Choking prevention tips for babies

Written by: Shrenika Solanki, Owner, Little Beat

Starting solids can be a fun experience for the family but it can come with some anxieties and most often it’s about choking. We can’t 100% prevent a choking situation but we can try and reduce risk factors. Here are some things we can do to reduce food related choking risks:

1.    Keep them supervised

Choking is silent! You may not hear it happening if you aren’t watching. And if you don’t know it’s happening, you can’t help them. Keeping them supervised helps to reduce the time between them choking and you recognising this and being able to help them. So whether it’s a snack or a meal, supervision is really important.

2.    Keep them seated

Keeping children seated, upright and in a supportive chair (especially babies) whenever they are eating helps to reduce movement when there is food in the mouth.

3.    Never force young children to eat or put anything in their mouth when they aren’t ready

Putting things in their mouth unexpectedly means their brain and body isn’t prepared for it which increases the risk of inhaling while they have food in their mouth which is when a choking situation can occur.

4.    Prepare foods appropriately

Preparing food in a way that reduces the risks is important, such as cutting in strips, squishable between your fingers, quartering grapes etc.

5.    Be aware of common choking risk foods

For young children under the age of 5 there are some common choking foods in terms of the shapes, sizes and texures. i.e. small, round, slippery (e.g grapes) spongey or compressible (e.g marshmallows, hot dog sausages), light foods (e.g popcorn).  

6.    Reduce distractions

Distractions can increase the risk as then they aren’t able to concentrate fully on what they should be doing with the food in their mouth.

7.    Be mindful of the situations they are eating in

Whether it is a snack or a meal, having a safe environment is key. For example, eating in the back seat of the car. If no one is in the back with them there isn’t that direct supervision, so you may not notice or hear they are choking. It also takes a lot of time to pull over and get them out of the car to be able to help them out with choking relief techniques. And time is not what we have a lot of in these situations.

8.    Take your time

It is best to introduce solids when you’re both feeling relaxed and not in a rush. This can make everyone involved more anxious.

9.    Role model safe eating behaviours

Children under 5 are the highest risk age group so teaching them from the beginning helps to encourage them to follow safe eating rules as they get older as well. Eat with them and show you sitting down, show how you pick up your food and how you chew it before swallowing. Children are great at copying us!

10. Knowledge is power

Most importantly, all parents should be up to date with first aid for choking and CPR for children in case the situation arises. At a first aid session with Little Beat you will learn how to recognise choking vs gagging, prevention, and what to do if it happens. If you don’t know, enquire now to be prepared.

If your child is choking call 111 and commence choking first aid. 5 back blows followed by 5 chest thrusts. Continuing with those two things until the airway is cleared. If they become unconscious then start CPR.

For more information on baby and child CPR and first aid education by Little Beat, visit www.littlebeat.co.nz or check them out on Instagram.