Menu
Parenting
Just Cut the Grapes Already
Updated: Sep. 8, 2017
Originally Published: April 7, 2017
A parent recently shared an x-ray of a grape stuck in a child’s throat, and it sent shivers down my spine. I have an intense fear of choking. Whenever I see anyone, adult or child, take a massive bite of food, my mind races as I prepare myself to perform the Heimlich maneuver. So, you can imagine how cautious I am when introducing solid foods to my little ones.
I slice everything into tiny pieces. It’s just how I am. Even now, at six years old, I still halve my son’s grapes. My partner often teases me about it, but I’m about to send him a link to this post I found and tell him to keep quiet.
The x-ray I mentioned belongs to a five-year-old who had to undergo surgery to remove a grape lodged in their airway. This was shared by Australian blogger Chloe Taylor on her parenting blog. “This poor child required surgery under general anesthesia to extract the grape,” the post states. “They are incredibly fortunate that part of their airway was still open; otherwise, the outcome could have been tragic. So please remember that not all kids chew their food properly, especially when they’re rushing around at school to play.”
Exactly! Kids can be so oblivious. They stuff food in their mouths and dart around like little squirrels. If there’s something simple I can do to alleviate my anxiety, why wouldn’t I? According to Healthy Children.org, “Food is responsible for over half of choking incidents. Keep foods such as grapes, hot dogs, raw carrots, and peanuts away from young children. Cut food into pieces no larger than half an inch. Encourage proper chewing and supervise meal times. Children should always sit down while eating and never run or play with food in their mouths.”
It’s important to share this information during playdates too. Don’t assume that everyone follows the same safety precautions. I attended a holiday event at my child’s preschool a few months back, and they were serving whole cherry tomatoes to the three-year-olds. Can you believe that a parent thought that was a safe option? I watched as the staff handed out those tomatoes without any hesitation. The same went for a fruit platter filled with huge globe grapes. I kept glancing at the other parents, waiting for someone to voice their concerns. I finally asked, “Aren’t you going to cut those in half?” The kids were at their little tables while the parents mingled in another room. I felt like the only overly cautious mom there, but that’s okay. I cover child-related news for a living; being paranoid comes with the territory.
As Taylor states, “Please be cautious. And when in doubt, just cut the grapes.”
Summary:
This article discusses the importance of cutting grapes and other potentially hazardous foods for young children to prevent choking. It highlights a real-life incident involving a child who required surgery due to a grape lodged in their throat and underscores the necessity of supervision during meal times. Parents are urged to be vigilant and proactive about food safety, especially during social gatherings.