Keep your child from choking

Small, round toy balls come with a warning label that the product can be a choking hazard for kids under age 3. “But an identical-size gum ball doesn’t come with any such label,” says Gary A. Smith, MD, DrPh, immediate past chairman of the Committee on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

And foods like that, which clearly pose a choking risk to young children, should. In fact, the AAP, in a new policy statement, is urging manufacturers, with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, to devise consistent labeling for risky foods and even change the shape, size, and consistency of these products, if possible, so they’re less likely to pose a choking risk.

“You’re not going to change the shape of a grape. But for foods that are manufactured, there’s an opportunity to redesign them so there’s less of a choking risk,” Dr. Smith says.

Hot dogs, for example, which are the biggest cause of choking deaths for children under 10, are ripe for a redesign. “A hot dog is exactly the right shape and diameter to completely block the back of a child’s throat,” he says. Overall, at least one child dies from choking on food every five days.

Food for thought

Labeling standards and product redesigns take time. Meanwhile, redesign risky foods yourself and do what you can to prevent choking:

• Don’t offer your baby or toddler nuts, raisins, grapes, popcorn, cherry or grape tomatoes, or hot dogs. They’re not appropriate for this age group.

• Chop up round, firm foods such as hotdogs, carrots, grapes, cherry or grape tomatoes into bite-size pieces for kids under age 5.

• Don’t give peanuts to kids age 7 or under.  

• Supervise meal times and don’t let your child eat while playing, running, or riding in her car seat, especially if she’s still facing rear ward. You can’t watch her while you’re driving.

• Teach your child to chew and swallow her food before talking or laughing.

• Don’t let your youngster chew gum. The same goes for Blow Pops.

For more information on preventing childhood choking, visit HealthyChildren.org.

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