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River Valley Pediatrics |
531 Central Park Avenue, Suite 102
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Choking Choking occurs whenever an object other than air enters the trachea, or windpipe. Toddlers are at greater risk due to their desire to explore by putting things in their mouths, their immature reflexes, and their lack of coordination with solid foods. Dangerous objects include small toys, coins, latex balloons, nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, hard candies, round pieces of hotdogs, and hard pieces of carrots. Constant vigilance is a difficult but necessary part of keeping our toddlers safe. Cutting grapes and hotdogs into small, non-round pieces and avoiding other risky foods are also critical interventions. Sometimes it helps to try to view everything in a child's environment through their eyes instead of our own. Unfortunately, many gifts from grandparents or friends are not age-appropriate for all members of the household and can be unsafe. These products can either be kept in a special box until they are appropriate or quietly disposed of. |
