Choking - San Leandro,CA

T.,

I suggest you and your wife take an infant and child CPR class ASAP. They usually offer them at the hospitals and local recreation centers. Don't wait to do it-- the information could save your child's life!!!

Molly

You got good advice from the other moms, but I wanted to share this story:

I was with my three kids at a birthday party for my oldest son's friend. I let my youngest son who was 2 have a tootsie roll, I thought since it wasn't round and slippery it would be safe. Well it slipped down his throat anyway and got stuck, and I tried patting his back and leaning him forward and the usual things I would do when they began to choke a little. To no avail. This thing was stuck in his throat and I could see he couldn't breathe. So I very usefully began to panic and get weak in the knees and feel faint, and started screaming for help. One of the grandmas at the party picked up my son by the heels and shook him upside down, and when that didn't work she shoved her long-nailed (not stubby and bitten, like mine) fingers down his throat. While I know that is exactly what you are NOT supposed to do when someone is choking, she actually managed to retrieve the tootsie roll. To this day I sometimes think of that and silently thank that granny for saving my kid's life.

No advice in that story, except maybe when you take the CPR class, practice occasionally so you don't just panic if something happens. Also don't give your kid tootsie rolls till she's a lot older.

Not to make light of choking AT ALL, but something to keep in mind. When my first boy was learning to eat solids one thing I remember my Doctor telling me was not to freak out because he would choke/gag a little as he is learning to eat. He had to learn how to chew, push the food back into his throat, swallow etc. I didnt like this advice one bit. Sure enough, BOTH my boys went through a phase where they would gag a bit even just on Gerber puffs or semisolids...and I freaked out. My Husband made me sit watch and wait before I did anything. Thank the Lord, nothing ever happened. I think learning infant/child CPR is a skill every parent should learn. Yet, I am one of many that hasnt. I guess I hope that if it does occur, someone near me will be that person, or have long fingernails like the grandma the other mamasource momma talked about:)

If your child is choking - trying to cough and not making any sound or struggling to breathe - gentlely invert them - head below feet. This should dislodge the food and they will spit it out. If you are really concerned, the American Red Cross offers Baby CPR classes that will also teach you what to do if they are choking