Lollipops are a choking hazard aren't they?

[3littlerabbits]

I don't think I am being unreasonable in saying that lollies on sticks are a totally choking hazard. The lolly bit is the right shape and size to perfectly lodge in a child's throat and they slide off the stick so easily. However people are constantly giving them to my 3 under 6's - party bags, prizes, treats from friends and so on so I am wondering if it is just me who thinks like this or are there more lollipop haters out there?

Obviously it is very nice of people to treat my kids but I do confiscate them and replace with a bit of choccy or similar. AIBU?

YANBU
Lollipops, grapes, cherry tomatoes.

Yes choking hazard obviously but also horrific for teeth. All that sucking of sugar in contact with teeth over a long time practically guarantees huge holes if consumed regularly

I think all 4/5 year olds can eat them safely. I don't know about other children but mine bite through them after a few mins of licking. I don't think anyone will hate you, that's a bit extreme! I'd find someone telling me not to give a 4/5 year old a lollipop in a party bag to be a bit precious and over protective. Just because you don't want to give your children a lollipop, why should everyone else miss out? You have the option to bin them or give them back to the hosts.

The top five are uncut grapes, cherry tomatoes, marshmallows, frankfurter sausages and I can't remember the last one.

YANBU. I thought I seemed to be in the minority as everyone I know puts them in party bags, I think I am the only person who doesn't. I don't mind the drumsticks but not running with a stick in their mouths.

A lolly is a boiled sweet, my children wouldn't be allowed them so a lolly is no different. I have let 6 year old DS have the odd one when its been given out in school but he has to bite it off (which he does anyway). If I get to them first, its gone and DD isn't allowed them at all. I loathe seeing children running around with them. I help at the school discos and all the kids buy lollys and spend the whole time running around with them in their mouths, there is only so many times I can say "don't run around with that in your mouth" before they walk away, then run again.

Hate the bloody things.

Popcorn is bad too I think. I still cut up grapes for my 10 and 11 year olds! I find the ends don't come off Chupa Chups very easily though. I make them sit down to eat them...

yanbu
I always take them out and throw them away. and replace them with a bag of evil haribos

I once took my 6/7 month old to an adult, nighttime party (the host specifically invited our baby).

My husband gave him a DORITO and it got lodged in his throat, and he projectile vomited ALL OVER A WALL after a really panicky 20 seconds of gagging. It was so horrible.

Peanuts! Of course, that's the other one in the top 5.

A child's windpipe is small and many things are the perfect cork for their windpipes. There are some things, like grapes and marshmallows, which are unlikely to come up with back slaps and abdominal thrusts. Also walking around with food is one of the worse things as a child is far more likely to choke. I am the only person I know out of my friends that insists their children sit down to eat.

I did a paediatric first aid course as I saw my 3 year old brother choke on a sweet when I was 11 and it scared the hell out of me.

DS is 6 and I cut his grapes still. I had an idiotic friend (ex friend now) who said "oh I don't cut mine up, they know how to chew"

Silly me, I forgot I taught DS to swallow his food in one big lump.

I do drum it in to them that they need to sit to eat, chew well and not tip their heads back and drop food in, or laugh too much whilst eating, that was another big cause of chocking, laughing then accidently sucking the food back in their throats.

I know, the fact that they know how to chew is irrelevant. It's the shape of grapes etc that make them dangerous as they can completely obstruct a child's airway. All they have to do is inhale it and they can't breathe. Other things can potentially be breathed around.

As a children's nurse I've seen some lovely x rays.

Ynbu.

Myds 2 has a habit of chocking, twice we almost called an amberlance. First was atbhome on cut up sausage, he was turning blue and I had him over my knee walking him on his back screaming at d's 1 to get my phone.

Never been so petrified in my life.

Second... Cheese in toast in a restaurant and it took me and the owner to.get it out.

Mine don't run or walk with food or juice,

Ne cut up grapes, and small things
No boiled sweets or hard lollys.

I'm another one who choked on a lolly as a child (it had come off the stick) - it was very scary and quite painful too, it was one of the old flat round sort and the edges were digging into my throat. Luckily after a few moments it came unstuck and went down, but I am quite careful with them now as a result. Although I have given up on banning them pretty much, as they just get given out all over the place...

I think they are particularly dodgy due to the round shape and also that they are so hard. A piece of bread for example may eventually crumble and go down... but a lolly won't break up or shrink fast enough and would just stay stuck.

YANBU.

Hard candies (boiled sweets?) are one of the top choking hazards, along with grapes and frankfurters. They're the size and shape to lodge in a child's throat.

The posters saying "all food is a choking hazard" are being unreasonable. Yes, you can choke on most foods, but some are very common hazards, and there's no reason to put your child at risk.

We used to buy something called safety pops back in my day... they were lollies that were thin and flat, and had a looped handle so it could be gripped easily. I haven't seen them in a long time.

YANBU.

But lollipops do seem to be handed out a lot. DS1 (2.10 yrs) has been to 2 parties - where the birthday child was turning 2 & most guests were under 3 yrs - where the party bags included the hard boiled sweet type of lollipops. He got a balloon in one of the bags too...

I see this is an old thread but I hate them also. If mine are ever given one I make them sit down and LICK it only. Never suck it and I watch them like a hawk, they don't ever ask for them usually as they know the answer will be 'no' and they prob don't find me staring at them telling them to 'only lick' much fun. I'm also a bit funny about a lot of other foods and never let them run about eating.