About cutting grapes

[user1471433387]

We have a 2.5 year old and the other day I noticed DH was cutting grapes widthways for her. I said that you’re meant to cut them lengthways in order for them not to be a choking hazard. I notice today he’s put some grapes out for our daughter and again they’re cut widthways not lengthways. I asked him in future to please cut them lengthways but he’s refusing!

WIBU? Am I being over the top?

I think quarter ways is probably best but there’s no way he’d agree to that.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/9700033/mum-facebook-grape-warning-daughter-choked/ this little girl was 4

www.thesun.co.uk/news/8099848/baby-chokes-death-grape-bizarre-spanish-new-year-tradition/ 3 years

My DH still cuts up grapes and our "DC" are 22, 18 and 17.
This is after he saw a 13 year old in his class choke on one. He was unconscious but survived because of paramedic intervention.
I teased him about his paranoia all the time but last year my colleague's 24 year old son was admitted to our hospital (unconcious) with a grape lodged in his airway. He needed ICU help. All because of a feckin grape.
IMHO they are best juiced and consumed as wine.

Feeling old now as mine are 11 and 13 and nobody talked about this! (Plenty of other scare stories and safety must-dos though)

I witnessed a woman in a restaurant choke and receive the Heimlech manoeuvre from the (HOW LUCKY) two A&E nurses on the next table. I can tell you now that no video shows you how forceful it needs to be in real life. These two women stood up VERY quickly, and first off they slapped her on the back really hard with the full force of the arm. Then the did the Heimlich.

She was fine after and continued with her meal after we’d all given the nurses a round of applause.

So just to say- if you have to do it, don’t hold back!

What does he actually mean by statistical evidence? I doubt you’re going to find a study on the risk of grape aspiration when cut different ways

Here’s a peer reviewed article on the general risks he might be more taken by:
adc.bmj.com/content/102/5/473

Others have previously suggested a simple warning label should be placed on the packaging of grapes and other similarly shaped enveloped foods (such as cherry tomatoes), highlighting the potential choking hazard and recommending that they are divided in half or preferably quartered.7

Yanbu.
Anything that is the right size and shape to block a windpipe needs to be cut. Grapes lengthways, also olives and mini tomatoes.

He sounds like a complete arsehole and I can't imagine you have a good relationship if this is how he acts regarding a grape decision.

@larrygrylls for your stats to have any meaning you'd have to take into account how many of those children have parents/carers who cut the grapes lengthways and how many have parents/carers who give them whole or incorrectly cut. I expect that would tell a different story.

All these people saying grapes are the 3rd common choking risk blah blah blah, yeah, because people have been taught the risks of not cutting grapes lengthways, and are now finding out the hard way that also works for cutting hot dogs/sausages/cocktail sausages, and sweets!

YANBU. At all. I'd always cut them length ways. Makes more sense, if they're swallowed no chance of getting stuck.

Have a 3yr old and still cut them. Where I used to live the 3yr old in the town close to us was in a coma after swallowing one and didn't make it. It's haunted me ever since.

And, our parents and grandparents didn't cut them and we're still alive brigade...well aren't you the lucky ones! Maybe research how many people DID choke and die, before it became clear that older generations were cutting them wrong, if at all. I lost a cousin that choked on a grape in the 80s, hence why I'm being quite vocal!

@leafyygreens
I totally agree.
I think he is the one who doesn’t understand risk, statistics or evidence actually.
If he thinks he can get ethical board approval to organise a trial giving children of varying ages grapes cut in different ways to see which ones choke he should probably go ahead and do that

I’m a doctor and I just don’t give my child grapes, generally! If I do, I cut them into quarters lengthways. It’s good for his fine motor skills too

@Girlwhowearsglasses oh yeah I agree- I have a paramedic friend that said she was taught "if you're not leaving a mark/bruise on the back, or breaking a rib, you're not hitting hard enough! Scary stuff!

Today 02:12 MagicMojito

I cut the big ones into four so I'm definitely on your side OP. Yanbu

Same here.

Sure.y he can see it’s the width of the grape that causes a problem not the length! I can’t believe he’s refusing to do something that keeps his child safe. I would definitely stop buy grapes and maybe buy blueberries instead.

Just chuck the grapes in the bin the minute you see them. Risk averted.

He's an arsehole. I wouldn't just be raging at his dangerous level of stubborn behaviour I'd be filing for divorce. Yes. Over a grape.

No I'd be raging about this!
The nursery my dd goes to don't allow grapes on the premises yet I remember a birthday party we went to where literally everyone was letting their kids eat whole grapes including the nursery manager with her 4 year old.
Absolutely idiotic.
When my dd was in hospital I brought her some grapes in and the nurses were so insistent on them being cut up, they've obviously seen it first hand.

I totally agree with you. I see so many stupid parents giving 2 year olds whole grapes and whole cherry tomatoes though so I'm not suprised.

I didn't know you were meant to cut grapes. Makes sense now I think about it. My lot are now older so passed that stage.

I didn't realise it mattered which way they were cut - although I think it's more natural to cut length ways.

My DS is 18 though!! (And I still cut his cherry tomatoes in half in his salad )

Your DP is wrong though, cutting them the wrong way when you've actually explained and putting his DC at risk.

If he's going to be such a dick about it that he demands 'statistical evidence', how about this?

www.smiths-medical.com/~/media/M/Smiths-medical_com/Files/Import%20Files/News%20items/trachealtubechart.pdf

This gives the diameter of a tube that will fit a child's trachea. From this, he will note that the external diameter of a tube for a 2-3 year old is 5mm, or just 1mm wider than the average drinking straw. Suggest that he measures the diameter of a grape and considers how that compares.

You might need to remind him that the diameter is the distance all the way across, not half way, as that's the radius.

Or stop buying grapes because he's obviously a fucking imbecile.

I've always cut them diagonally

So basically he’s going to the effort of chopping them, but deliberately doing it in a way that doesn’t decrease the risk to your DD just to make a point to you?

He doesn’t deserve children.