When did you stop cutting cherries for your kids?

[Anonymous]

4 almost 5 year old choked on a pit last week. Was terrifying - he was frantically clawing at his mouth and couldn't make a single sound. So, I'm back to cutting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cutting spherical, airway-sized food for a 2 year old is not helicoptering. It's a recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics based on the large number of preventable, and sometimes fatal, choking episodes in this age group.

+1 same goes for grapes, etc.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 almost 5 year old choked on a pit last week. Was terrifying - he was frantically clawing at his mouth and couldn't make a single sound. So, I'm back to cutting them.

Ugh, this is so terrifying. Sorry, PP, glad everything's okay.

[Anonymous]

I am sleep deprived and read the subject as cutting Cheerios. I thought oh my god do people do that? Should I be doing it? How do you keep from crushing them? Sigh. Maybe my twins will sleep soon so I can too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend made fun of me for cutting them for my 2.5 year old . I'm wondering if I'm helicoptering.

At 2.5 years old, I don't think that's helicoptering. My DD is almost that age and I cut them to take the pits out. At some point I will stop, but I'm not sure when. Maybe 3. That seems to be the magical number when toy manufacturers stop worrying about choking hazards. Certainly by 4, I'll stop.

I get that you can choke at any age -- even older kids, even adults. There's always a risk. But I do think that at some age it's best to let your child learn to safely eat a cherry rather than always preparing everything for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sleep deprived and read the subject as cutting Cheerios. I thought oh my god do people do that? Should I be doing it? How do you keep from crushing them? Sigh. Maybe my twins will sleep soon so I can too.

I read it as cheerios at first too!

[Anonymous]

I still cut grapes for my 3.5yo. Have heard too many awful stories. He doesn't like cherries but I think I'd cut them too, easy enough.

[Anonymous]

You're fine, OP. I still cut them at times for my 5 year old when he requests it. Much cleaner than him eating the cherry like an apple and getting juice all over everything!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend made fun of me for cutting them for my 2.5 year old . I'm wondering if I'm helicoptering.

At 2.5 years old, I don't think that's helicoptering. My DD is almost that age and I cut them to take the pits out. At some point I will stop, but I'm not sure when. Maybe 3. That seems to be the magical number when toy manufacturers stop worrying about choking hazards. Certainly by 4, I'll stop.

I get that you can choke at any age -- even older kids, even adults. There's always a risk. But I do think that at some age it's best to let your child learn to safely eat a cherry rather than always preparing everything for your kids.

The magic age of 3 is because that's when kids stop putting no food items in their mouth. It doesn't apply to food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend made fun of me for cutting them for my 2.5 year old . I'm wondering if I'm helicoptering.

You are not helicoptering. Do you know how many children choke on foods such as grapes, hotdogs, cherries etc a year? Keep cutting, ignore your friend.

+1

[Anonymous]

This thread is awesome yet makes me feel ridiculous. My kid is 7 and I still cut them. Frankly, he won't eat them unless I do -- too hard / messy otherwise

[Anonymous]

I don't usually buy cherries, but I definitely cut grapes for my 2.5yo. If we're on the go and I can't cut them, I literally bite half of each one before giving them to him. Tasty!

I'm a pretty relaxed mom, but the idea of my son choking really terrifies me.