when can a kid have whole grapes? (method, infant, parents)

[metalheart517]

Maybe I am taking it a bit far, but I still cut my 5 1/2 year olds grapes into fourths. Its worse if its a hotdog.

Am I crazy? Should I give him the whole ones now? He says that he doesn't like thm cut soooo......I just need some opinions!

[librarySue]

Yes, at 5.5 he has a sufficient number of teeth to eat grapes. If you worry about the hot dog, slice it lengthwise down the middle.

Last thing my daughter choked on was a Lifesaver (which we were always told you couldn't choke on because of the hole!) She was about 6.

I suggest that all parents Take Red Cross infant child CPR so you feel more confident that you can handle an emergency.

[LadyR1990]

If it where up to my mom I would still be eating peeled and cut grapes. I think choking is something a mother will always worry about. When I moved into my new apartment my mom told me, as she was leaving, "now you know you aren't allowed to eat any hard candy alone right?"

[Kibbiekat]

Mine are 5 and 7 and I still worry about choking and think twice before I give them hard candy. I don't cut up grapes and hot dogs, though.

[Zimbochick]

One thing worth remembering is the childs airway is the diameter of his/her little finger (pinky), so you do reach a point where it is better for them to learn the chew the food than to give them food chopped into small pieces. More important is to make sure they are sitting when eating, and not running around. There was some method to the madness in times gone by when people sat at a table and ate without talking and laughing. I'm not advocating that at all, but that's part of the reason.

[captain_hug99]

I stopped when Katie was around 2 or 3 I think.

As her pediatrician said, "every food is a choking hazard." Yep, he was right! She choked this year on a cough drop, she's 7. I gave her a whack and she was fine.

[AnotherTouchOfWhimsy]

My friend's husband is a police officer, and he once had to resuscitate a 6-year-old who had choked on a whole grape.

With that said, I cut them (and hot dogs) utnil the kids were about four. We talked about appropriate behavior while eating, and I made them eat chokable foods at the table. I know they can choke on anything, but some foods are more likely than others to cause choking: hard candy, gum, grapes, hot dogs, nuts, baby carrots, etc. Now that they're 10 and 8 I do'nt really worry about it, but I do still make the sit still when they're eating hard candy!

[JC JC Mom]

When my son turned 4 he started eating pretty much everything whole grapes and hotdogs. I make sure he is sitting and not jumping around and I'm there with him with my attention no him.. (just in case).

I do not let him eat hard candy though

[NYMD67]

I still cut my 5 year old's grapes & always cut both of their hot dogs lengthwise, even my 8 year old's....
They are pretty much not allowed to eat hard candy-ever, except for lollipops.
I do not let them have the lollipops in the car though, it scares me to think that if one of them were to start choking while I am driving........

[liloulou]

Around 4 yrs old I stopped cutting grapes and hot dogs...