Choking and Strangulation Prevention Tips

Make Meals Fun and Safe

Cut food for toddlers into tiny pieces. Children under 5 should not eat small, round or hard foods, including pieces of hot dogs, cheese sticks or chunks, hard candy, nuts, grapes, marshmallows or popcorn.
Remember to have young kids eat in a high chair or at the table, not while lying down or playing. It is important to supervise your babies when they are eating or playing.

See the world from a child's point of view. Get on the floor on your hands and knees so that you are at your child's eye level. Look for and remove small items.
Keep small objects such as buttons, beads, jewelry, pins, nails, marbles, coins, stones and tacks out of reach and sight.

Keep small magnets away from children. These include magnets found in construction sets, children's toys or stress-relieving adult desk toys; refrigerator magnets; and rare-earth magnets such as Buckyballs.
Inspect games or toys that include magnets. Inspect children's play areas regularly for missing or dislodged magnets as well.
Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that magnets have been swallowed. Look for abdominal symptoms, such as pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Note that in X-rays, multiple magnetic pieces may appear as a single object.

Keep cords and strings, including those attached to window blinds, out of your child's reach. Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords.
If you live in a home where you are not allowed to replace your window coverings, follow basic window cord safety rules and order free retrofit kits from the Window Covering Safety Council at www.windowcoverings.org.

Remove necklaces, purses, scarves, helmets or clothing with drawstrings when children are playing or sleeping.
Don't tie strings or ribbons to a pacifier or toy. Remember that jewelry can be dangerous around your baby. Remove bibs before bedtime or nap time.

Consider your child's age and development when purchasing toys or games. It's worth a second to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure it's just right for your child.
Before you've settled on the perfect toy, check to make sure there aren't any small parts or other potential choking hazards.
When cleaning up, avoid toy chests that have no lids or safety hinges, as these could pose hazards to your child.

Sign up with Safe Kids to receive monthly e-mail alerts for recent recalls specific to children.
Bookmark www.recalls.gov for additional information about important product recalls for your family.