Choking Hazards and Your Baby

Choking on Food

Common food choking hazards include:

• Round food such as grapes and hard candy
• Firm food such as hot dogs and nuts
• Sticky food such as peanut butter and caramels
• Food your child might tend to want to cram into his mouth by the handful, like popcorn

Follow these safe eating tips from the CDC to protect your child from the hazards of choking on food.

Parents need to:

• Closely supervise their children at mealtime
• Cut firm or round food into thin strips or small pieces that can't become lodged in the child's airway
• Demonstrate safe and appropriate ways of chewing and eating to their children
• Learn infant and child CPR, and the Heimlich maneuver for children

Children should be taught to:

• Remain seated while eating
• Chew their food slowly and thoroughly
• Not talk or laugh with a mouth full of food
• Put only as much food into their mouths as they can comfortably chew