Although parents often remember common 'choke foods,' like hot dogs, peanuts, and hard candy, they forget that young kids can choke on uncut spaghetti.
Uncut spaghetti is a choke food
Photo (c) Michelle Milliman
In addition to uncut spaghetti, uncut hot dogs, peanuts, and hard or gooey candy, other common choke foods for infants and toddlers include:
- whole grapes
- popcorn
- nuts
- chunks of peanut butter (if your toddler isn't at risk for food allergies and you decide to give him peanut butter, spread smooth peanut butter thinly on bread or a cracker)
- chewing gum
- raisins
- raw vegetables
- chunks of meat
- chunks of cheese
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that all of the above foods are a choking hazard for kids under age four, unless it is chopped completely (which isn't practical or possible for some foods, like popcorn, nuts, or chewing gum).
