Allergies: introduce carefully
Introduce one new allergen at a time, in the morning, in a tiny amount, and watch for two hours. Rash, swelling, vomiting, wheezing or trouble breathing means stop and call your doctor or emergency number. Check anything allergy-specific with a paediatrician before you start. The AAP confirms growing evidence for early peanut introduction: for most babies, infant-safe peanut around 6 months once other solids are tolerated; for high-risk infants with severe eczema or egg allergy, testing and introduction under a provider at 4 to 6 months. Eight foods cause about 90 percent of allergies: cow milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybean. AAP: early peanut introduction
Choking: shape matters more than size
Round, firm foods are the risk: whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, whole nuts, raw carrot coins, sausages cut into rounds, popcorn, hard sweets. Quarter grapes and tomatoes lengthwise, grate or cook hard vegetables soft, spread nut butter thin instead of spoonfuls, and keep whole nuts away until age four at least. The CDC names the exact shapes to fear: uncut grapes, berries, cherries and melon balls; uncut cherry and grape tomatoes; hard raw vegetables and fruit such as raw carrots and apples; whole nuts and seeds; spoonfuls of nut butter; tough meat chunks; hot dogs and sausages; large chunks of cheese, especially string cheese; popcorn, pretzels and chips; hard candy, gummies, gum and marshmallows. CDC: choking hazards
Three table rules
Seated eating, always. No eating while running, laughing with a full mouth, or lying down. An adult in sight for the whole meal, especially under four. The AAP adds: insist children sit at the table and never run, walk, play or lie down with food in the mouth, and keep high-risk foods away until age 4 or older. Choking is a leading cause of death for infants and children, most who die are under 5, and 4 minutes without oxygen can cause brain damage. Learn infant first aid from the Red Cross or American Heart Association before you need it. AAP: choking prevention
Further reading
On this shelf
- 10 Ingredients, 30 Meals: the full book
- What to do when your child eats four foods
- One shopping list. Dinner for a month.
- Questions about the ebook? Contact us
From paediatricians
- AAP: Choking prevention for babies and children
- CDC: Choking hazards
- AAP: Early introduction of peanut to prevent allergies
lib/catalog.ts: book section 06 Safety pages, authorBio safety note, FAQ on medical advice, whatsInside. Online: AAP Choking Prevention and Early Peanut Introduction (healthychildren.org); CDC Choking Hazards (cdc.gov).