Foods That Pose the Greatest Choking Hazards for Children

Choking is every parent's fear at some point and rightfully so. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is a leading cause of death in children. Food, along with toys and coins, are the main culprits. Certain shapes, sizes and consistencies of foods pose greater choking risk. Knowing which foods are high risk is the first step in prevention.

  1. Preventable Deaths

    • Dr. Elizabeth Edgerton, a pediatrician at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, says that choking deaths are preventable. Safety labels on foods make choking hazards easier to identify and remind parents to take caution when feeding these foods to their children. Children younger than 6 years old have a smaller airway, making it easier for food to get stuck. Stuck food can cause death when the child is forced to go without oxygen for more than a few minutes. While many choking incidents go unreported, those causing frequent injury or death deserve special attention.

    Top Choking Foods

    • A study published by the "International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology" identified the food items with the greatest risk for choking in children younger than 15 years old. Peanuts caused the greatest incident of choking-related injury, accounting for 26 percent of injuries. However, choking on hot dogs was most likely to result in death, accounting for 16 percent of fatalities. Meat, sunflower seeds, popcorn, carrots, chicken, fish bones, applies, candy, grapes, cookies and bread also proved to be top foods related to choking injury or fatality.

    Shape, Size, Consistency

    • Foods that easily create plugs and can be difficult to dislodge using conventional methods, are choking hazards. Round foods, such as candies or grapes, can plug a child's airway. Hot dogs and other compressible foods can completely block the airway due to their shape and consistency. Peanut butter can create a barrier or seal the airway, not allowing any oxygen to pass. Caramels, hard candies, marshmallows, chewing gum and any other "chewy" foods should be avoided altogether in children younger than 5 years old.

    Food Preparation Tips

    • Children younger than 5 years old are at the greatest risk of choking-related injury or death. Children younger than 3 who do not yet have the teeth to grind food, have underdeveloped swallowing coordination or who are easily distracted have the highest risk within this age-group. Parent education is important in preventing choking-related injuries and death. Foods should be carefully selected and prepared. Eating should be directly supervised. Cut foods into small pieces, no larger than 1/4 inch for infants and 1/2 inch for toddlers, and steam foods to soften them. Do not allow your child to run or play while eating. Learn how to respond in a life-threatening situation should your child ever choke on her food.

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