am i being paranoid cutting up grapes still?

[allypally1983]

I have a girl of 2.5, she loves grapes and has them almost everyday either for lunch or snack. I just wonder if I'm being a bit paranoid as I still cut them in half. I read an article in the paper ages ago about a child of 2 who choked to death on a grape and I guess it scared me a bit. What do you think? Sensible or calm down dear!!!

[NewEraNewMindset]

If I fed my son grapes I think I would cut then in half, same with olives. I let him eat blueberries and raspberries without worrying but they are quite a bit smaller.

[IHeartKingThistle]

There will be people who come on and scoff about how they have never cut up grapes and their children have magically managed to survive.

But there are also paramedics and A and E doctors on here who have tried and failed to extract grapes from children's windpipes. I still cut up grapes too.

[Schoolaroundthecorner]

I still do it, he's 3.5. He can eat them whole as he's done it when I'm not there and he's with someone else but it takes me no time at all and it's one less thing to worry about! The advice seems to be to do it for the under 5's as their throat is small and things could easily get stuck so I think I'll stick to that.

[professionallurker]

Sensible in my opinion! But I had a child choke on a piece of apple at a similar age and I just think, why risk it? It's not hard to do, doesn't take long, so I would continue for a while longer

[SoonToBeSix]

No by dd is nearly four I still cook them up. A six year old chocked on a meatball at her school dinner and died. You can never be too careful.

[SoonToBeSix]

Cut not cook!

[Thegingerpig]

I still cut up grapes for my DS who's 3.5. I've heard of 5 year olds choking on grapes which is why I'm so careful.

[LittleBearPad]

I often cut them up or if I dont I watch her very carefully. I'm not very pfb on most things but grapes seem to worry me!

[ChristmasJumperWearer]

I still cut them up for my DC 1 at almost-7yo (DC2 is 3.5yo).

I've done an infant/child first aid course and had the Fear Of God put into me by the instructor. She said that grapes and balloons swallowed by children are the calls they dread getting. There is NOTHING they can do, just hope they get lucky.

A friend's DC almost died from choking on a grape. They got lucky. I won't let that be my DCs.

[FourthMary]

I had stopped cutting them up for ds who is nearly 4, but I have started cutting them in two again after he choked on one a few weeks ago.

It was the scariest two minutes of my life, he was struggling to breathe and had a horrible look of sheer terror in his eyes. Thankfully I have been on a paediatric first aid course, so knew how to try and dislodge it with back slaps, it took quite a few tries.

I won't be leaving them uncut again for a good few years. You aren't being paranoid, just safe.

[HotMommy]

I don't cut them up anymore for my 2 year old bit I think I will after reading this!! Yikes!

[Writerwannabe83]

I know of a 5 year old who died after he choked on a grape

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

I cut them for ds1 who Is 2.5 sometimes into quarters lengthwise.... Will continue to cut in half certainly for a long time after reading this!

[howtodrainyourflagon]

My eldest is 9 and I cut some up yesterday... I'll stop at secondary!

[shelfontheelf]

I cut them into quarters, they are 3.5

[Fairylea]

Ds aged 2.5 has never had a grape, cut up or not. After nearly losing dd now aged 12 to a choking incident I am near phobic of grapes. Daft but there you go. If I was ever to give him a grape I'd cut it into 4 (until he is 21).

[BlueberryWafer]

I always cut grapes up for my 18mo and will no doubt do it for much longer.

Also be careful with Brussel sprouts - mil is a nurse and when working on a children's ward one of the kids got a Brussel sprout stuck in their throat and unfortunately they never got it out

I've had many people scorn at me for chopping stuff up, as they seem to think it's clever "oh my child doesn't have anything chopped up". Don't get me wrong, I don't chop absolute everything up, just foods that are the sort of shape to get stuck!

[DancingDinosaur]

7 and 5. I still cut them up.

[KittyandTeal]

I think cutting up grapes is one thing that looks pfb but is most definitely not!

I had read somewhere that 5 is roughly the age to stop. I still halve grapes for my 2.4yo dd and intend to for a fair while yet!

[Phoenixfrights]

Me too, mine are 4 and 6 and I am generally not averse letting my kids try vaguely risky things like winter sports and rock climbing.

I know of a lovely little boy who is severely brain-damaged following a choking incident with a grape.

I do same to hot dogs and anything cylindrical, and always make sure things like chupa chups are securely stuck on the stick. I know some people think my attitude to risk is a bit OTT but hey ho, different strokes.

Things like grapes and balloons are dangerous because they can form a complete seal over the trachea, presumably.

[toptomatoes]

I cut them in half for my 21 month old and 4 year old and even for my 8 year old if he is having some at the same time in case the little ones get hold of his.

[Phoenixfrights]

Toptomatoes that is exactly what happened to the little boy I mentioned above. You're wise to cut them up even if you're not intending them for the littlies.

[Poolbirthx2]

Mu dc is 4 and i still cut grapes up

I was on a first aid course a couple of weeks ago and they told us that grapes are the food that toddlers are most likely to choke on

[slightlyglitterstained]

Another first aid class attendee who still cuts up grapes. Actually if out & about I tear them in half instead - bit messy but I figure it achieves the purpose just as well. Find it really annoying when places do bags of prepared bits of fruit for kids, and I have to rootle through finding all the grapes first. DS now expects me to halve them & hands any whole ones to me

Cocktail sausages were the other thing to cut lengthways in half. Again, perfect size to block throat for child, and also have a skin that grips & is hard to dislodge.

I went into a cafe aimed at kids straight after the first aid course. First items I spotted on the menu were grapes, then cocktail sausages!

[Schoolaroundthecorner]

Grapes, cocktail sausages (actually sausages in general should be cut lengthwise rather than across), marshmallows and cherry tomatoes were what we were taught to chop up in first aid class.