Do you know the top choking hazards for kids under 4? This speech and language pathologist on TikTok is sharing them to help keep toddlers safe
When toddlers start eating solid foods, 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 those that pose serious risks for kids under 4, and every parent should watch this video.
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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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.”
The second choking risk for toddlers is whole grapes, for the same reason: They’re also circular. They should also be cut into quarters. Number three is hard candies like M&Ms and Skittles. Again, they’re circular—there’s a theme here.
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.”
The next few are chips and nuts. Number seven is marshmallows, because “if they get lodged, they are going to expand,” she says. “Not good.”
Finally, the last choking risk she warns about is cubed cheese.
“Grate it or thinly slice it instead,” she says, and then ends her video with some sage advice: “Happy snacking. Don’t die.”
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 soft foods is generally the safer choice.
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