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5 Choking Prevention Tips

5 Choking Prevention Tips

We’ve got five choking prevention tips for your little one—plus, foods to avoid for a safe and happy mealtime.

Medically reviewed by a board-certified pediatrician

Your toddler can eat lots of grown-up foods now. Hooray! But they haven’t mastered chewing quite yet. This means there are a lot of foods out there that pose choking risks. We’ve got five toddler choking prevention tips, plus a list of foods to avoid.

5 tips to prevent toddler choking

  1. Stay on top of your child's chewing and swallowing abilities.
  2. Provide utensils so your little one can learn to use a child-size spoon and fork—and slow down mealtime a bit.
  3. Keep an eye on your toddler while they eat.
  4. Make sure they sit upright while eating. Your child should never eat while lying down or running.
  5. Cut their food into bite-size pieces and be aware of foods that are difficult to eat.

Foods to avoid due to choking hazard

These foods are cylindrical in shape making it easy to choke on or are very sticky and difficult to swallow. Some examples include:

  • Grapes. Cut whole grapes into four pieces. It’s best for babies to eat grapes without the skin if possible.
  • Candy, popcorn, and nuts. These hard foods are difficult for your little one to chew and can pose choking risks.
  • Taffy or gum. These should be avoided since they can mold to your child’s throat and block their airway.
  • Raw carrots. Cook or mash carrots.
  • Hot dogs. Cut these lengthwise, into narrow pieces.
  • Peanut butter. Spread it thinly and use smooth instead of chunky.

It’s exciting now that your little one can enjoy a variety of new foods, just make sure to keep an eye on them so that they’re able to try new flavors without the danger. If you feel unsure about the food you’re serving, refer back to our toddler choking prevention list for a refresher or consult your pediatrician.

All information on Enfamil, including but not limited to information about health, medical conditions, and nutrition, is intended for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for a healthcare professional's medical identification, advice, or management for specific medical conditions. You should seek medical care and consult your doctor or pediatrician for any specific health or nutrition issues. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment, care, or help because of information you have read on Enfamil.