There are so many new things in a young child’s life and food is one of them. There are new textures, smells, flavors, and tastes to explore with food. Excitement can build as the newness of food, but don’t let snack time be a hazardous time. As your child is being introduced to food, and especially new foods, they need to learn how to eat them safely. They won’t know to not stuff their mouth full of food, swallow food without chewing it up, or sit upright when they eat. All of these habits that you have, they will have to learn.
Safety First
A child’s small airway makes it easy for them to choke with their curiosity about food. As said above, children are curious about food and don’t know how to safely eat all food. Here are some points to remember as your small children eat:Proper Food Choices:
Just because you are eating it doesn’t mean that your child should be eating it. Toddlers should be eating foods that are smaller than a nickel or should be cut to a size smaller than a nickel. These foods should also be able to soften in the mouth while being eaten, but not easily molded to the airway like peanut butter, marshmallows, chewy fruit snacks, or whole bananas. Avoid hard foods like raw vegetables, unpeeled fruits, nuts, or hard candy as they can become lodged in the airway.Proper Environment:
We snack in front of the tv, in our car, walking around doing other things, but your child needs to be stationary. Place your child upright in a high chair or at the table instead of running and playing with food in their mouth. Have your child not talk while they are eating so they can pay attention to what is in their mouth.Proper Supervision:
You should never leave your child unattended while they are eating. Choking can occur quickly and can be silent, so pay attention while your child is eating. Also, don’t rush your child while they are eating, because they may place too much food in their mouth that can become a choking hazard. Plan plenty of time for your child to safely eat their snack.Know the Signs:
Choking can happen quickly and quietly because they are unable to pass air through their airway to make a sound. Be attentive and watch for: the inability to breathe, gasping or wheezing, unable to talk or make noise, panicked appearance, skin turns blue, grabs and throat or mouth, waves arms, becomes limp, or loses consciousness.Plan of Action:
No one wants to think their child will choke, but it is better to be prepared if they do start to choke than to be unprepared. Adults who are supervising your child should know how to and be willing to administer first-aid and CPR to a child. These responses are different for a child than they are with an adult.
Snack time should be a time for your child to safely explore the newness of food. It can be a time of excitement and discovery if snacking is done in a safe way.