Hmmm... We're really strict about this so far. Our daughter had a serious choking incident at home, so we watch her like a hawk. At 3 years, we still don't allow it. Not sure when we will.
I sit in the backseat with Alera while FH drives because she goes batshit back there alone, and sometimes I'll feed her puffies. I wouldn't let her eat back there alone yet though. Probably not until 4-5.
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I would say three to four, definitely after you turn the seat around so they are facing you. And it depends on what they're eating, something bite size for sure.
Looks like I'm in the minority. We flipped DD around at 18 months due to her severe carsickness. It was probably around then that we allowed Cheerios and the occasional pouch.
With DS1 I would sit in the back with him and let him eat on long trips starting around 14 months. When he switched to front facing we let him eat more often.
When I spin them front facing. That's what I did with DS but I spun him around at about 9 months. ETA didn't know the recommendation was 2 years at the time he met the state law requirement.
Thanks for all the responses! I was curious because we spend so much time in the car during the summer. I'll probably be more comfortable handing LO a snack when he's 4-5.
I should add that I let DD (3 years) drink in the car with a sippy cup. She has probably done that since about 1 year. She just isn't allowed to eat. If she really chokes, she could be dead by the time I could pull over, get out and get her out of the car seat... I know I sound paranoid, but it's true.
I should add that I let DD (3 years) drink in the car with a sippy cup. She has probably done that since about 1 year. She just isn't allowed to eat. If she really chokes, she could be dead by the time I could pull over, get out and get her out of the car seat... I know I sound paranoid, but it's true.
You don't sound paranoid to me, this is one of my fears!
It really happens so fast. DD choked when I was sitting right next to her at the table. By the time my brain had processed what was happening, she was already purple. The woman who gives the CPR program that I took said her child choked on a baby mum mum in the stroller and was blue and limp by the time she got him out of the stroller. And that's a stroller, not a driving car that has to pull over. It's just not worth the risk IMO.
We used to let our son eat cheerios when he was 3 or so but I think we will be more strict this time around. My nephew choked on a carrot at 2 (yes why was he eating carrots in the car at 2. Great question) even though my sister in law is an ER doctor they had to call an ambulance and luckily he was ok. Super scary though and got me thinking. Even the high chair makes me nervous with having to take the tray off and unbuckle bf anything else.
I don't think that it's worth the risk. Also, may be in the minority, but I'm not wild about the idea of snacking all the time (carseat or stroller, etc) - I'd rather have structured meal times, so I don't foresee any times where LO would *have* to eat in the car and would rather just avoid it.
Definitely a FTM here, though, so STM can feel free to laugh at my naiveté.
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@CalinAZ I feel the same way and I'm a STM. We did pretty good with Liam Not having many snacks, but sometimes on road trips when he was crabby it was like eh ok have some Cheerios. I agree on the not snacking all the time though. My friends son snacks all day long and never eats meals. It's ridiculous.
I don't think that it's worth the risk. Also, may be in the minority, but I'm not wild about the idea of snacking all the time (carseat or stroller, etc) - I'd rather have structured meal times, so I don't foresee any times where LO would *have* to eat in the car and would rather just avoid it.
Definitely a FTM here, though, so STM can feel free to laugh at my naiveté.
I agree 100%. I really want DS to have a healthy relationship with food and giving a snack every time he's upset/bored/whatever seems to defeat the purpose.
The road trip thing, though. That would probably be my exception.
No food in car, except for long car trips. We also do structured meal/snack times, so we typically coordinate our day around this. She can eat at the grocery store, in the cafe area, or same at Target, and Costco (those are where we normally go). She can have a bottle, usually always has one with water in the car, unless its actually time for a bottle.
Re: Food in car question
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ETA didn't know the recommendation was 2 years at the time he met the state law requirement.
I remember DSS eating in the car when he was 3. Not sure about Liam, but not while he's rear facing.
Sorry for being such a downer!
Not having many snacks, but sometimes on road trips when he was crabby it was like eh ok have some Cheerios. I agree on the not snacking all the time though. My friends son snacks all day long and never eats meals. It's ridiculous.
The road trip thing, though. That would probably be my exception.