To still be cutting up my 4 year old's grapes?

[surreygirl1987]

Was at a party this afternoon. The host had an amazing fruit platter prepared for the kids in the village hall. Grapes weren't cut up. Most parents plonked grapes on their kids' places without cutting them, or let the kids help themselves. These are 3-4 years olds. I plucked a bunch off and tore them into smaller pieces for my 4 year old (as I know grapes are a choking hazard). Am I the one being unreasonable here or are the other parents? I do think I was the only one that was bothered but I thought grapes can still be risky at 4...? What do other parents do??

Also your child i would assume by age 2 should have basic understanding of road safety (mine does!)

Well fucking done.

A colleague of my mum’s had a daughter who died aged 8 from choking on a grape on holiday. They were at a cottage in Wales, and the first responders didn’t get there in time to save the little girl. Just don’t risk it. My DD is 10 and I’ve only just stopped cutting grapes and little tomatoes for her.

Mine are 6 and 4 and I cut grapes. I'm hoping if they're with anyone else they also cut the grapes. Based on everyone else I know, and this thread, there's a high chance!

I've just stopped cutting blueberries but the 4yo only eats them when I'm about anyway.

No not at all! I still do for my nearly 6yo and plan to for some time yet. I've seen several parents/toddler groups/activity places etc not do this and can't beleive they don't know to do so after the amount of publicity about it...unless they are being intentionally arrogant and pig headed about it 🙄

The fact that anyone would leap to 'sexually active' in a discussion about cutting fruit for children is surprising to me!

We cut them too. But I also taught mine how to slice them length ways with their teeth (we say find the hole at the top, then bite down the middle) for occasions when we aren't there with them, like parties or a friend's house. It makes me worry just a little bit less but obviously I just have to hope they actually do it if ever in that situation!

Still cut up grapes for the children and they are eight and twelve.

I knew of a child who choked and then sadly died from being given a whole grape. This was in a Nursery setting many years ago when I was an inspector. Horrific.

My children have never had grapes in their lunch boxes … freaks me out . what if they choked if one of their friends made them laugh …

I shudder when I see children being whole grapes and running around the playground after school.

YADNBU at all.

YANBU. You are supposed to cut them until 7 or 8 I think it is as they are such a choke hazard.

Teach your children to bite them rather put in their mouths whole

I taught my kids to bite grapes at a young age. No way was I cutting them up til age 7.

You're not paranoid. You sound very sensible to me. Why take the risk when so easily avoided?

For all the seconds it takes to cut up a few grapes, I don't understand why you wouldn't. I always tell mine to bite them, for the point when we stop, but for now I really don't think the hassle outweighs the risk.

And for the poster whose DC understands the rules of the road at 2 - do you let them cross busy roads unsupervised?

My friend is an A and E nurse, she has seen countless children (up to 10), choke on tomatoes, grapes and mini eggs. Some with devastating consequences,. They're the same size as an airway. If you can mitigate the risk, why not?

My kids are 10 and 12 and although I no longer cut them I tell them to bite them in half before putting them in their mouth! Grapes terrify me, YANBU.

I cut my 3.5 yos in half. Having read the thread though I think I’m also going to start trying to teach him to bite them in half before eating them. Just in case he picks up a whole one anywhere.

My brother was 5 when he chocked on a grape. I still have the image of my dad before my eyes grabbing him by the ankles in desperation, my mum (a trained nurse) told me later in life she was mentally preparing to cut his airways to perform a tracheostomy. He luckily survived, honest to god just seeing my dad shaking him like that was mental. I was 14 and felt beyond useless.
YOU CUT THOSE TINY BASTARDS UP AND DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT IT!

DS in Y6 and I still cut them lengthways if he is taking them to school. At home when not running around/messing about with friends I am more relaxed. At a party with 4 year olds - no fucking way should they be offered uncut grapes.

I taught my dc to bite into them rather than stuff them in his mouth as I am not always with him.

I’ll still cut them up if hes in an environment where hes not concentrating.

I choked on a grape aged 21 and my colleague did the abdominal thrust…absolutely terrifying.
Fair to say my children were never allowed grapes,cherry tomatoes unless cut into quarters.
Same rules for grandchild. It is the only time I have actually overruled my daughter and interfered ! My daughter understands!

I still cut them up for my 10 year old’s packed lunch

I have no problem with most other foods but I do supervise lollipops and cut up grapes for DD age 8.

Mine are 11 and 8 and I still cut them up. People take the piss out of me for it. The people who take the piss out of me for it are the kind of people who sometimes drive a short distance pissed, don’t make a kid wear an helmet etc. If someone lets their small child eat a whole grape it can only be that they are stupid, thoughtless or they think they are immune to tragic circumstances. You do you. You’re supposed to watch out for them as a parent and if cutting a grape in two is too much effort then don’t give them grapes.

I let my 5 yo eat whole grapes while I’m supervising him. I think it’s important that they get a chance to practice handling food like that rather than potentially getting given whole grapes while they are with someone else and not having any experience of eating them. I’ve taught my kids to to bite them in half while they put them in their mouth. I do
still chop up grapes/ large blueberries in my 8yo packed lunch because I think that they are probably chatting a lot at lunch time and rushing food to get outside to play.

@escapingthecity You're the adult, make him wait.

@Perfect28 If you're very aware of the risk, why on earth aren't you mitigating it?