Top 10 Food Choking Hazards for Babies & Toddlers

Children younger than 4 years old are at the highest risk of choking, since they haven’t quite mastered chewing. But, do you know which foods to avoid feeding your toddler or how to identify unsafe foods for babies? Pediatrician Catie Sandberg, DO, UnityPoint Health, identifies 10 foods not to give your little one and explains why they are unsafe for your child.Foods to Avoid Feeding Babies“Typically, infants may be ready for some foods, such as purees, which require no true chewing, once they have good head control and can sit well while assisted,” Dr. Sandberg says.An infant is developmentally able to suck and swallow and is equipped with involuntary refluxes, including gagging and coughing, to help protect against breathing food into his/her airways. Dr. Sandberg says children do have to learn how to chew effectively. This might make parents and guardians hesitant about taking the step toward foods with more substance, like table foods. Dr. Sandberg says the concern is understandabl...