Prevent Choking

By: Dr. Madeleine Samuelson Herman, MD, MPH

September is Baby Safety Month!

Keep your little ones safe with these choking prevention tips.

Choose the right foods:

1) Soften hard foods (carrots, apples) so they're soft enough to put a fork in them.

2) Cut cylindrical foods, like hot dogs and string cheese, lengthwise. Food scissors are really helpful!

3) Avoid foods the width of a nickel, roughly the same as the airway.

4) Cut spherical foods, like grapes or cherry tomatoes, into quarters. Special choppers are great!

5) Avoid foods with seeds or pits.

Reduce distractions:

Toddlers should eat at a table, in an appropriate seat, without distractions like screens.

Learn the Heimlich Maneuver

In case of emergency, you want to know what to do. You can find Red Cross resources here.