Choking in Children: Care Instructions

Young children can easily choke on everyday objects and food. You can help prevent your child from choking by offering the right kinds of foods, teaching your child safe eating habits, and keeping an eye out for choking hazards, such as small toys, batteries, or magnets.

• Know how to select and prepare foods. For example, choose soft foods that can be cut up into small pieces, such as cooked carrots. Avoid round, firm foods such as hot dogs, grapes, nuts, popcorn, and raisins.
• Teach your child to eat only in the kitchen or dining room. Be sure your child sits down while eating and that they chew carefully. Do not allow your child to eat while walking, running, playing, or riding in a car.
• Do not allow young children to chew gum or eat hard candy.
• Know what things a child is likely to choke on. Examples are marbles, coins, or toys with small parts that can come off.
  • Test small objects by passing them through a toilet-paper tube. If small objects fit inside, they could become lodged in the throat of a young child.
  • The safest toys for small children are at least 1.25 in. (3 cm) around or 2.25 in. (6 cm) in length.
• Never leave rubber bands, deflated balloons, or plastic bags around the house where children can reach them.
• Learn to recognize the signs of choking so you can react quickly. For example, a child who is choking can't talk, cry, breathe, or cough.