Preventing problems with choking

Young children (or older children with delayed feeding skills) are at an increased risk for choking on foods. For children 4 years and younger, the following should be avoided:

• hot dogs
• grapes
• raw vegetables
• popcorn
• nuts
• other round, hard foods that do not readily dissolve
• peanut butter

In addition, some feeding practices increase a child’s risk for choking and should be avoided:

• “stuffing” too much food in mouth
• running while eating
• eating in the car