Going To the Movies? Skip the Popcorn for Your Toddler (and other choking hazards to avoid!)

I swear that someday I am going to write a manual that parents can take home from the hospital with them when they have a baby! There are so many things we don’t know and aren’t told. And it’s horrible when we learn the hard way.

I was at the movies with my kids on Saturday and was faced with a typical dilemma - a dad sitting next to me was letting his toddler eat popcorn. Yes, this is a bit of an occupational hazard with me as I tend to spot more dangers than most but this in particular makes me crazy! I know it’s hard when you have older children at the movies and your 2-year-old is begging for popcorn as well but parents have to stay tough. Let me say this clearly – POPCORN IS A CHOKING HAZARD FOR YOUNG KIDS!!!

Even older children need to be careful. There was a tragic story in New York several years ago where a family had gone to the movies on Christmas Day. When the lights came up at the end of the movie the parents looked over and their child was dead – he had silently choked on a piece of popcorn and they didn’t even know it.

Choking is one of the leading causes of accidental injury for kids under the age of 4. While the government has mandated that warning labels be placed on toys with small parts as choking risks, they have not done the same thing for food. Pretty ridiculous in my opinion. If they’ll label a superball as a choking hazard, why won’t they do the same thing for a gumball which is exactly the same shape and size???

The most important things to consider when trying to determine whether a food is a choking hazard is shape and texture. If the ends are round – like a hot dog or grape – it could become lodged and completely restrict the child’s airway. If a food is either too soft or too hard – like a nut or even a piece of white bread – the same thing could occur. Here is a list of a few items that should absolutely be avoided!

• Hot Dogs
• Whole grapes
• Nuts/seeds
• Popcorn
• Hard candy or chewy ones such as gummy bears
• Chunks of cheese or meats
• Raw vegetables
• White bread which could congeal into chunks
• Raisins

Never leave your child alone when they’re eating and never feed them foods while you are driving as you might not realize they’re choking in the back seat. And, above all, be sure you and anyone watching your child is certified in CPR and First Aid.
 

• Tweet