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A few months after being born, since babies are able to grab things on their own now, they develop a tendency of putting things inside their mouth. This habit, known as ‘mouthing’ is a part of the baby’s developmental process and is nothing unnatural (1). However, when this phase starts, parents have to become more careful as babies can choke on the things they put in their mouths. Since they have no idea what should they swallow and what not, they often try to swallow anything that fits in their mouths. This may lead to choking hazard and if not attended immediately, more unfortunate consequences can occur. Read on to know what are some of the most common and uncommon choking hazards that you need to keep your baby safe from.
1. Batteries
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A very common thing to lie around in the house, batteries can become a choking hazard if your baby puts them in their mouth and tries to swallow. The pencil batteries and the ones smaller than them are quite easy to grab and a child will be naturally drawn towards them. If you are letting your kid play with toys that run on batteries, always make sure to keep an eye on them. You should not let them alone with anything containing batteries because it is a very common choking hazard that can lead to severe consequences.
2. Magnets
Fridge magnets are one of the most common things that kids put into their mouths. As your child is growing up and gradually learning to sit up and then walk, make sure to put the magnets well above their reach. If they manage to swallow one to two, that would not only result in a choking accident but also will cause other bodily damages.
3. Coins
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Another very common item that attracts babies is coins. Children love to play with coins because of the sound they make and also because of their shape and size, they fit easily in their little palms. However, since coins generally fit inside a baby’s mouth and can be swallowed as well, it is better to not leave a baby with coins alone. If your child is playing with coins, make sure you are present there to avoid any unfortunate accident.
4. Laundry Pods
Another unassuming yet dangerous object is laundry pods. A lot of kids try to swallow these pods and end up choking on them. Even biting the pods might have adverse health effects. Make sure to keep your kids away from these as they look very tempting to them for trying out.
5. Latex Balloons
A very fun thing to play with, these balloons cause trouble when they burst. The small pieces of the balloon can be picked up by your child and swallowed. The material will of course get stuck in their throat and cause choking. Therefore, make sure you are present there if a balloon bursts to stop your kid from putting the pieces in their mouth.
6. Water Bottle Caps
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Water bottles are an integral part of a child’s life. However, a water bottle with a small cap might cause choking trouble if you are not careful. Since some of the bottle caps are small in size and easily graspable, your child might try to put one in their mouth and swallow. To make sure no such thing happens, be present all the time when there’s a bottle lying near them. You can also choose to get rid of bottles with small caps and shift to the ones that have caps that cannot fit inside the mouth.
7. Grapes
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Certain food items can cause real choking hazards and grapes is one of them. While you might introduce it to your baby’s diet when the time is right, make sure to not let them put the whole grape inside their mouth. You should cut the grape in half and let them eat it. With a whole grape in their mouth, a baby can try to swallow it, resulting in choking. It is therefore better to cut the grape in half or smaller parts and then give it to the baby to eat.
8. Crayons, Pens And Pencils
It is natural to start bringing stationary supplies as your kid is growing up. However, you need to be extra careful with these because babies have a tendency to put these in their mouths. The colorful crayons appeal to them greatly and they might just want to taste or swallow it. Make sure you do not leave your child with pens, pencils, or crayons alone as that might lead to a severe choking accident.
The mouthing phase is difficult and requires extra vigilance from parents. You need to make sure that you are not leaving your child alone with anything that can be grabbed and put into their mouth by them. Even after being extremely careful, accidents can happen and in that case, rushing to the emergency room is the best option. Do you think there are other choking hazards that you can add to the list? Let us know in the comments section!
