am i being paranoid cutting up grapes still?

[allypally1983]

I have a girl of 2.5, she loves grapes and has them almost everyday either for lunch or snack. I just wonder if I'm being a bit paranoid as I still cut them in half. I read an article in the paper ages ago about a child of 2 who choked to death on a grape and I guess it scared me a bit. What do you think? Sensible or calm down dear!!!

My dd is 8yo and I don't cut grapes up but I do tell her she isn't allowed to put a whole one in her mouth she has to bite it first

Popcorn is another major choking hazard.

I still cut up grapes for my 3 year old and will for a long time yet. Not worth the risk. I cut my 12 month olds into quarters. Same with cherry tomatoes.

The thing I worry most about is that other people don't always cut them up and you can't control whether they are offered whole ones, so alongside cutting them up I've always tried to instil in them the idea of never eating them whole, and have taught ds to squish them if he is offered them whole. He loves doing this and it has given me a little peace of mind for when I can't be there.

Unfortunately, neither set of grandparents takes this seriously and serve him whole grapes which I have to intercept and cut up. Relaxing

I have never cut a grape in half for my 2.7 year old or a cocktail sausage and very rarely a cherry tomato. However I'm now considering going downstairs to cut up everything. Bloody scary stuff!

My crazy eldest child sucked in a whole grape (deliberately!!!) and choked aged 5 but fortunately the grape came back up. I'd still cut them. Talk about it once dc can understand as they'll go to parties etc with whole grapes there.

I still cut up grapes for my 8 and 11 year old. When the 11 year old was a newborn I read a story of a child left severely brain damaged after eating uncut grapes and it has stayed with me.

My eldest is 10 and I still cut them up, especially for school packed lunches.

Cynthia completely agree about popcorn - I took Ds to a playgroup and the snack time food was popcorn and grapes - I nearly had a fit! A room full of 15 month olds - 3 yr olds eating pop corn is not relaxing!

I can't remember the last time I cut up a grape for DS (3) but you know your child best. I tell him to bite them in half and chew properly and he does, but not all children would. Ditto popcorn. I don't think you're silly for chopping them up at all.

Thank you for all your replies. I will continue to cut them for some time I think just to be safe

I've never cut up grapes for my little one and she's now 20 months.

Wow, this thread has been an eye opener for sure. I have never cut up grapes, only cut up cherry tomatoes if they're part of a salad and haven't given much thought at all about what shape sausages are chopped into. Cocktail sausages don't feature on our menu so who knows what sort of crazy I'd be with those!

I give my toddler whole apples and pears as well. I've never really considered how dangerous this all might be from a choking perspective.

We eat meals together and I've never pureed any of her food so she's always had to deal with solids and textures. This thread has really got me wondering about my choices.

I don't think you need to wonder about your choices in general, my two have never had purees and can manage whole apples, pears, plums, spaghetti, peas ...all sorts!

The thing with grapes/tomatoes/sausages etc is the shape, which fits a bit too exactly into a child's small windpipe, leaving no room for manoeuvre, so however 'good' an eater they are, it is just more likely to get stuck than if it was an adult. The second thing is the skin, making the object smooth and with virtually no way to get a purchase on it with instruments etc.

My ds could eat a whole grape from a young age, I'm not over zealous with cutting his food up generally, I just won't take the risk with certain things.

I usually tear satsuma segments for my baby, as much to check for pips as anything. I squish blueberries.

Anything poses a choking risk in reality - e.g the only thing my ds had a near miss with as a baby was mashed potato. I think for me it's just minimising risk where you can, especially with items that render first aid skills next to useless.

Satsuma won't 'plug' a child's windpipe like a smooth round grape will.

My 10 year old recently asked me to please stop cutting up her grapes in her lunchbox. She said it's nice of me but the other children had noticed and it was a bit embarrassing. She's promised to bite them in half!

I don't cut my sons grape and he's 2.8 nor do I his cocktail sausages, tomatoes or oranges, he eats popcorn too

Not going to start he bites and chews everything to pieces anyway

Have always cut grapes lengthways in 1/4 for the DC. DS is 8.5y but I still cut them if there's any chance the littlest might get them. Popcorn is for age 5+ in our house. Same for nuts. Even I sometimes have a close shave with popcorn