Not cutting up DS’ grapes?

moryn · 2026-04-14T15:18:49+00:00

I was approached by a member of staff at pick up today, to tell me that the kitchen staff expressed concerns that DS’ grapes were whole and not cut up. He’s 7.5. He chews properly, sits still to eat etc. I was under the impression that the guidance is for children aged 5 and below. AIBU here?

LizandDerekGoals · 16/04/2026 16:40

xILikeJamx · 16/04/2026 11:13

In a town near me a child died at school choking on a grape that was cut in half. I've always quartered them because of that - it takes no more than a minute for a portion.

Some modern hand-wringing things are worth getting indignant about, the potential death of a child when the solution is so simple is not one of them

Edited

Was it cut in half the right way? I once, on a play date, saw a woman cut grapes in half the wrong way. I kindly pointed out that it should be length ways as across the middle still leaves the grape the same size and shape as a child’s windpipe. She had no idea!

xILikeJamx · 16/04/2026 11:13

In a town near me a child died at school choking on a grape that was cut in half. I've always quartered them because of that - it takes no more than a minute for a portion.

Some modern hand-wringing things are worth getting indignant about, the potential death of a child when the solution is so simple is not one of them

ChocolateCroissantCafe · 16/04/2026 11:07

I've known enough people who have become the unlucky statistic of this sort of thing that I'd rather take the two minutes and cut grapes. It's not that it happens often, more that you don't want to be that one in a million.

Chickadee001 · 16/04/2026 11:04

My DD is almost 6 and I've not cut up her grapes since she was a toddler! I'm guessing the staff are covering THEIR backs in case there's a choking episode.

Katemax82 · 16/04/2026 11:01

I send my 7 year old in with premade shop bought fruit salad and the grapes are whole ...the school hasn't said anything about it

TheGreatDownandOut · 16/04/2026 10:51

barkygoldie · 15/04/2026 17:35

Yes definitely a barky goldie in residence, who would be the one in our family most likely to choke on a grape through greedily snacking it down, if he ever got the chance!

Fair point about the necessity of driving versus grapes. I’m glad for you that you’re not suffering from anxiety, but I think there’s a lot on the thread, and MN is like a hotbed for anxiety contagion. Just trying to bring a dose of ‘let’s be realistic about statistical risk’ and illustrating that many don’t feel anxious about driving with kids, even though it’s realistically far higher risk than choking aged 7.

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I have to keep all food stuffs out of reach of my lab.

Ans yes ok, I understand better the point you were trying to make now

AffableApple · 16/04/2026 08:11

SummerFrog2026 · 16/04/2026 01:01

if you cut them in half, they are not still round .

theyre not round in the first place, but you cant cut a round thing or a grape shaped thing in half & it still be the original shape 🙇🏻‍♀️

they only need to be in quarters for the under 3's

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You do you. The cross section of the grape retains its shape to cause choking after a single cut, is obviously what I meant. Shrug away. I shan't be replying.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 16/04/2026 07:21

StopTheNotifications · 15/04/2026 00:22

Omg I just stopped cutting grapes for my almost 5 year old but after reading this thread I think I'll start cutting them again and possibly also for my 8 year old. I've told them to first bite into grapes before they put them in their mouth but pretty sure they don't do that. I don't either.

However if grapes are particularly dangerous what about other similar food like blueberries, cocktail tomatoes, olives, oval shaped hard sweets, etc?

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Hard sweets are lethal. I choked twice, once was on a hard sweet, now I’m super careful and don’t eat anything that can slip and lodge. In both incidents I was eating walking around.

Riapia · 16/04/2026 06:45

It should be illegal to sell whole grapes. Time for a MN petition.
😉😁😁.

frenchnoodle · 16/04/2026 04:53

It's absolutely no big deal to cut up grapes, I still do it to mine, they're 8 and 10.

Clarabell77 · 16/04/2026 04:48

barkygoldie · 14/04/2026 22:15

I tried to find some data on deaths of 7yr olds by choking and couldnt - but seems to be around 20 children a year die by choking on grapes and most are under 5. Agree completely with cutting for that age group.

But to issue that advice at 7 is wildly disproportionate and allowing anxiety to run the show. I’d expect that car travel comes with a far higher risk of death for 7yr olds, but schools are not taking parents aside to suggest they shouldn’t be bringing them in by car. No one here championing cutting grapes is wringing their hands every time they strap their kid into a car. It’s not proportionate, and not kind to try and spread anxiety when the risks are very low.

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Cutting up a few grapes to avoid choking is hardly the same as not using your car to avoid crashing. Fastening the seatbelt and using the appropriate car seat for a child would be more comparable, two things the vast majority are happy to do.

SummerFrog2026 · 16/04/2026 01:01

AffableApple · 16/04/2026 00:50

A family member is still traumatised from fighting to get a lychee out of his daughter's throat around 10 years ago. She was 8.

Oh, and anyone on here talking about halving grapes - you don't. You quarter them. Or they are still round and therefore a choking risk - whichever way you slice them.

if you cut them in half, they are not still round .

theyre not round in the first place, but you cant cut a round thing or a grape shaped thing in half & it still be the original shape 🙇🏻‍♀️

they only need to be in quarters for the under 3's

AffableApple · 16/04/2026 00:50

A family member is still traumatised from fighting to get a lychee out of his daughter's throat around 10 years ago. She was 8.

Oh, and anyone on here talking about halving grapes - you don't. You quarter them. Or they are still round and therefore a choking risk - whichever way you slice them.

GrumpyWombat · 15/04/2026 23:53

Those of you who think it’s ridiculous have obviously never witnessed a choking incident!

examworries2026 · 15/04/2026 23:15

I cut grapes if sending to school at primary. Don’t care if that was over the stop. I don’t do it now they are teens.

Arlanymor · 15/04/2026 22:38

Calliopespa · 15/04/2026 22:36

Yes, I was.

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Fair play. Apologies.

Calliopespa · 15/04/2026 22:36

Arlanymor · 15/04/2026 00:05

You were? Sorry wasn't clear to me and it's late and I am tired and there has been so much nonsense on this thread. Apologies.

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Yes, I was.

Arlanymor · 15/04/2026 21:15

SummerFrog2026 · 15/04/2026 21:14

Plus it's the texture thing. Mini eggs are nothing like the texture of grapes.

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Very true.

SummerFrog2026 · 15/04/2026 21:14

Arlanymor · 14/04/2026 22:19

They are generally smaller - maybe I buy bigger grapes? It does take time to break down but you can do it - not so with grapes - any grapes of any size. Also Cadbury say not to give mini eggs to kids under four, I wonder how many people actually pay attention to that?

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Plus it's the texture thing. Mini eggs are nothing like the texture of grapes.

SummerFrog2026 · 15/04/2026 21:12

Surgz · 15/04/2026 18:09

Fing hell. I have never cut a grape up.. didn't know it was a safety expectation.. i am mid 60s though !. When are you allowed to eat them whole then?? I need to know now

if you read through the thread. You'll see mistakes medical people say 'never'. Cutting them in half takes seconds & could be life saving. It's easier to just do it than die or live with the consequences if a loved one dies.

honestly, it's so easy to laugh, a have a sudden intake of breath & they can lodge in your windpipe & are not always able to be removed even at hospital with expertise & equipment, let alone an inexperienced person at home. Of course as an adult you should know ti bite them & not put them in your mouth whole, but it's easy to be distracted.

Duckyfondant · 15/04/2026 20:18

SummerFrog2026 · 15/04/2026 10:45

Nope they're not.

the expertise & equipment hospitals have often isn't enough due to size/shape/texture.

they need cutting in half lengthways.

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Thank you for answering

ShouldIJustKeepQuiet · 15/04/2026 18:48

LastNightMyPJsSavedMyLife · 15/04/2026 12:54

What next, pre chewed apples ?

If ever I gave mine a whole apple they would take a couple of bites but if they cut it with the apple segmenter first and wrapped it up for lunch they would eat the whole apple. Go figure.

Surgz · 15/04/2026 18:09

Fing hell. I have never cut a grape up.. didn't know it was a safety expectation.. i am mid 60s though !. When are you allowed to eat them whole then?? I need to know now

barkygoldie · 15/04/2026 17:35

TheGreatDownandOut · 15/04/2026 12:45

It’s not really a fair comparison though because there is a huge benefit to having and driving a car that makes the risk worth it. There is absolutely no benefit to eating grapes whole that I can see. Even the anxiety point you mention, I don’t feel anxious about grapes. We hardly ever have them tbh as I am not a fan of the texture but when we do, I cut them up without a second though. DA has certainly never even questioned why I do it. Literally zero anxiety over here. Just a logical risk mitigation.

Also, does your username refer to a doggo per chance 😂 mine should be barky lab in that case!

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Yes definitely a barky goldie in residence, who would be the one in our family most likely to choke on a grape through greedily snacking it down, if he ever got the chance!

Fair point about the necessity of driving versus grapes. I’m glad for you that you’re not suffering from anxiety, but I think there’s a lot on the thread, and MN is like a hotbed for anxiety contagion. Just trying to bring a dose of ‘let’s be realistic about statistical risk’ and illustrating that many don’t feel anxious about driving with kids, even though it’s realistically far higher risk than choking aged 7.

LastNightMyPJsSavedMyLife · 15/04/2026 12:54

What next, pre chewed apples ?