Surestart centre giving whole grapes to babies and toddlers

[delicioso]

I've been to my local surestart centre a few times and they often have a snack table.

Sometimes there's a formal snack time and other times the table is just left ouf for children to help themselves.

They often serve whole grapes as a snack - I know they maybe don't have time to cut the grapes up but I have a friend who is a paediatric nurse and has seen more than one fatality in children who have choked on grapes

I'm probably going to be told IABU because it's the parents responsibility to cut them up. I do bite them half for my 15 month old, but today as I was sitting with her distracted talking to someone the surestart lady held out the bowl of grapes to her and she took one and started eating it and I had to fish it out of her mouth.

Lots of the parents don't sit up with the children at snack time and I guess I just think it's a bit dangerous if one of the little ones chokes on one. I just wonder why they don't serve something else instead if they aren't going to cut up the grapes.

and ds1 is 9 not 90 - Now that's an age gap

OP you are being so narky!! About grapes!!! I might call the council about you.

hahahahahahahaha Valium's got a medal! Valium's got a medal!!!

I don't understand why OP is getting such snide, rude responses. There's no hysteria or rudeness in her post at all.

She just told an anecdote about something that concerned her, and asked whether others would be concerned too.

What on earth is wrong with that?

It would worry me, too, OP. If it's the council that has responsibility for these places (not in UK so have no idea), I don't see anything wrong with ringing them and calmly explaining your concerns.

afuckingknackardwoman how old are you if your ds1 is 90

You should sue them for endangering your child's life. That'll teach them to cut grapes up (unless your pay out means there's no money for grapes anymore).

Seriously, you should have just been a bit more forceful and said something such as "Grapes are a choking hazard, why aren't you cutting them up?"

Its rude to ask a old gimmer lady her age!

Perhaps her tone is pissing people off?

It certainly pissed me of that I made a neutral suggestion that she might like to help out (offering to help is always a good way to go. Passes a message, gets you involved and is supportive) and I got a snotty "what's that got to do with anything" response.

Now instead of wanting to help with the grapes, I want to shove them up her arse.

Perhaps other people feel the same.

Asvmany people have said the way forward is to directly tell whoever is in charge. I would say:

"Excuse me I think you should cut the grapes up, they are a potential choking hazard served whole to small kids."

I would not suggest you attempt a centralised approach unless you have many spare hours on your hands.

PS and try to stop being narky, you look a bit silly.

They should peel them too.

Yes just to say if you do see a child choking, don't put your fingers in their mouth unless it's a fairly large object that is poking out enough for you to catch hold of it. Hold them on their front with their head tilted downwards, or bend them over if they're too big to hold, and with the heel of your hand thump sharply with an upwards motion just below their shoulder blades. Encourage them to cough if you can. Don't use the "Heimlich manoeuvre" unless you're sure what you're doing and you've already tried thumping at least five times.

OP, well done for spotting the problem. Now why the hell you didn't report it or raise the matter properly with them is beyond me, and for that reason you haven't made it to boot camp.

OP why ask if YABU if you are then going to argue with every single person that might think you are? Surely you think you are not! I'm with valium, it was a helpful answer and you replied with sarcasm

ok, i understand the choking issue, but then again if my child was given a Greggs saussie roll i'd expect to have to take the wrapper off in case she choked on that too

do you really need someone to chop grapes up for you?

You're not the same lady who campaigned to have all lukewarm hot drinks banned from centres are you?

Whole grapes can be a choking hazard - next time - go to the kitchen, smile, ask for a knife and explain you wish to cut the grapes up for your DD as you are worried she may choke. That should get your point across.

So half the posters are having a go at her for not telling the staff to cut them up, and the other half are mocking her for expecting them too.

Nothing wrong with the OP. Lots of nastiness and sarcasm from everyone else. Is MN just a bit bonkers this evening?

them to

yeah, you're right Tianc

fucking batshit, the lot of us

YABU

No nothing wrong with the OP tianc it was just the tone and sarcasm that got people's backs up.

yanbu :)

the childrens centre i went to cut up grapes. Just have a polite word with the staff

Grapes are the perfect size to stick in a childs throat. I have a friend who is a paramedic who told me the about the high number of fatalities due to children choking on them. YANBU if you bring it up with them.

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/3314273/Beware-grapes-and-cherry-tomatoes.html

swpediatrics.net/pdfs/Choking.pdf