| There are many things you need to watch out for to | | | | expected to be perfect about picking up after |
| avoid a choking episode in your child. Choking is very | | | | themselves. |
| dangerous because it can cause the death of a child if | | | | Used toys should also be watched for breakages or |
| the windpipe becomes blocked. A lot of tragic deaths | | | | wear that can cause parts to come off. An example |
| could have been avoided if parents were more | | | | of this is a doll's buttons. Some toys when new may |
| informed about keeping certain objects away from | | | | have been labeled for a young child but are not |
| their children. | | | | durable enough to not shed small parts when a child |
| Anything that is round and small is the perfect shape | | | | chews on it or pulls on it. Although manufacturers and |
| and size to block a child's windpipe. The object in | | | | governments will issue recalls, there is usually some |
| question does not even have to be a perfectly round | | | | vigilant parent who first notices the problem and must |
| circle. Some examples of this are grapes, hard candy, | | | | report it. Always try to be that vigilant parent. As a |
| coins, vegetables cut in circles, buttons, nuts, popcorn | | | | general rule if an object is small enough to pass |
| and hot dogs. With round foods you can avoid danger | | | | through a cardboard toilet paper tube, the object is |
| by cutting the foods in smaller pieces that are not | | | | small enough for a child under age three to choke on |
| round in shape. Grapes and hot dog slices can be | | | | or swallow. |
| quartered. Carrots can be cut in thin sticks instead of | | | | Another choking danger comes from objects that are |
| being sliced. Popcorn should be served a few pieces | | | | soft and impermeable. These are things like plastics |
| at a time. If you let a small child have access to a large | | | | bags and balloons. Any kind of plastic wrap, sheeting |
| bowl of popcorn they will grab an entire handful and | | | | or bag can be a danger if a child bites off pieces of it |
| stuff the whole quantity in their mouth. | | | | and inhales or swallows it. Plastic is also dangerous |
| There is also a danger from small objects that are | | | | because it can cover the mouth and nose of the child |
| sticky enough to get stuck in a child's throat. An | | | | together and keep them from breathing. Never allow a |
| example of this is pins or small parts of toys. Toys | | | | child to put a plastic bag over their head. Balloons are |
| should be age appropriate so that children under age | | | | safe enough if they are supervised by adults. The |
| three, for example, are not playing with toys that have | | | | danger from balloons is when they pop and the little |
| parts small enough to swallow or choke on. This can | | | | pieces can be choked on. Also a partially inflated |
| be difficult if there is an older brother's or sister's toys | | | | balloon is dangerous for the same reason. |
| in the proximity of a toddler sibling who is playing in the | | | | All parents should take a class in child CPR so they will |
| same room. It takes a great deal of vigilance on the | | | | know how to help in a choking emergency. If a child is |
| part of the parent to be sure that an older child's toys | | | | choking, turning blue and not able to cough or talk then |
| are kept out of the way of the younger. It is also a | | | | emergency personnel should be called at once. The |
| good idea to practice good housekeeping practices as | | | | Heimlich maneuver can be tried on children over the |
| much as possible and to have the older sibling pick up | | | | age of one, but never on babies less than that age. |
| their toys after play. However this is a responsibility | | | | Most of all paying attention to the child and those |
| that ultimately the parent must shoulder since the older | | | | objects around them is the key to avoiding those |
| sibling is a child too, and a child cannot always be | | | | things that are known to be a danger. |