To not cut grapes

[FreedomBird]

I have a 3 and a 7 year old. And I no longer cut their grapes.

Me and DP had a massive barney about it last night and I’d like to know if I’m BU.

If You can't be arsed cutting them up then just smoosh them up with your hands. That's what I do if we're on the go and she wants grapes. If I'm at home though I would always cut them, because smooshing them gets your hands messy and I wouldn't especially want to eat fruit that someone had smooshed up with their hands...

@chunkyrun

I would stop offering grapes if he won’t eat them cut up. 3yos don’t understand choking risks!

Yes YABU. I know of a child aged 5 who died from choking on a grape. I still cut grapes for my child who is 8 and don’t plan on stopping either. I badly choked on beef when I was 12 years old, they only managed to get it out as I was losing consciousness so choking has always been a big concern for me at any age.

I snip them with clean kitchen scissors that I use for food for my 3yo.

A 4yo choked and died and was starved of oxygen for too long where I used to life. He was in ICU for weeks and I remember praying he'd pull through. His parents had to turn his life support off.

My 7yo has it drummed into him to bite them straight away all the time.

They're like rubbery balls before they're cut. Cut the 3yos.

I’ve seen warnings about the choking hazards of Mini Eggs and cut those too if my DC (3 & 6) are given them (I don’t buy them, I’ll get different treats instead or just eat them myself!). It’s not worth the risk.

I had a friend who worked at a nursery (this is 15 years ago) who had a small boy sent in with grapes for his lunch, 3 years old. He choked on it and died while all the staff were working on him while waiting for the ambulance. To say it distressed her and haunts her is an understatement.
If they have grapes that young cut them, if they don’t want it cut don’t give it to them.

If you can't be bothered to read the full thread, at least read the OP's posts. She responded on page 3 to say she would cut them up.

@FreedomBird, I wouldn't bother responding again. You asked a question, listened to the answers and responded. Twice!

I still cut them for my teens if i can get away with it. Certainly for my 4yo. Quarters are better than halves, but halves (lengthways) are the bare minimum.

Tbh I am cautious about eating them, though I don't cut them up for myself. I make sure I bite into them asap.

I don't chop my three year olds. One morning he came up with his own bowl full and managed ok. Won't eat them chopped up now.

Maybe supervise him.

I cut cherry tomatoes, apples, large blueberries, cocktail sausages and sausages and meat
I definitely cut grapes. In fact I quarter them lengthways. I call them jewel boats my kids love them that way

I do think vigilance about choking in general is important, as well as awareness of different types of foods (hot dogs/German wurst is another one). My eldest choked on a piece of apple at 18 months. I was able to help him but it's always an alarming thing to have to deal with.

Janus

I knew this too. Awful

I cut up grapes for everyone in this house, including for myself! One once went right to the back of my throat a few years ago. It didn't choke me but it was a close enough thing that it still makes me shiver.

What a ridiculously stupid hill to die on

I'm glad you are going to start cutting them, I hope you apologise to your husband too! I have a friend who is a paramedic and she said if they get a call about someone chocking on a grape their hearts sink as they know it will be unlikely that they will be able to dislodge it :(

Why wouldn’t you cut them? It takes 20 seconds, the 3 year old definitely still needs them cutting in half. Stop being lazy.

I've had these discussions too as I tend not to cut them for my DC (5&7) For me it is better that they sit down and don't run about while eating - anything. They eat many other foods that could potentially choke them; sausages, nuts, sweets etc. and no fuss is made, not quite sure why grapes are singled out.
My OH was keen on baby lead weaning and to me this was more risky.

I have a 7 and 9 year old and I'm so paranoid about grapes! I don't cut them now but tell them they have to bite them before putting them in their mouth 😂 At 3 you should definitely be cutting them, not worth the risk.

If you have a lot to cut, place them on a plate, but another plate on top, and just run a knife between the plates, it cuts them super fast. You do have to line them up thought to make sure you are cutting them the correct way; if it's just a few I don't bother but if for lots it's easier.

not quite sure why grapes are singled out

Multiple posts and links in this thread alone have explained why grapes are more dangerous than other items. Really irresponsible not to familiarise yourself fully with the risk.

My three year old choked on a grape at nursery. I hadn't bothered to cut it up. He only survived because the staff had done a paediatric first aid course the day before. My blood runs cold when I think back to when the staff walked towards me at picking uptime; and the state of his face- blue and broken veins. CUT them UP!

I was so used to cutting grapes I was still doing it for my son's packed lunch at 10yo! I was NOTHING to do with choking risk, just something that had become automatic.

I do still get nervous about hard boiled sweets.

I choked on some food when I was at school and that fear is still with me.

YABU I still cut grapes for my 9 and 7 year olds. It takes seconds and reduces the risk of them choking.

it's really great that you've read the helpful posts and are going to cut grapes now, and I really hope that others will read this too and do the same.
My friend's son choked on a grape. He didn't die but was left with severe brain damage. He is the same age as my daughter and she is just... ruined. I don't know how else to express it. She is desperate with guilt and exhausted by everything.
I don't even buy grapes.

I am fairly lax I don’t baby proof etc but I cut up grapes.