Crawling babies and toddlers explore their environment with all five senses, meaning most children put everything into their mouths. Choking is an ever present hazard and can be easily prevented.
Make Your Own Small Parts Tester
A Small Parts Tester is a clear plastic tube that measures the safety of small toys. The plastic tube stands in as a child’s throat. If the toy fits inside the tube, your child could swallow and choke on the object. Small Object Testers may be purchased for under $3 at local toy and children’s stores or from online vendors. You may also make your own by cutting a toilet paper tube in half. The tube should be about 1 ¾ inches in diameter. If the part fits inside the roll, it is not safe for your child to handle. Remember that a very young child’s throat is not much larger than the diameter of a straw.
Common Choking Hazards
- Grapes, peanuts, peanut butter, marshmallows, Craisins, or raisins, and cherry tomatoes. Also hard candy, lifesavers, and gum. Avoid all small, round, hard pieces of food.Cut grapes, and other small fruits in half.
- Hot dogs (whole, halved, or sliced), sausages, carrot sticks, celery, apple chunks, and banana pieces. These foods should be chopped into tiny, ¼ to ½ inch bites.
- Chips (tortilla, potato, soy), popcorn, or any other light, but dry, food article. These foods can be aspirated.
- Marbles, coins, safety pins, pompoms found on booties, socks, and toys, buttons; the list is long. Anything that fits inside the Small Parts Tester should be off limits to your child.
- Eating while unsupervised or playing.
Over 10,000 children visit U.S. emergency rooms each year for choking related accidents, some resulting in death. These tragedies can easily be prevented by careful food preparation and by eliminating possible choking hazards from your child’s environment