Everyone knows about grapes and hot dogs. Cut them lengthwise, not in circles. Got it. But there are choking hazards in your kitchen that don't get talked about nearly enough.
Here are 10 you should know about.
1. Refrigerator Magnets
Those cute alphabet magnets? They're the perfect size to choke on, and they're right at toddler height. Worse, if a child swallows multiple magnets, they can attract through intestinal walls and cause serious internal damage.
2. Twist Ties and Bread Tags
They fall off bags, end up on the counter, and eventually make it to the floor. Tiny, colorful, and interesting to a baby. Pick them up immediately.
3. Raw Carrots
Cooked carrots are fine for babies. Raw ones? They're hard, cylindrical, and exactly the shape that gets stuck in small airways. Don't give raw carrots to kids under 4.
4. Popcorn
It's not just a choking risk because of the kernels. The popped pieces break into weird shapes that can block airways. The American Academy of Pediatrics says no popcorn before age 4.
5. Cherry Tomatoes
Same problem as grapes. Round, smooth, and the perfect size to seal off a toddler's airway. Cut them in quarters.
6. Peanut Butter Spoonfuls
A big glob of peanut butter can stick to the roof of a child's mouth or throat and block breathing. Spread it thin on bread or crackers instead of giving it straight from the spoon.
7. Dried Fruit
Raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots - they're sticky, chewy, and hard for little kids to manage. They clump together and create a choking risk that parents rarely think about.
8. Corn Kernels
Individual corn kernels are small, hard, and easy to inhale. Cream-style corn or corn cut off the cob is much safer for toddlers.
9. Chunks of Cheese
Hard cheese cubes are a classic choking hazard. Shred cheese or cut it into thin strips for little ones. String cheese pulled apart works great too.
10. Pen Caps and Junk Drawer Items
Okay, this isn't food, but kitchens have junk drawers. And junk drawers have batteries, rubber bands, paper clips, and pen caps. All of these end up on the floor eventually, and all of these can choke a baby.
What to Do
Keep a list of age-appropriate foods on your fridge. When in doubt, cut food smaller than you think necessary. And do a floor sweep in the kitchen every single day. Babies are basically tiny vacuum cleaners with hands.