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International Food Information Council Foundation
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National SAFE KIDS Campaign
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Click here for information on foods to watch out for and for food preparation tips
USDA - You can help prevent choking
Choking prevention and food
Children under the age of four and children with chewing and swallowing difficulties are at the greatest risk of choking on foods for the following reasons.
- Not chewing long enough to make food small enough to go down the throat
- Not yet having the back teeth they need to grind foods
- Trying to swallow too much food at one time
- Difficulty in swallowing liquids and solids together
Children should eat meals and snacks while sitting in a designated place such as at the table, on a blanket, or under a tree at snack time. Mealtime conversation is encouraged, but avoid tickling, teasing, or uncontrolled laughter. Encourage children to eat slowly, even if the temptation of returning to play time is causing them to rush.
Each child is unique in his or her ability to handle different foods. For example, 33 months old and has no back teeth, 26 months old with a full set of teeth. Some children over the age of three still cannot chew foods very well because their muscles are not fully developed. Some children with special health care needs may require baby foods or pureed foods and may need extra assistance at meal time.
Foods to watch out for
How do we reduce the risk of choking on foods?
Here are foods that most often cause choking for toddlers and preschool children or for children with chewing or swallowing difficulties:
- Round-shaped foods (raw peas, whole grapes, raw carrots, seeds, nuts, hot dogs, round candies)
- slippery foods (peanuts, ice, or other wet items)
- Dry foods (marshmallows, dried fruits, pretzel sticks, chips, popcorn)
- Tough foods (chunks of meat, dried meats)
- Sticky foods (spoonfuls of peanut butter or peanut butter on soft bread, clumps of raisins)
- Hard foods (broccoli, cauliflower, hard candy)
- Foods with non-edible parts (fish with bones, fruits with pits)
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Watch Babies and Children During Meals and Snacks to Make Sure They:
- Sit quietly for all feedings.
- Eat slowly.
- Chew food well before swallowing.
- Eat small portions and only one bite at a time.
Foods That Can Cause Choking and Should Not be Fed to Babies and Young Children:
Firm, smooth, or slippery foods that slide down the throat before chewing.
Sticky or tough foods that do not break apart easily and are hard to remove from the airway.
- peanut butter or other nut or seed butters
- raisins and other dried fruit
- tough meat or large chunks of meat
- marshmallows
- chewing gum
- caramels or other chewy candy
Watch out for the following foods and objects with Children under Age 6:
FOODS
• raw vegetables such as celery, carrots, and peas; whole olives; and cherry tomatoes • nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc. • hard candy, lollipops, and cough drops • taffy • soft candies with a firm texture such as gel or gummy candies • marshmallows • caramels and jellybeans • popcorn • raw, unpeeled fruit slices such as apples and pears; whole grapes, cherries with pits, and dried fruits such as raisins or apricots • chunks of foods, especially meat or poultry, hot dogs or sausages served whole or cut in “coins;” cheese cubes • spoonfuls of peanut butter • snack chips
NON FOOD ITEMS
• coins, button-cell batteries • buttons (loose as well as those attached to clothing) • deflated or broken balloons • pencils, crayons, and erasers; pen and marker caps • rings, earrings • nails, screws, staples, safety pins, tacks, etc. • small toys, such as tiny figures, balls or marbles, or toys with small parts • holiday decorations, including tinsel or ornaments that are toy-like, and lights • Small stones • damaged or loose nipples on pacifiers or bottles
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