Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU...grapes...

203 replies

LokiBear · 04/02/2018 20:26

Dd1 is 6.5. I still cut her grapes in half. She wants me to stop. She helped me make her lunch for tomorrow earlier and asked me to leave them whole. I said that she must make sure she eats them properly. I'm not sat here debating cutting them up. Wwyd?

OP posts:
PanannyPanoo · 05/02/2018 19:44

Our Primary school sent a letter home last week asking for all grapes to be cut after a close call with a 10 year old.

NotAnotherEmma · 05/02/2018 19:45

Are kids getting dumber?

I ask because my grapes were never cut up as a child nor were the grapes of any kids I went to school with and the only unfortunate kid I went to school with that died had cancer.

So are kids getting dumber or are people just too busy/lazy to teach them how to eat slowly and carefully rather than like a pig?

hazeyjane · 05/02/2018 19:47

I cut them for everyone, including dh and me. I choked on a grape once, it sort of wooped down when someone made me laugh, it was properly terrifying. If a colleague hadn't done the Heimlich manoeuvre I think I think I would have died.

IsItSummerYet2018 · 05/02/2018 19:48

Sometimes if u buy the snack bags they are small for kids? Maybe try them.

Avonandice · 05/02/2018 19:50

if its any help we cut up the grapes for the kids fruit choice at work - they are 10/11 when they leave us.

hazeyjane · 05/02/2018 19:50

I don't understand why non cutters are so indignant and frankly nasty - if you don't want to cut up grapes and easily chokable foods, then don't but don't be an arse about people who do.

user1471443504 · 05/02/2018 19:50

Yes that's exactly it notanotheremma. I can't be bothered to teach my kids to eat properly as its easier to chop it all up and tip it in their pig trough.......

TheEagle · 05/02/2018 19:51

It must be that children are getting stupider alright Confused

I was born in 1980, don’t think I ever had grapes in my school lunch so maybe they just weren’t given to kids as frequently?

Most of the children I teach/have taught chew just fine.

NewBallsPlease00 · 05/02/2018 19:51

As a family member who works in peadriatrics I would be cutting them length ways for as long as possible- she had 11yo in serious states because of grapes...

HanaK88 · 05/02/2018 19:53

I cut them for my y3 child if he takes them to school. He is allowed to have his fruit at break time so they are running around eating it Hmm

Cabininthewoods69 · 05/02/2018 19:53

Please cut them up read the stats on choking. I say this from an ex teacher and mum

PurpleTraitor · 05/02/2018 19:53

Did you really just say that dead children are dumb and were eating like pigs NotAnotherEmma?

I’m not sure that’s reasonable.

Ever consider that when you were a child you weren’t sat in front of a machine that can show you every case of fatal choking in children at the push of a few buttons, and that your sample size of 30 or so kids in one class can’t really compare to that?

There’s a saying that when you know better, you do better.

It’s a wonderful thing to sit there and say well, my kids are fine, I was fine. When you know full well that some children were not fine. They died, in a horrifying way. Often in front of a class of their peers. It’s not OK to call them dumb.

blackberryfairy · 05/02/2018 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 05/02/2018 19:55

She's not going to choke at 6.5! Hmm

whichwayisout · 05/02/2018 19:57

Because I choose to Hmm

user1471443504 · 05/02/2018 19:58

Now all children who eat cut grapes are stupid?? My kid aren't stupid and are perfectly capable of eating a whole grape. I choose however to eliminate a potential choking hazard by cutting them in half. It's not like I'm throwing them in a blender and handing them a spoon.
If you choose not to cut well that's your choice but don't raise eyebrows and insult people who make a different perfectly reasonable one.

user1471443504 · 05/02/2018 19:59

Thanks BlackBerryfairy. Im very impressive.

CandyYumYum · 05/02/2018 20:01

When all these kids leave home to go to university they're going to go wild in the halls with whole grapes.

youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwantt · 05/02/2018 20:03

Cutting a ten yr old's grapes?
Really?
That's madness, and why would you cut your own, can you not bite
*
Because I choose to! Why does it bother you* 😂🙄

Yika · 05/02/2018 20:04

I still cut up grapes. My DD is 7 and knows to bite them straight away but I'd never put them in her lunch box unchopped. Yes a 6 year old can choke. Anyone can choke. My colleague's young DD choked to death on a piece of cheese. It happens. And yes 'most' people will always be fine, it's a tiny risk, but not one I want to take to save myself a bit of chopping. In your case, I would stop giving her grapes for lunch if she feels self-conscious about it.

hazeyjane · 05/02/2018 20:06

She's not going to choke at 6.5! hmm

I was 31!!

Original poster
LokiBear · 05/02/2018 20:07

I had a really good chat with dd about why I cut her grapes up this morning. I told her that some children had died because they'd choked on while grapes and mummy just wanted to make sure that never happens to her. She handled it really maturely and said 'ok, mummy, if it makes you feel better.' I'm quite happy with my decision. Thank you for all opinions. I'm happy for people to disagree with me, but would prefer people not to be rude. We all parent differently and that is ok.

OP posts:
dodi1978 · 05/02/2018 20:07

DS 2 is 16 months.
I don't cut his grapes....

Bad mummy :-)!

UnsuspectedItem · 05/02/2018 20:08

Cut them up for children certainly, but for adults I find it odd.
The trick is to not eat food like a duck.

DilysMoon · 05/02/2018 20:09

Our school ask that they are cut up for packed lunches aince a choking incident. I think i still would at that age.