When toddlers start eating solids, it’s so important for parents to know which foods are safe—and which foods to avoid until they’re a little older and able to chew and swallow more safely to avoid choking risks. A speech and language pathologist on TikTok is going viral for sharing a rundown of choking hazards for toddlers under 4, and every parent should watch this.
Related: Mistakes Parents Make When Starting Solids
Miss Michael is all business as she starts her video: “These are the top eight choking hazards for children under 4. Let’s go.”
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Hot dogs: The first one, she notes, shouldn’t surprise parents: hot dogs. “Your throat is a circle,” she says. “When you cut hot dogs into rounds, they can get stuck. At the very least, cut them lengthwise. Even better? Cut them into quarters.”
Whole grapes: The second choking risk for toddlers is grapes, for the same reason: They’re also circular. They should also be cut into quarters.
Hard candies: Number three is candies like M&Ms and Skittles. Again, they’re circular—there’s a theme here.
Popcorn: Number four? Popcorn. “Every piece of the popcorn,” Miss Michael says. “It is easily inhaled. Don’t even try it if your kid is congested.” Rice cakes or puffed corn cakes are a much better option for the toddler set.
Chips: Chips are just too sharp for little mouths to handle, and if a shard gets caught in their throats they can choke. They’re better off snacking on puffs, cheddar crackers, or animal crackers.
Related: The Best First Foods for Baby (And Ones to Avoid)
Nuts: Hard nuts should be avoided entirely since they’re difficult for toddlers to chew and can become sharp in their mouths. But this doesn’t mean they have to miss out on the tasty flavor of nuts (especially given how important it is to expose young kids to allergens). Blend nut butter into smoothies, stir into yogurt, or spread some on toast soldiers.
Marshmallows: Number seven is marshmallows, because “if they get lodged, they are going to expand,” she says. “Not good.”
Cheese cubes: Finally, the last choking risk she warns about is cubed cheese. “Grate it or thinly slice it instead,” she suggests.
So parents, there you have it. Pretty much any round food? A no-go for toddlers. And as many experts have pointed out, when they’re young and still learning how to chew and swallow, sticking to softer foods and smaller pieces is generally the safer choice.
Miss Michael ends her video with some sage advice: “Happy snacking. Don’t die.”
