A DOCTOR has warned against the top five foods you should never give to toddlers due to risk of choking.
Dr Niamh Lynch is a paediatrician from Cork and warned followers about the dangers of hard and round foods.
Posting to her Instagram page, @dr_niamh_lynch posted a photo of an endo tracheal tube next to a small chocolate sweet.
Dr Lynch explained the size of the tube pictured is used for children aged two to four, and if the chocolate pictured beside it went down it, a toddler’s airway would be blocked.
Lynch said: “The size in this picture is what we use for children aged two to four.
“We use it to incubate children and provide ventilation. It fits very snugly in the windpipe.
“Next to the tube is a round, chocolate sweet. As you can see, it is wider than the airway tube.
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“If it went down the wrong way, the toddler’s irway would be blocked completely.”
Doctor Lynch went on to list five foods that should never be given to toddlers. These are hard sweets (including mini chocolate eggs), popcorn, marshmallows, nuts and chewing gum.
And while many parents believe foods like raw carrots are health, Dr Lynch warned they also pose a risk.
Sausages and frankfurters are also dangerous on account of the skin and should be cut lengthwise rather than into coin-shaped pieces.
Dr Lynch added: “Always cut grapes and cherry tomatoes into quarters.
“Remove skin from sausages and frankfurters, cut lengthways into small pieces.
FORBIDDEN FOODS
“Take great care with hard foods like apples. Raw carrots can be extremely dangerous. Grate, don’t cut.”
She also urged parents to ensure kids pay attention to their food when they eat rather than watching television.
She said: “Toddlers should eat sitting down, with no distractions”.
She also advised followers to see the HSE website for more information.
Dr Lynch has previously warned over Covid symptoms in babies and small children.
