Need Some Reassurance After 16 Month Old Choked!

I have found that even though something is chopped up into pea sized pieces...that it can still be choke-able, if it is something 'hard'...(ie: like apples or raw carrots) AND anything that is sticky/chewy/gummy... like some breakfast bars, pancakes, chewy fresh baked breads, etc.

Don't feel bad, really, it was an accident, and I"m sure almost all Moms here have had scares like this. I know I have.

And personally speaking, when I was in middle school, I choked on a hard candy... while IN class. NO ONE knew or saw me gasping or that I was in trouble. With the very last iota of air I had left in my lungs, I forced it out as best I could and it shot out of my mouth. Literally. I learned from this, that "suffocation" or asphyxiating is a "silent" event. No one can hear you.
-Not to scare you but just a head's up.

But basically, ANYTHING can be choked on, even by adults. So don't feel you were negligent or ignorant. You are a caring loving Mom whose daughter and you had a scare.

Hugs,
Susan

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At 22 months, your baby is actually very smart. I am sure this shook her up just as much as it did you. I am certain she heard you say the word choke and she knows how to associate the word choke with the horrible thing that happened. I would just always remind her to chew her food up real good so she doesn't choke. She will do it.

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my daughter has choked a few times and yes its scary. feed her anything and everything. my daughter choked on a grape but that doesnt make me stop giving them to her (she loves them). i agree to continue to feed her solids. you dont want her to regress to baby foods (plus she may not eat baby food again). this was an accident and its probably not going to be the only time it will happen (not to scare you but to be realistic). dont be scared to feed her again please please. good luck!

Good advices, mmm heimlich on 16month, well, I'm glad she's alright. Asking quesions helps, as you are doing. Sometimes, situations may happen and never happen again, as it did with my son, as well. For my own reassurance, I learned more about First Aid and CPR and kept it up. As children will be active in their play and they will get excited. In time, you will pass your knowledge onto your child on keeping safe as well. It was a scary experience, and your a loving mom for that. Take care.

Oh my gosh...you poor thing! That was one of the scariest things that will ever happen in your life.

The probability of your daughter choking again is slim to none.

I speak from years of experience as a police and fire dispatcher and handled literally thousands of calls over the years. In all my years experience, there were fewer than 10 calls for people actually choking.

It sounds like your daughter was startled when the nurse called her name, and that may have interrupted her normal chewing, swallowing, breathing functions.

Your daughter is lucky to have such a caring, cautious mom.

I would like to suggest two things: try to get over your fear about what happened because your daughter will "feel your fear" . Remember that she is ok.

The other thing is to make sure your daughter sits down to eat because it is a choking hazard for toddlers to snack while walking.

Be kind to yourself. We, as moms, are limited as to how much we can protect our children and it sounds like you are diligent, careful and caring.

I wish you many blessings,
R.

On the upside: Perfect place to have that happen!

I'm surprised though, that the nurse preformed the Heimlich on her though...usually with small children...you turn them upside-down and strike between their shoulderblades. The upside down part is key...otherwise it just lodges the food further down the airway...which is why we don't do it with adults!

Anyhow...back to request at hand...we avoided anything hard, or non-dissolvable, or naturally round (like grapes). Cheerios are great both because of the hole, and the fact that they dissolve...if they get sucked down an airway they don't block it and then it turns into mush and gets coughed up or absorbs.

We did a LOT of mushy foods..peaches, banannas, ground meats (hamburger, salisbury steak, chicken patties, etc. that are then kind of shredded), dimsum, sushi, soups with the soup part poured off into a sippy and the solids in a bowl, noodles, overcooked veggies, cottage cheese, applesauce (try mixing applesauce and cottage cheese together! Looks terrible, but sooo yummy), goat cheese, yogurts, things you dip pitas into like middle eastern & greek and indian hummus/babaganoosh/curries, broiled fish in flakes, macaroni and cheese, scrambled eggs, etc.

Hotdogs are borderline. One great trick with hotdogs, btw, that I learned after the fact (darnit!) was to slice them in half the LONG way, then slice them AGAIN (so you've got quarters) and then to cut the four pieces in half. That way they can nibble on them...but they're not going to block their trachea if they inhale.

Things we avoided: Anything that has to (theoretically) be chewed. Pretty much...if I can swallow it comfortably without chewing it, they can. Yuck! Swallow a grape whole? Eeeew. So you can use that as a test...cut something 4x bigger then you've cut it for her and try to swallow it without chewing. Does it get stuck? Does it feel icky? Then it's probably time to wait a few more months. Or make it wetter and or even smaller. ALSO...leave some things cut big for them to gum on (pitas and dips come to mind).

Anyhow...this is more ideas of what to do, rather then what not to do...but I hope it helps.

Choking happens. In our huge immediate family (over 40 adult type people on Thanksgiving), someone chokes about once every 5 years...and the kids more frequently. We've got a lot of doctors and nurses in the fam though, so it's never thought of as much of a big deal...especially with children. Adults you DO have to Heimlich but kids are so easy, just flip them upside down and whack. Just be careful where you aim.

:) R

Grapes, hot dogs cut in circles, nuts, carrots cut in circles, and popcorn are the standard answers of foods to avoid. i would wait until she is two for those foods, and I would still cut the grapes in half. Oh, and don't ever allow peanut butter by the spoonful - it needs to be on a cracker or something because the peanut butter itself will not come up in Heimlich - it needs to be attached to something. And gum of course. Wait until she knows not to swallow it. I wouldn't worry too much about what the Dr. says. If you feel your child can't handle certain foods, don't give them, or puree them. I have a 30 month old that still uses babyfood jars because she often chokes and vomits small crackers, and does not chew table foods well. (She is being treated for her conditions.) I puree whatever we are eating to about the size of a grain of rice and let her try it. But if she can't get it down or begins to gag, I revert to baby food. Some children tolerate table foods just fine, but you know your child best. 16 months seems awfully young to me to be worried about having her eat everything you eat. Follow your own instincts. Good luck.

Hi A., I totally understand your fear, she probably had to much in her mouth, and the sight of her pediatrician, might have scared he a little and that's why she inhaled, cheeires are fine, when my kids were her age I pelled the apples, I didn't start leaving the peeling on until they were 2, things like hot dogs, popcorn, hard candies, those you want to avoid at 16 months, if you do give her hot dog, tak the skin off fist and then cut in very small pieces, what we have to remember as parents, it's not always the size or hardness off the food, but also how much is going in the mouth at one time, with some kids, the smaller something is the more they put in their mouth at one time. I know some mom's think that putting a child in the high chair with cherrios or some other snack is the time to go get some house work done, that's not the time, children need to be monitoured while eating. I always told my baby's/toddlers one bite at a time, also another thing I have seen is parents playing with their baby's/toddlers while in the high chair, making a child laugh during meal time is not the right time, sure ingredeints for choking. Hope this helps. J. L.

This is very scary. When my daughter was about 18 months old she choked on a peanut. What was i thinking Peanuts. She instantly started to vomit. Come to find out the peanut was in her lung. her pediatrician had her taken to loma linda right away. they preformed a broncoscopy. sorry about the spelling. they gave her a 50% chance of living. if they left it in the lung she would develope anumonia. and she had 0% chance of living. She is now 15 years old and fine. But what a scare! i put her back on babyfood. Just do what you feel is right. there are lots of soft foods out there with lots of nutrician. it wont be long until your more comfortable giving regular food. Take it as a learning experiance. God only gives you what u can handle.
good luck

I raised my five and six grandchildren. Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I really don't care for apples it seems to be one they easily choke and nuts.
All I can see is take it slow one day at a time and just watch her closely. You sound like a loving and caring mom and it's okay to be scared first time around. I advice all my friends and anyone that ask for advice. If you are that scared make sure you and your husband take CPR class. It can make a difference not only for yourself but your family. It's always good to new what to do in an emergency.

Good luck and God Bless you and your family

No grapes! until she is three... get into a child cpr class. You will feel much better if you know you can save her...
Good luck
R.

No hot dogs (#1 things small children choke on!) or chips.

I think that the best course is to go back to what you were doing before. If you get too panicky then your discomfort and nervousness is going to transfer to your daughter. I agree that that was a nerve-racking experience and that you're shaken up, but don't let that get you scared of doing normal things like eating. There is a small mesh bag with a handle that is made for safely introducing solids. Maybe you could get one of those so that your daughter can continue to make the transition to solids in a safer way.

Take a breath! There are going to be many a heart stoppers for you to come!Take a CPR course, then you will have first hand knowledge of what needs to be done i.e. when she dumps your hot coffee on her,breaks her arm falling off a bike or what ever else will come in her life. It is VERY scary when this happens, but if you worry too much you will put your fears on her and then have even bigger worries later! relax mom, your doing GREAT! There is a wonder of world to explore out there with your little one, don't let this stop you.

Hi A.. I have a two year old and when she was about 10 months old she choked on small cooked noodles. I thought that since they were small she wouldn't have a problem, but I was wrong. Luckily she was able to clear it from her throat. Other than the small noodles my daughter has had no problem with all the other food I give her.

Dear A.,
I can only imagine how freaked out you must feel! Thank goodness it happened at the pedi office! When my girls were babies I made sure I became CPR certified for my own peace of mind. Every so often I review my manuel to reassure myself that I can handle a choking incident or provide CPR on my children if necessary. I think you can contact a local fire station to find out where classes are provided or go through Red Cross. I took my class through my school district since I am a teacher. I am so sorry you had to go through that.
Love,
J.

You got some great advice. but at 16 months she probably doesn't have to many back teeth to actually chew. front teeth are for biting back teeth are for chewing. with apples being so tiny how can she chew them? I actually waited awhile to give apples but when I did I cut them thin instead of small. So if you cut them thin like a potatoe chip she will be able to bite and chew them much easier. even with out any teetch she can chew on thin sliced apples. and don't let this one get you down to much there will be plenty more accidnets to come no matter how careful you are.