baby being fed malteasers

[Lottie2611]

Just witnessed a mum putting malteasers in her daughters mouth (about 6 months old). Would you give your baby malteasers? My friend seemed to think it wasn't that dangerous as long as the mum was supervising....

[PestilentialCat]

half a malteser would dissolve pretty quickly once the crunchy bit is exposed to saliva that's why I like to suck off the chocolate slowly but still not ideal for a child that small.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Has any child ever in the history of the world ever choked on a maltesser?

[ChihuahuaChick]

I wouldn't bat an eyelid, to be honest. Malteasers start getting crunched and mushed up almost instantly even by gumming, I should think.

[Canshopwillshop]

Sorry but I don't get the whole class thing you are on about! I don't care whether a child chokes on a fucking white truffle or a malteser - I just care if they choke. I nearly choked on a sandwich once (and I mean completely stuck in throat/unable to breathe for a minute!). I am therefore completely paranoid about it with my kids. I am not posh!

[imwithspud]

I wouldn't give such a young baby Malteaser or any food like that to be honest, nor would I pass comment on it. But if a parent is going to give them, they should be cut in half because of the risk of choking. Malteasers are round and smooth, they're a prime candidate for getting stuck in a child's airway.

[PregnantAndEngaged]

I don't like the thought of a baby eating stupidly unhealthy things but that in and of itself isn't my business when it's someone else's child. And I did give my 8 month old a tiny morsel of chocolate cake on his daddy's birthday (a little cube).

BUT a Malteser is exactly the right size to completely block a small child's airway. Like grapes and cherry tomatoes. So whilst I would not comment on the unhealthy choice, I would say that it's the right size to completely lodge in their throat and as a result may be extremely difficult to dislodge even if following first aid to the letter, like the young lad who recently died in Pizza Hut after choking on a whole grape. It's in the child's safety interests to inform the mother who may be unaware of how severe this danger is.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I'd have judged that. How stupid of the mum.

[fluffypenguinbelly]

I would have to move away so I couldn't watch. It would put me too much on edge. Perfect throat sized hard ball.

[candykane25]

What has class or being judgemental got to do with choking?

A malteser could choke a child of any class.

A malteser could choke a child regardless of whether an MNetter judges it or not.

And what does rarity matter if it's avoidable by simply not doing it?

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Don't most kids choke on biscuits?

[MrsMook]

My 5 year old ended up over my knee recently, having his back slapped hard to dislodge a chunk of meat that had got stuck. His quiet coughs had changed to the look of panic in his eyes. First time since he was weaning. Choking does happen. Fortunately not often with serious consequences.

Will I give him meat again? Yes, because it's a nutritious food. Would I give a 6 month old a Malteaser? No, because it's unnecessary, and difficult for a baby to break down with a couple of teeth. Would I say something? That would depend on how well the comment would be likely to be received.

[Speedingissue]

Malteasers won't dissolve quick enough to stop choking, it'll just make it harder to get out.
And people saying choking is rare.... I choked as a child, my sibling also choked. My parents saved our lives.

[Speedingissue]

No! That's shocking. Maybe she didn't realise how much of a choking hazard it is.

[mummytippy]

No way! Choking hazard as even bitten in half the honeycomb part could still get stuck and sugary chocolate as teeth are coming through.

It's a no in my book!

[shinynewusername]

I understand it was the choking hazard that worried you, OP. My point is that MNetters are much more quick to judge parents who are behaving in 'non-middle class' ways than those who aren't, regardless of the relative risks.

[candykane25]

Magical it's the size of the object and the size of the child's windpipe.
A chocolate muffin is soft.
A maltesers isn't.
Children age 2 choke on grapes.
It's not alarmist, it's about an item getting lodged.
My child was weaned at 6 months too but I use still common sense.

[Lottie2611]

It was the choking hazard not the sugar.

I've never seen the mum before. Even if the child was older than six months it still couldn't confidently sit up.

I must admit I'm needlessly paranoid about choking. I watch my seven year old like a hawk when he has malteasers and I chop his grapes in half for his packed lunch. Which is why I wondered if IABU for thinking this is a stupid thing to do at such a young age.

[katienana]

No I choked on a Malteser when I was about 1, it didn't melt and mum had to use a spoon to get it out! Would never give something that shape to a dc.

[Nicknamegrief]

Is this a mum you know, are you 100% confident that they are around 6ms old?
I only ask this as I have a friend whose daughter is very very small for her age and she gets comments all the time (likewise I have a friend with a very big child for his age and she also gets similar judgments).

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

Of all the things I worry about with my children (and the list is long) choking just isn't one of them. They were all weaned at six months and ate family meals with the rest of us by seven / eight months. A Malteaser at that point would be no problem at all.

Was it the choking risk that bothered you or the unhealthy eating?

If the latter I really wouldn't worry. My ten month old is very healthy but he would never have forgiven me if I hadn't shared my chocolate muffin with him earlier. I'm sure the mum doesn't feed her child exclusively on a diet of Malteasers, Lion Bars and Double Deckers.

[Pinkheart5915]

My baby boy is 6 months. No I wouldn't feed him malteasers I worry enough about fruit purée

[RubbleBubble00]

personally no but then I could bite them in half and have half myself - win win lol

[Lottie2611]

It's not about the sugar for me. It's about the hard ball she put in her babes mouth. Definitely concern

[shinynewusername]

You can't really give out to parents for giving their babies things that they could but won't choke on. I wouldn't do it, but its not my business if someone else does

This.

There is often a whiff of class snobbery on these threads, disguised as concern: let's all pile in and judge the common person giving their child sugar, not quinoa.