What she did you stop chopping grapes for LO’s?

[Anney28]

As above ^^ DD is 4, soon to be 5. She loves grapes. I always half or quarter them if big.

She’s gone back to school and said she had grapes for snack and said the teacher didn’t chop them.

Is this too young? Or ami being over paranoid?

Been a nervous wreck since me son choked on food whilst I was driving (not grapes). Had to stop the car on the side of the road and perform the Heimlich manoeuvre!!

Mine are 4 & 5 and I still chop them. I'd be really unhappy about them not being chopped at school I think I'd have to tell them to never give him grapes if they aren't going to chop them. Just not worth the risk!

Not surprised you're worried after that experience, glad you got through it.
I never bothered quartering grapes, but rather surprisingly they can be a risk until about age 5. The aim is to stop solid objects blocking the airway - halving breaks the skin and exposes the soft part so that's probably good enough. I think I stopped halving around 4. I don't think schools will halve them for all the children without a very good specific reason. www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/20/lack-of-awareness-of-grape-choking-hazard-putting-children-at-risk-say-doctors

I've just stopped for kids aged 7 & 8.

I was amazed when my lo was an impatient in hospital and she was given un chopped grapes aged 2!

About 5

Mine are 5 and 2. Dh recently asked if he needed to chop for dd1 and I said yes I want all grapes chopped for both girls until 9/10. The horror stories you hear usually feature a 6/7/8yo rather than a 3yo. I'd be cross with school for not cutting

My DCs are 11 and 17 and I still cut their grapes in half for them 😁

My youngest is almost 8 & i've only just started letting them have them whole. They have to sit still, eat 1 at a time etc.

My DM used to work in a hospital, she's seen a child choke on a grape so it's something that worries me.

I still cut grapes for my 9yo and if I’m doing lunch for my 15yo I cut theirs up too

I’ve not chopped a grape since mine were toddlers.

Mine are 13 and 15 and I can't stand watching them eat grapes or sausages even now! Obviously I don't still cut them up but it makes me feel ill when they eat them. I don't think I'm normal with that though 😂

I think I stopped cutting them up at 8/9

I have a 4 and 7 year old. Usually they are both eating them together, and I chop them for both of them. If it's just the 7 year old then I sometimes leave them whole but always remind her to eat them carefully! I'm not usually an overprotective parent but the thought of my child choking in front of me is just so horrible that it makes me very conscious of the (admittedly small) risk.

I’d expect school to cut them in half till much older.
I’ve just about stopped cutting my eight yr old’s.

I’d prob just drop them a quick email to point it out as something they’ve forgotten to do.

At home, my 6 & 7 year old eat them whole. For lunchboxes are school they want them sliced lengthways.

I stil do it for DD7, I wouldn't forgive myself. Although she wolfs down popcorn and that is supposed to be just as bad a risk, if not worse as its light.

I think I'll stop at 9 as the age at which accidents happen seems to stop around 8 as the highest age. I fully admit I'm paranoid though, 8 rounds of IVF will do that to you.

My DD is five next week and I can't see myself stopping any time soon. Choking terrifies me. I chop them up for her younger sister anyway so it's no hardship on my part.

I witnessed my brother choke on a whole grape when he was around 5 and I'll never forget it. He went grey and my mum was smashing him on the back until it dislodged whilst hysterically sobbing. I'll never forget it. It was horrendous. Luckily he was ok and it was eventually dislodged but I always cut grapes in half now even for myself just incase. Obviously I'm a bit ott but I know I'm extra cautious because of what happened to my brother that day. I even cut them in half for my 45 yo dp if I'm making him lunch!

I think at primary school they should be chopped full stop, because they are a risky food. I would also do it for parties because I am a worrier.

With your own kids, it is up to you, and some kids are more sensible/calm waters than others.

*eaters

I still cut grapes longways for my 13 and 14 year old!

My child is 5 and I mostly chop.i have however started allowing her the odd on or two whole ones whilst teaching her to bite them in half, not pop the whole thing in at once.
I'm hoping then that if there is a time outwith my control then she will know to bite them in half and be safe.

I still do and dts are 9.

I never knew chopping grapes was a thing until joining MN.

This is really interesting. My 6 yo doesn’t really like grapes but I probably wouldn’t have thought to chop them at his age. I will if he starts liking them again having read this!

11 yo I don’t chop them for.

Is it just grapes? What about blueberries, cherry tomatoes? Do you not let your children have hard sweets until the same age?