Some shapes are easy to choke on
Whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, hard raw carrot, and big chunks of meat need extra care at this age. Round, hard, and sticky foods are the ones to rethink.
Sit with them
Sit with them while they eat. If you are unsure a food is right for their chewing, leave it off the plate and ask your child’s doctor.
This page cannot clear a food. When you are unsure, leave it off.
Everyday swaps
Soft fruit instead of whole grapes. Cooked carrot instead of a raw stick. A familiar soft food instead of a handful of nuts.
Excitement makes chewing sloppier. A party and a park are the places to be stricter, not looser.
If something goes wrong
If they are choking, that is an emergency, not a mealtime tip. Know how to get help where you live.
A cough that keeps happening with a texture is a reason to stop that texture and talk to your child’s doctor.
A sentence you can say
“We’ll skip the hard round ones.”