Baby Choking Hazards: When Can Babies Have Chips?

Whether you start with rice cereal, do traditional purees, make your own baby food, or try baby-led weaning, the road to starting solids can be a daunting task! There are many things to keep in mind, and oftentimes, parents will receive conflicting information from different doctors, friends, and articles online. No matter which route you choose when giving foods to your little one, there is always one major factor to keep in mind: choking.

When can babies have chips?

There's no set age when chips become safe, and they aren't a good snack for babies or toddlers. The CDC lists potato and corn chips, pretzels and popcorn among the foods to avoid for young children because they can cause choking. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says hard foods are a choking hazard for children under 4, and advises keeping high-risk foods away until about age 4, depending on your child's development.

Chips are salty, too. The AAP suggests serving salty snacks like chips and crackers less often, even once your child is a toddler.

When your child does start having chips, make sure they're sitting down and you're with them. For younger babies, pick snacks that are soft, easy to swallow and cut into small pieces, such as bits of banana or wafer-type crackers. Your pediatrician can help you decide what fits your child's stage.

Choking risk is highest for children under 4. Of course, those most at risk are infants and toddlers who haven’t yet mastered the art of biting, chewing, and swallowing. Most children don't have all of their baby teeth until about age 3. Chewing and grinding up food, learning to take bites that aren’t too big, and learning not to gag on food are all part of the process of learning to eat.

Gagging is not the same as choking. Gagging is loud, and it's a reflex that helps keep food out of your baby's airway. Choking is quiet, because the airway is blocked. Our guide to [what to do if your baby gags on solids](https://keababies.com/blogs/keamommies-blog/starting-solid-foods-what-to-do-if-baby-gags-on-solids) explains how to tell the two apart and when gagging is a concern.

The AAP recommends that parents and caregivers take a certified CPR and first aid course, where you can learn infant choking first aid hands-on. You can find classes through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

Here are the top foods to watch out for as your little one learns to eat:

1. Grapes.
   Whole grapes should be avoided completely until age 4. Because of their shape, they have the potential to become dangerously lodged in a child’s throat. Babies who are beginning to eat table food should have grapes sliced into quarters, lengthwise. Until about age 4, chop grapes completely into tiny pieces, no larger than half an inch.

2. Hot dogs.
   Like grapes, hot dogs are another round food that can block a child’s airway if it becomes lodged in the throat. A baby or toddler should never be given a whole hot dog to take bites of. Never slice hot dogs into round circles - instead, slice lengthwise down the middle and cut into smaller chunks. Although hot dogs are a typical “kid food,” they are one of the most dangerous if not served correctly.

3. Hard candy.
   Hard candies present a major choking hazard for little ones under 4. Many hard candies are round, perfectly sized to get trapped in a young child’s airway. Excess sugar should be avoided for little ones too!

4. Raw fruits and vegetables.
   Raw fruits and vegetables can become a choking hazard if a baby or toddler can’t bite and chew them into adequately small pieces. Uncooked carrots and apples are especially dangerous. Although older toddlers and preschoolers may enjoy munching on raw fruits and veggies, always supervise them when eating and never feed a child who is not seated and upright. If you want to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your child’s diet, consider pureeing them into pasta sauces, blending them in smoothies, or baking them into muffins.

5. Nuts and seeds.
   Babies, toddlers, and young children should not be given raw whole nuts and seeds. Nuts like almonds, cashews, and peanuts are hard to chew and have sharp edges. If you want to incorporate nuts and seeds into your child’s diet, opt for a sandwich using a nut or seed butter and jelly.

6. Popcorn.
   Popcorn can be tricky to chew and swallow, and the unpopped kernels are especially worrisome. Popcorn presents an aspiration risk as well. Although popcorn is a fun treat food, hold off until at least age 4. There are plenty of safer alternatives out there nowadays! 

7. Chips, pretzels and other hard snacks.
   Potato and corn chips, pretzels, popcorn and crackers or breads with seeds or nut pieces are all on the CDC's list of choking hazards for babies and toddlers. Offer soft finger foods instead, and see "When can babies have chips?" above for more on timing.

8. Chunks of meat or cheese.
   Large chunks of meat or large chunks of cheese can be a choking hazard because they are often hard to chew. Use your discretion when it comes to offering your child meats. Cut into small, bite-sized pieces and opt for juicy, tender meat. Some cheeses can be hard to chew as well and never cut cheese (such as string cheese) into round pieces that can block a child’s airway. A great alternative is shredded cheese, which many babies and toddlers can pick up easily.

9. Sticky foods or nut butter.
   Avoid straight spoonful of nut butter like peanut butter, as they can be difficult for a baby or toddler to maneuver and swallow. If you serve nut butter, spread it thinly. Although it should go without saying, avoid gummy candy, taffy, and gum with little ones. They probably don’t need the extra processed sugar in their diet, anyway!

Choking hazards that aren't food

Food isn't the only risk. The AAP's list of household choking hazards includes:

• balloons, which stay a risk up to age 8
  
• coins and marbles
  
• small toy parts and small balls
  
• pen and marker caps
  
• button batteries and lithium coin batteries
  
• medicine syringes

Check under furniture and between couch cushions for small items, and follow the age labels on toys. Keep an eye on older siblings too, since they may hand a snack or a small toy to a younger child.

Button batteries need extra care. You'll find them in remotes, key fobs, thermometers, hearing aids, calculators and flameless candles. Store these out of reach and make sure battery compartments are secure. If you think your child has swallowed a button battery, take them to the emergency room or call 911 right away.

Choking can be a major fear for many parents when it comes to starting solids. However, if you know what foods to avoid, your little one should have a safe and enjoyable experience with beginning foods! Remember, always consult with your child’s pediatrician before starting solids of any kind. And don’t forget to grab a KeaBabies Bandana Bib to use during mealtime and snacktime!

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Parenting is awesome. Sleep is overrated. Every day is an adventure.