Not cutting up DS’ grapes?

[moryn]

I was approached by a member of staff at pick up today, to tell me that the kitchen staff expressed concerns that DS’ grapes were whole and not cut up.

He’s 7.5. He chews properly, sits still to eat etc.

I was under the impression that the guidance is for children aged 5 and below.

AIBU here?

🙄🙄🙄

Same.

Thought this was going to be like cutted up pear 🍐🤣

Right?

Yes, the risk is very very low at that age. But what’s the alternative if you are the 0.1%? And it takes 2 mins. The school don’t supervise kids eating plus kids show off to their friends. so I can see why they advise it to be honest. It’s a lot different at home where you are there to tell them off if they pop a grape in their mouth and swing on a chair for example.

I’ve never cut a grape up ( except when I make my infamous grape frangipani tart )
My DC are in their 30s and learnt to squash them in their mouth and then sort of spit the skin and pips out
They survived

A paediatrician friend once told me that she still cut up grapes for her 12 year old. Purely because she’s seen the awful side effects of this and said you just can’t get them out.

You’d be rather upset if he choked to death presumably?

I’m really surprised at some of the comments on here, I though that everyone knew that grapes in particular are a choke hazard… not that you are more likely to choke on them than any other food per se, but it’s more more catastrophic if you do because you can’t get them back out again.

For me it’s a risk vs reward thing. What are the actual down sides of cutting grapes up before giving them to children? Compared with the risk of giving them whole? It just doesn’t seem worth it. I always say to myself as well, if my child were to choke to death on a whole grape how would I feel about the fact that I didn’t take one minute out of my day to cut them up. I don’t cut up any of his other food, he is 8, but I always cut his grapes up.

Me and my kids have never worn a seatbelt in the car. I have learnt to sort of always drive slowly and carefully so there’s no need.

We’ve all survived.

Yes YABU
An 8 year old boy recently died at school from choking on a grape in his packed lunch.

For the sake of a minute to chop them up it’s not worth the risk of gambling is it?
Grapes are notorious as a high risk choking hazard due to their shape and texture.

I once sat in the boot for the whole car journey from Yorkshire to Devon. I survived too.

Totally agree. But you won’t be able
to convince the cool and edgy girls, they’re far too busy being rock and roll to cut up a grape.

And frankly lazy.

On MN, you need to cut grapes into microscopic particles until your children are 25 and they must have babysitters until they are 30.

Well I like to think I am still very edgy and rock n roll, even though I cut up grapes 😂

Do what you like at home but if school have asked you to cut then, either cut them or don't bring them.

Mine are teenagers and I freeze half grapes, such a handy tasty snack!

I choked on a skittle last week, I’m 30. Cut up the damn grapes.

Are they not allowed whole ones? 🤣

One of the reasons fewer children die young now is more care taken now (plus of course medical progress, nutrition).

Stupid comment, not clever or funny.

OP. Anyone can choke on a grape but a child is more likely due to the size of their airway. Why would you even risk it?

Also why young adults are often incapable of risk assessment for themselves

I wonder why government guidance doesn’t tell all of us (adults included) to cut up grapes. Seems just as easy to choke on a grape as a 7 year old than it would be as a 30 year old

I had the same on a first aid course.

Plus, I was an HSE consultant so it’s the kind of thing you’re aware of. DS’s secondary school didn’t sell grapes at lunch time because of the choking hazard.

An adult's airways are wider than a child's.

Secondary school? Bloody hell.

If only humans had the wherewithal to break down food before swallowing or in fact bite off a small portion.