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Preventing Choking

One of the biggest fears of a new parent is that of baby choking. Each year, infants and small children die due to choking. There are some important things to know, in order to minimize the risk of this happening to your child.

First, never let your baby play with small objects. What may seem harmless one moment can be deadly the next. Babies want to put everything they can into their mouths; it is a natural response for them. This includes coins, balloons, toys, rocks, and anything else their tiny hands can grab a hold of.

Additionally, never give your baby foods that make for easy choking hazards. This includes foods with skins (such as grapes and peas). If your baby likes these foods, remove the skins and cut them into small pieces, or mash them for easier eating.

While balloons seem like harmless fun, and offer entertainment for little ones, they can potentially be very dangerous. Should a balloon pop, and baby put the balloon in her mouth, choking or suffocation can occur. This is also true for plastic bags.

Finally, take an infant/child CPR class. The information obtained in these courses is invaluable. Call your local hospital, or ask your pediatrician for information on where these classes can be taken. They are usually low cost, or free to expectant mothers. During these classes, you will also learn how to handle choking situations, so the time invested is definitely worthwhile.

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