.5, my daughter 4 and I still cut there grapes and hot dogs. It takes me a minute and may prevent a tragic accident.

I can understand 100% why the dcd was surprised and prefers it be cut. Honestly I would be too. There is a list of foods I do NOT serve simply because they pose a choking hazard.

From the AAP website:
"Hot dogs are the food most commonly associated with fatal choking among children.12 A hot dog shares the physical characteristics described above for high-risk toys. It is cylindrical, airway sized, and compressible, which allows it to wedge tightly into a child's hypopharynx and completely occlude the airway. Other high-risk foods include hard candy, peanuts/nuts, seeds, whole grapes, raw carrots, apples, popcorn, chunks of peanut butter, marshmallows, chewing gum, and sausages. 12 Many of these foods, such as round candy, grapes, marshmallows, and meat sticks/sausages, share the same high-risk physical characteristics that create effective plugs for the pediatric airway. Similar to latex balloons, peanut butter can conform to the airway and form a tenacious seal that is difficult to dislodge or extract."

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/125/3/601.full

[Luna]

I cut up everyone's grapes. I cut a lot at once so I don't have to keep doing it throughout the meal. I keep any leftovers in a ziplock or a sealed bowl until the next day. No choking on my watch!