AS a parent, you probably have a “red flag” list of foods you know not to give your little one before a certain age.
It no doubt includes small, round or hard foods, like whole cherry tomatoes or grapes, marshmallows and jelly beans.
instagram/@tinyheartseducationNut butters can be a choking hazard for children, first aider Nikki Jurcutz warned[/caption]
instagram/@tinyheartseducationTheir thick consistency means they can plug an airway[/caption]
But an ex-paramedic has warned that nut butters are very much worth adding to this list.
A sticky spoonful of peanut butter could be just as – if not more – hazardous to your little one’s health, Nikki Jurcutz from Tiny Hearts Education warned.
The danger comes from the food’s claggy texture, the first aider explained in a recent post to the Instagram page.
“The consistency of nut butters can essentially make it a plug to the airway,” Nikki wrote.
“This makes it difficult to use any type of first aid to remove it,” she explained in an accompanying clip.
Using a small pipe as an artificial airway, Nikki demonstrated how the thickness and stickiness or peanut butter made it hard to dislodge.
That doesn’t mean you should forego giving your tot peanut butter altogether.
In fact, studies have suggested that it could be beneficial to give children nutty foods from a young age, from an allergy-prevention point of view.
UK researchers last year said that peanut allergies could plummet by 77 per cent if peanut products were added to all babies’ diets at four to six months of age.
But if there’s a history of food allergies or other allergies in your family, you should talk to your GP or health visitor before giving nuts and peanuts to your tot.
NHS guidance adds that: “Whole nuts and peanuts should not be given to children under five years old, as they can choke on them.
“You can give your baby nuts and peanuts from around 6 months old, as long as they’re crushed, ground or a smooth nut or peanut butter.”
To give your little one nut butter safely, “preparation and prevention is key”, Nikki said.
She showed how she prepares peanut butter for her own tot, diluting a spoonful of the stuff with water.
The ex-paramedic gave some additional tips for giving children nut butter.
Firstly, she advised you only give your child smooth peanut butter.
“Thin it down with either breast milk, formula or water,” Nikki went on.
“You can then mix this with other purees or other soft foods, or apply a thin layer onto toast.”
Nikki also approved of another method of thinning down peanut butter that was suggested in the comments, which involves mixing the sticky goop into yoghurt.
“I used to mix it with yogurt and use it as a dip for fruits he enjoyed,” one commenter shared about their tot.
When can I give undiluted nut butter to my kid?
Parents responding to the post where quick to ask at what age peanut and other claggy nut butter are no longer risky for children to eat.
Nikki responded: “There’s no “set age” that choking risks stop being a risk.
“Even adults have choked on things before, but the risk does go down when your child has a mature and developed chew and swallow technique.
Signs your child is choking and what to do
IF your child chokes, try not to panic or freeze.
According to St John Ambulance, if your little one is choking they may:
have difficulty breathing, speaking or coughing
have a red puffy face
show signs of distress and they may point to their throat or grasp their neck
The NHS says if the child is coughing, encourage them to continue as they may be able to bring the object up. Don’t leave them alone while this is happening.
But if their coughing is silent, they can’t breathe properly or they don’t bring anything up, get help immediately.
Use back blows on your tot if they’re still conscious.
First aiders at St John Ambulance give the following advice based on the child’s age.
Baby
Slap it out:
Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head
Give five back blows between their shoulder blades
Turn them over and check their mouth each time
2. Squeeze it out:
Turn the baby over, face upwards, supported along your thigh
Put two fingers in the centre of their chest just below the nipple line; push downwards to give up to five sharp chest thrusts
Check the mouth each time
3. If the item does not dislodge, call 999 or 112 for emergency help
Take the baby with you to call
Repeat the steps 1 and 2 until help arrives
Start CPR if the baby becomes unresponsive (unconscious)
Child
1. Cough it out
Encourage the casualty to keep coughing, if they can
2. Slap it out
Lean them forwards, supporting them with one hand
Give five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades
Check their mouth each time but do not put your fingers in their mouth
3. Squeeze it out
Stand behind them with your arms around their waist, with one clenched fist between their belly button and the bottom of their chest
Grasp the fist in the other hand and pull sharply inwards and upwards, giving up to five abdominal thrusts
Check their mouth each time
“As every child and their development is so individualised it will be different for every child,” Nikki advised parents.
“Generally around three to four years, but go with what you feel best based on your child.”
Another mum said: “I’ve been giving my almost two-year-old peanut butter on toast for a long time and peanut butter sandwiches, should I not?”
Nikki’s response was in the same vein.
“If you feel confident in your child’s chewing and swallowing abilities, and they can manage it quite well, it is your personal choice when you feel it is safest to give to your child,” the first aider said.
“If they find it difficult, you can continue to thin down the peanut butter until they can handle it better.
“Choking can happen at any age, so it’s just about weighing up the risk!”
instagram/@tinyheartseducationBecause of their thickness and stickiness, but butters are hard to dislodge with first aid measures[/caption]
instagram/@tinyheartseducationIt’s important to dilute them before giving them to your tot[/caption]