Parents of babies are often understandably concerned that their infants will chew off and swallow a piece of a toy while playing – and choke or suffocate. Infants and children are regularly treated in emergency rooms nationwide for airway obstruction from swallowing toy parts. The most common toy that leads to choking or infant suffocation is balloons. But there’s an even greater threat when it comes to infant suffocation – choking on nuts.

Choking on Nuts: A Risk for Infant Suffocation

In a study done by The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and published on Food Navigator, researchers found that the health risk of infants choking on nuts was far greater than the risk of a swallowing a piece of a toy. They point out that because of the shape of nuts, they can easily lodge in the deeper portions of the airways – causing an obstruction that could lead to infant suffocation. In fact, the dangers of infants choking on nuts is so great, that experts are pushing for labeling on packages of nuts – warning of the potential risks to babies.

The Dangers of Infants Choking: Other Risks

Although choking on nuts is a serious threat to infants, other foods also pose choking hazards and increase the risk of infant suffocation. Some foods that infants shouldn’t have are popcorn, seeds of any type, hard candy, sticky candy, hot dogs, steak, potato chips, pretzels, certain fruits, gum, and nut butters. These foods pose less of a threat to older children and adults because they have airways that are less narrow – so there’s less chance of obstruction. When an infant’s air passage is obstructed, it can cause the airway to collapse, and – if the piece of food is large enough – infant suffocation.

How to Prevent Infant Suffocation and Choking

As a general rule, it’s not safe to give children under the age of five nuts since they can take a deep breath and suck a nut into their lungs – causing an obstruction. Likewise, it’s important to avoid other foods that pose a choking hazard in children under the age of five. Always cook an infant’s food so that it’s soft and cut it into tiny pieces that won’t pose a choking threat. Never leave an infant unattended while eating and limit any distractions that could increase the risk of infant suffocation or choking. Know how to recognize and perform emergency treatment if your child should choke. It could save his life.

Filed under: Fitness

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