Choking is usually caused by foods , toys and other small objects that can easily lodge in a child’s small airways. It takes sometime for infants to master chewing and swallowing food. They may also not be able to cough forceful enough to dislodge an air obstruction. You should also known that as babies explore their environment, they usually put things in their mouth which can easily lead to choking.

Some medical conditions increase your child’s  risk of swallowing . These include swallowing disorders such as neuromuscular disorders, developmental delays and traumatic brain injury.

Choking hazard items

Keep these items away from babies and infants to reduce  the risk of choking

• buttons
• coins
• toys with small parts
• pen and marker caps
• small balls and marbles
• toys that can fit entirely into the child’s mouth
• small button -type batteries
• balloons
• small hair bows and  and rubber bands
• pieces of dog food
• refrigerator magnets

Choking foods hazards

Some foods can cause choking infants . These include :

• grapes
• hot dogs
• peanuts
• raw carrots

Cut these foods up into pieces no larger than one-half inch. You have to encourage the child to chew. You have to supervise feedings  and insist that the child sits down while eating. Children should not run, walk, play or lie down with foods in their mouths. Monitor the actions  of your older kids. Most of these accidents are caused by older kids giving a dangerous toys  or foods  to younger ones.

Keep the following food away from infants younger than 4 years old

• nuts and seeds
• hot dogs
• whole grapes
• hard or sticky candy
• popcorn
• chunks of peanut butter
• chunks of meat or cheese
• chewing gum
• chunks of raw vegetables

What should i do if my baby chokes

If your baby is choking, do not use a finger sweep. This could lodge the particle further down in the airways. Instead you have to hold your baby down on one of your forearms. The baby’s head should be lower than the rest of his body. Using the heel of your other hand, thump your baby firmly on the middle of the back . The gravity and the  force from your hand will help dislodge the item that is blocking the airways. Call 911 if you are concerned about your baby’s breathing.

It is important to take cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) classes and choking first aid for your children.