What Are The Biggest Choking Hazards For Kids?

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The scariest part of parenting is seeing your child in distress, especially when they’re choking. Choking is one of the most common causes of death in infants. When children are that young, they use their hands and mouth to explore. Their curiosity inevitably leads to any and every object ending up in their mouth.

So, what are the biggest choking hazards for children? How can you tell what is and isn’t a choking hazard? Some handy tricks and guidelines can help you.

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A choking hazard is any item that can become lodged in a small child’s throat. These are typically small toy pieces like LEGOs and doll shoes. If you aren’t sure whether or not something is a choking hazard, you can perform a simple test.

All you need for this is an empty toilet paper roll and whichever item or items you wish to test out. If the entire thing can fit inside the toilet paper roll or falls entirely through, it’s considered a safety hazard.

If your child gets their hands on one of these items and starts choking, it’s imperative to perform the Heimlich maneuver right away. It’s worth noting that the Heimlich maneuver is done a little differently for infants than it is for toddlers and small children.

For infants, you should follow these steps:

If you still can’t get the lodged item out, call 911 right away.

For children who can walk, performing the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the item is a bit different. You can do this by positioning yourself behind your child, so you’re at their height. Lean them forward and start with back blows, then wrap your arms around their waist. Then, you’ll make fists and push up just above the belly button.

Regardless of whether you have an infant or toddler, it’s imperative to keep performing these steps until help arrives or until your child can breathe and cough.

Some items are more dangerous than others. These common choking hazards are also common household foods and kids’ toys. I’m not saying you have to purge your house thoroughly, but these items require some extra attention.

Food is a significant choking hazard for babies who are just starting to learn how to eat. Between the ages of six and 12 months, your child will be learning how to chew and swallow. Food will likely trigger their gag reflex frequently, so make sure to keep an eye on them.

When starting solids, it’s best to keep your infant away from these foods:

This list may seem extensive, but some items on there can be safe if appropriately cut. Grapes, tomatoes, and hot dogs are some of the more well-known of these foods.

When preparing something for your child, the general rule of thumb is to cut their food, so they’re smaller than the width of your thumb. No pun intended—this is the size of the airway. To avoid choking, cut hot dogs into small pieces, and grapes/tomatoes should be cut longways into thin strips.

Parenting pro tip: if you want to be even more proactive with grapes and tomatoes, cut them longways again after you halve them.

Toys can easily become an issue if you have an older child who enjoys building LEGOs or playing with dolls. These typically come in small pieces or with tiny accessories. Those little parts pose an issue if you have a young child who is still exploring with their mouth.

If a toy fails the toilet paper tube test I mentioned above, keep it away from your small child. Here are a few helpful guidelines you can use in your home to prevent choking:

Other household items like bottle caps, batteries, and coins should always be picked up as well. Magnets are another risk that can pose more than just a choking hazard. If a child swallows a magnet or multiple, they can wreak havoc on the digestive system and other organs.

Parenthood is tough. As parents, we have to be responsible for keeping these tiny human beings alive for at least 18 years. Our duty is proven difficult by curious hands and mouths, which lead to potentially scary choking situations.

Being a proactive parent and making sure you’re keeping choking hazards away from your children will make our job at least a little easier. Even if you see something you aren’t sure of, the handy dandy toilet paper tube test will give you the answers you need.

Don’t be afraid to cut your kiddo’s hot dog into smithereens. You’re better safe than sorry, anyway!