Infant Choking Hazards
from the American Academy of Pediatrics
No popcorn until your child is 4? What else are we not "supposed" to feed our children? What should we keep away from our kids? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) outlines the foods and household items to keep away 
from children under 4.
Dangerous Foods:
Do not feed children who are younger than 4 years old round, firm food unless it is chopped completely. Round, firm foods are common choking dangers. When infants and young children do not grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. The following foods can be choking hazards:
- Hot dogs
- Nuts and seeds
- Chunks of meat or cheese
- Whole grapes
- Hard, gooey, or sticky candy
- Popcorn
- Chunks of peanut butter
- Raw vegetables
- Fruit chunks, such as apple chunks
- Chewing gum
Dangerous household items:
Keep the following household items away from infants and children:
- Balloons
- Coins
- Marbles
- Toys with small parts
- Toys that can be squeezed to fit entirely into a child's mouth
- Small balls
- Pen or marker caps
- Small button-type batteries
- Medicine syringes
What you can do to prevent choking:
- Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) (basic life support).
- Be aware that balloons pose a choking risk to children up to 8 years of age.
- Keep the above foods from children until 4 years of age.
- Insist that children eat at the table, or at least while sitting down. They should never run, walk, play, or lie down with food in their mouths.
- Cut food for infants and young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch, and teach them to chew their food well.
- Supervise mealtime for infants and young children.
- Be aware of older children's actions. Many choking incidents occur when older brothers or sisters give dangerous foods, toys, or small objects to a younger child.
- Avoid toys with small parts, and keep other small household items out of the reach of infants and young children.
- Follow the age recommendations on toy packages. Age guidelines reflect the safety of a toy based on any possible choking hazard as well as the child's physical and mental abilities at various ages.
- Check under furniture and between cushions for small items that children could find and put in their mouths.
- Do not let infants and young children play with coins.
Published online: 2/07
Source: Choking Prevention and First Aid for Infants and Children (Copyright © 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 4/06)
