Grapes cut in half/school dinners!

[Yepyep333]

I am a worrier when it comes to choking, my children are primary school age and have school dinners, I was scared to find out that bowls of grapes were left out for them to help themselves too, aibu to insist that they are cut in half? Of course I know that they can choke on any food and when I went and asked the office they suggested I give my dcs a lunch box instead, am I the only one that cuts them in half?

YABU - by the time they are at school they are old enough to chew their food properly

Yes YABU, they are not toddlers.

Do your children have a problem chewing? I think some parents cut grapes in half for young children, but I wouldn't expect a school to do it for school age children.

This must be a joke.

You are not being paranoid! At a paediatric first aid course I was told that schools should cut grapes up for children up to end of infants. They are perfect choking size, especially if the child is distracted by the company of others and does not chew properly.

Errrm

Not a joke I guess I am being un reasonable!

Well I cut them in half for my DS, but he is 21 months. I will probably stop doing it when he's around 2 as I think he'll be more than capable of chewing them properly (He probably already is!). I understand you being worried, but I think you probably can't tell the school to change the rules just for you, maybe just send your DS to school with pre-cut grapes if it really worries you? It would take ages if the school had to cut grapes in half for that many children!

I think you are over worrying tbh, they should be chewing food properly at this age. I wouldn't insist they cut them in half.

I've got an issue with grapes too and I've only just started letting my 5yr old ds eat them whole, and even then I closely supervise him. I'd be a bit nervous about him eating them at school too but I really don't think you can ask them to cut them in half. I would just make sure they know to sit down when eating them and chew them properly.

Yes YABU. I have had a DS choke on half a grape, he managed to suck it in sideways on, iyswim, but now he's at school he's perfectly able to chew grapes properly!

I do still insist that DS2's grapes are at least halved, but he's not quite 2 so that's a little different and playgroup don't in the least mind cutting the grapes up.

Unless you'd like to volunteer to cut up 1000 grapes every day yourself? I'm sure they'd appreciate the help.

No, you're not the only one! My youngest is 9 and I've only just started to put whole grapes into her lunchbox! I know how ridiculous it is but I've always had horrible visions of her choking on one at school where I can't help her
I think it started when I heard a story about a child choking on a grape, but that poor child was much younger and unsupervised at the time.
I'm learning to be less of a worrier so that I don't become a fruitcake like my mother

YANBU if they are young primary children. The other year, two local school kids died from chocking on a grape within a few weeks of each other. Something about their size and shape makes them more awkward if they go down whole.

Our school requires parents to supply grapes cut up, if we give them to our children in a packed lunch...So interesting.

Do you peel grapes at home, OP?

I do know another parent who is a meal supervisor at the school and when they were training they are supposed to cut the fruit up including halving the grapes, but obviously this isn't being done! I think I will stick to lunch boxes, yes there was a case of a child choking in a nearby school recently so perhaps that's why I'm worrying more.

A child at my friend's sils nursery died choking on a grape. :( incredibly sad and upsetting.

I don't think OP is unreasonable to worry but you can't insist they cut up grapes. OP...just instill advice in your DC...no talking with food in mouth etc.

I don't peel them I cut them in half at home

I have never in my life heard of this or even thought of it - I've always just given them whole. I bet I've missed lots of other things too . . .

I read about this a few years ago. Grapes are 'the perfect plug', in that they are round and smooth and so easy to get trapped in the windpipe. I cut all grapes and cherry tomatoes, and cut sausages lengthways, especially at parties and when we have play dates or picnics when the boys are shovelling food in their mouths.

But at the same time it's important to teach your children how to chew and eat properly, so I would say yanbu but you need to tackle it as the school won't cut up grapes for everyone.

Yabu

At school they should be eating whole grapes.

YANBU.

I still cut grapes in half for my dc and they are 6 and 4. They're a perfect size, shape and texture for choking.

When ds1 started in nursery at 3 (just 3, the day after his birthday) when I went to collect him they had a big tub of grapes on the table and all the kids were putting handfuls into their mouths. When ds1 came to the door he opened his mouth and had about 10 whole grapes stuffed in his mouth and I nearly had a heart attack.

I don't think they're an appropriate food - whole - for young children. I (politely) complained to the nursery and they started cutting them in half.

From reception up, they don't seem to have grapes at all, there are plenty of other fruits to eat.

YANBU but you also cannot ask the school to cut up grapes, so I would think about packed lunches.

I am paranoid about my children choking because of a childhood incident - just have to try to deal with your fears as best you can.