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?

Wtf? Absolutely you’re NBU! How ridiculous.
at 7.5 they know enough to sit down whilst eating.

How is it insane? Grapes are a well-known choking hazard.

DD is 7 and I cut them up for school (lunchbox and break snack) or if she has them in the car. I keep them whole if she's having them sat sensibly at home or ona picnic with us.

I just figure It's easy to get distracted at school. And at break time they take snack outside and I doubt they're sitting sensibly to eat them!

You're right that the guidance is under 5 though so it's your call.

I would just cut them up.

It takes almost no effort and it reduces risk in a busy environment where there is a greater risk of kids messing about, showing off and a bigger chance that a kid choking might not be noticed right away.

He's 7. Its not a big deal. He won't be being spoon fed in his 30s

I wouldn’t bet on it, judging by these replies

It’s improbable but not impossible, and children do die from it, not many admittedly but when you consider the risk, however small, I’d rather not take it.

There is no statistical significance between choking deaths in 7 year olds and 12 year olds. Children aged 7 - 15 are at the lowest risk of dying from choking of any age group.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/adhocs/1438deathsduetoandinvolvingchokingbysexandagegroupenglandandwales2018to2022

For how long? How hard is it to bite the in half?Given that some secondary schools apparently don’t permit them, perhaps all food should be liquidised to be on the safe side.

Exactly. Paediatric first aid course really opened my eyes. Please cut the grapes.

Up To what age?

20 years ago, people didn't routinely cut up children's grapes. One of my mum's friends lost a child of about 6 to choking on a grape. He'd eaten them many times before. He knew how to eat them. But it was an exciting environment (birthday party) and he got distracted. And there was nothing anyone could do to shift the blockage. A child dead, a family grieving, a group of kids utterly traumatised. Grapes are tricky things, and kids don't always concentrate.

Yeah, dude had obviously been out to a choking child or adult, he looked really sad as he described how bad grapes can be and that always cut up grapes for his DC thereafter.

Because you have to cut the cord sometime. What would you consider an age appropriate time to stop cutting up grapes for your children? 18? By 7.5 my kids were eating whole grapes.

Edgy, cool girls? Or nerdy girls who know how to read statistics and don't panic over nothing?

Wallow in your ignorance as much as you like, but don't pretend people who aren't overly anxious are just concerned about their image.

was all set to be outraged about babying a 7 year old but some very convincing arguments on this thread. I'm now in camp cut grapes tho to be fair I already do this for my 2 year old grandchild

Anyone can choke on a grape. Are you confident that lunch staff would notice and be able to help quickly enough? Very trusting, if so

When you’ve sat through training films of adults choking on grapes or boiled sweets, you might change your mind. That’s real footage, taken from CCTV in restaurants, not actors.

Choking is particularly frightening because it’s silent, and it can take other people some time to realise what’s happening.

But you do you, eh?

You can do what you want at home but I would abide by school rules on this, even if it’s just in case of the remote possibility of him sharing grapes with a younger child

Pretty sure some of the mums on here would still be cutting them up when their kids are 30.
”Why take the risk?”
”Better safe than sorry”

That’s not a given. My children roam and faff about whilst eating fruit .
grapes are also many different sizes.
I cut them in half for my kids and trust me I’m not the hyper vigilant type

I almost choked on a boiled sweet as a fully functioning adult so these things can happen and it’s scary

Ex A&E health professional.
OP and others claiming its so rare/not an issue/7 is too old etc- after you have tried to resuscitate children and adults that have choked on grapes (and other foreign objects), please come back and tell me how it felt to tell the family their child had died???

So again, at what age do you think they might be trusted to eat it?

So don’t give them grapes if they can’t be trusted to eat them properly.

I’m 42 and never put a whole grape in my mouth, I bite them. I guess when children can be trusted to reliably do that is when you stop cutting them up