When is popcorn ok?

ArcticFox · October 2009

Sorry I don't post here much.. a little crazy as we just welcomed our second baby!

Anyway, when is popcorn "safe" for kids? My 2.5-year-old had a few pieces of SmartFood last night but I was super nervous. I know popcorn, nuts, hotdogs, etc. are high on the list of choking hazards, but I guess there is an age where it is considered ok to try.. any thoughts?

jessicada76 · October 2009

In May I sat and picked the fat part of the popcorn off and fed it to Paige - we just recently went some place and she ate it whole just fine. She even got a kernal and spit it out. I would say it is safe as long as you are right there.

ILoveBoys · October 2009

Both of mine have had popcorn. Just a few pieces here and there though.

punkfiction · October 2009

its extremely dangerous until about 4. i dont understand when people say "well they were sitting right by me" as if that means they can't choke.

eta: and the popped pieces are not any less dangerous - its bc they can inhale them quickly. they cause choking just as easily as a kernel would.

Erika6504 · October 2009

DD has had popcorn and she was fine. I didn't realize what the risks were. One day there was a lot of discussion about popcorn on here and there were some horror stories. DD hasn't had popcorn since then. I might let her have it when she's 18

kada626 · October 2009

I'm not comfortable giving it to dd. I would guess 3 1/2 or 4 yrs old is when I would try it.

jessicada76 · October 2009

punkfiction:

its extremely dangerous until about 4. i dont understand when people say "well they were sitting right by me" as if that means they can't choke.

eta: and the popped pieces are not any less dangerous - its bc they can inhale them quickly. they cause choking just as easily as a kernel would.

Well, I guess I am just a horrible Mommy - I guess we can't all be as perfect as Punk!

Halo79RN · October 2009

from the aap

What can I do to keep my child from choking?

Do not feed children younger than 4 years round, firm food unless it is chopped completely. Round, firm foods are common choking dangers. When infants and young children do not grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. The following foods can be choking hazards:

Hot dogs
Nuts and seeds
Chunks of meat or cheese
Whole grapes
Hard, gooey, or sticky candy
Popcorn
Chunks of peanut butter
Raw vegetables
Fruit chunks, such as apple chunks
Chewing gum

that being said... my 3 1/2- almost 4 y/o has recently started eating popcorn... well, asking for it. she doesn't care to eat so much as she likes to watch it pop. I make sure she sits with me, and I watch her as she eats to make sure she's not stuffing it in , make sure she's chewing good, not running around with it, etc.

jessicada76 · October 2009

Wow Halo! I am surprised Paige is still alive!....lol. She has had most of the stuff on the no no list! What the heck to you girls feed your children?!

Mrs.Hubbard · October 2009

P eats it as long as we are right there watching him. That is actually his new favorite snack to take to his daddy's games

kada626 · October 2009

From that list, T hasn't had any of that except for fruit chunks. I give her melon & apple slices all the time.

Dani123 · October 2009

Popcorn does make me nervous so I dont let her have it but this list posted really surprises me...

Hot dogs LOVES THEM

Nuts and seeds

Chunks of meat or cheese LOVES CHEESE PIECES, SLICE OR CHUNK

Whole grapes I HALF THESE SO OK.

Hard, gooey, or sticky candy

Popcorn

Chunks of peanut butter LOVES SPOONS OF P. BUTTER

Raw vegetables WEIRD TO ME, WHATS HEALTHIER THAN THIS....TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS, etc. SHE LOVES THESE.

Fruit chunks, such as apple chunks THIS ALSO, LIKE APPLE CHUNKS? LIKE SLICES? CANTALOUPE CHUNKS, MELON, PINEAPPLE, WATERMELON, those are all chunks.

Chewing gum

Mrs.Hubbard · October 2009

jessicada76:
Wow Halo! I am surprised Paige is still alive!....lol. She has had most of the stuff on the no no list! What the heck to you girls feed your children?!

guess I should have read everyones response before I put mine. Jess don't worry I must be a bad mommy too because my child has also eaten most of the stuff on that list.

jessicada76 · October 2009

Mrs.Hubbard:
jessicada76:
Wow Halo! I am surprised Paige is still alive!....lol. She has had most of the stuff on the no no list! What the heck to you girls feed your children?!
guess I should have read everyones response before I put mine. Jess don't worry I must be a bad mommy too because my child has also eaten most of the stuff on that list.

Yeah! You can be in my bad Mommy club ;-)

Erika6504 · October 2009

Hot dogs - I cut in 1/2 so they aren't round

Nuts and seeds - nope

Chunks of meat or cheese - slices of cheese but not cubes

Whole grapes - cut in 1/4s so they aren't round

Hard, gooey, or sticky candy - nope

Popcorn - yes, but not anymore

Chunks of peanut butter - nope

Raw vegetables - softer things that I know she can chew. No carrots though

Fruit chunks, such as apple chunks - nothing in "chunks" but I'll give her slices.

Chewing gum - nope

marriedchick06 · October 2009

I don't (i have given her a few small pcs of mine when eating it but for the most part no). But I am a complete freakazoid about her choking too. BUT I know several people who let their kids have grapes hole, raw veggies, sliced apples and godforbid popcorn and they have all done just fine.

April37 · October 2009

DD is 2.5 and I give her popcorn occasionally.

mrs.aaguilar · October 2009

jessicada76:
Wow Halo! I am surprised Paige is still alive!....lol. She has had most of the stuff on the no no list! What the heck to you girls feed your children?!

LOL! same here. I have given DD almost eveything off of that list except for nuts. As for popcorn, I started back in May when my niece was eating it and DD asked for some. Occasionally she will eat it, but I always make sure she drinks water after a few of them to help wash it down. I feel that DD is really good when it comes to her chewing food, we haven't had any scares yet. ::knock on wood::

eta: oh and she also hasn't had gum or hard, stick candy

lasvegasmama89117 · October 2009

The reason I will not give my DS popcorn is because it is light and can be easily inhaled. If a child is eating popcorn and gets excited or just happens to inhale, the popcorn can easily become airborn and get lodged in a child's windpipe. It has much less to do with the hard kernels, which if they begin choking on those, a dose of water or milk will usually wash it down.. but it is difficult and sometimes impossible to remove an object from a child's windpipe. I am not saying anyone is a bad mom, I just like to spread facts. Totally unrelated, but somewhat similiar.. I have a friend who lost their toddler because he was playing with a balloon(this was about 17 years ago) and the child was scratching it and it popped.. as it popped the child became excited and inhaled a piece of it into his windpipe and died. The mother tried the heimlich(bad speller, sorry) and nothing worked. The paramedics couldn't revive him. Ok, i'm done now, just thought i'd share.

jessicada76 · October 2009

I am so sorry for your friend! How sad! On a side note - could the same thing not happen to an adult?! Couldn't we also suck something down the wrong way?! I have gotten choked many of times of stuff because I didn't chew well or I tried to talk or something. I think it is all about teaching them how to chew things! I am not knocking anyone that doesn't give their child popcorn or things on the list but I wish others (PUNK) would not judge me for giving it to my child!

punkfiction · October 2009

no one should be proud to give their kids choking hazards. it takes half a brain to realize you should prob cut grapes or hot dogs up.

eta: many people learn from posts like these, jessica. (as people have posted from the previous popcorn thread). its not cool to be a badass about choking hazards.

lasvegasmama89117 · October 2009

jessicada76:
I am so sorry for your friend! How sad! On a side note - could the same thing not happen to an adult?! Couldn't we also suck something down the wrong way?! I have gotten choked many of times of stuff because I didn't chew well or I tried to talk or something. I think it is all about teaching them how to chew things! I am not knocking anyone that doesn't give their child popcorn or things on the list but I wish others (PUNK) would not judge me for giving it to my child!

Ok, this made me think.. this is kind of a funny story, so sorry to get off track but I just had to share. I was on my 3rd date with DH and we went for pizza.. well, the cheese was really gooey and it kinda slid down my throat.. so i tried getting it back up or swallowing it demurely when i began coughing and inhaling it into my lung! (i can laugh now as i picture the scene but i was MORTIFIED when it happened).. i was coughing so hard it hurt, and i began sweating and my face was all red.. it felt like i was going to die.. i got up to run to the ladie's room and on the way(still coughing like a crazy woman) i gagged and ended up throwing up on the floor!!! IT WAS AWEFUL!!! We still talk and laugh about that.. a few dates later he said to me "when will it be ok for me to laugh about the cheese incident?" HAHAHA.. to this day it's known as "the cheese incident" HAHAHAHA.... Ok. carry on.. LOL

dnagal · October 2009

It's amazing humans have survived at all.

jessicada76 · October 2009

punkfiction:

no one should be proud to give their kids choking hazards. it takes half a brain to realize you should prob cut grapes or hot dogs up.

eta: many people learn from posts like these, jessica. (as people have posted from the previous popcorn thread). its not cool to be a badass about choking hazards.

Why are you REALLY on these boards Punk? You seldom have a REAL question - you would rather get on here and just put everyone else down for what they are doing with THEIR kids! I don't feel I am being a "badass" I just answered the girl's question without putting others down! I told her what I do with Paige - she asked - I don't look down on you for not giving your children these things so why do you look down on me for sitting beside her watching her eat popcorn? I think what "most people learn from post like this" is that you seldom have anything nice to say about anyone but yourself!

abpdjs · October 2009

how did i know this thread would be starred, lol

Carson hasn't had popcorn yet.

He has had grapes though, he loves those things but he will not.touch.peanut butter. i don't get it. no seeds/nuts, no hotdogs, he has had raw peppers/brocolli/carrots

Dani123 · October 2009

Hey Arctic! Bet you didnt expect all this LOL LOL Wink

abpdjs · October 2009

Dani123:
Hey Arctic! Bet you didnt expect all this LOL LOL

lmao, right! the minute i saw this post i thought "here we go..."

anywhoo, i wouldn't flame anyone for giving those things, to each their own.

punkfiction · October 2009

jessicada76:
punkfiction:

no one should be proud to give their kids choking hazards. it takes half a brain to realize you should prob cut grapes or hot dogs up.

eta: many people learn from posts like these, jessica. (as people have posted from the previous popcorn thread). its not cool to be a badass about choking hazards.

Why are you REALLY on these boards Punk? You seldom have a REAL question - you would rather get on here and just put everyone else down for what they are doing with THEIR kids! I don't feel I am being a "badass" I just answered the girl's question without putting others down! I told her what I do with Paige - she asked - I don't look down on you for not giving your children these things so why do you look down on me for sitting beside her watching her eat popcorn? I think what "most people learn from post like this" is that you seldom have anything nice to say about anyone but yourself!

your response was trying to be a badass. "im surprised my kid is alive at all". i gave the facts - and correct facts at that. why is "well my kid is still alive" not okay on every other board on the way to this one or as an answer 99% of the time, but for safety (and defensiveness) its totally okay?

and i have plenty nice to say, but i also just say what i don't like - out loud. which is far from what i can say about several other posters on this board.

punkfiction · October 2009

oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

abpdjs · October 2009

lasvegasmama89117:
jessicada76:
I am so sorry for your friend! How sad! On a side note - could the same thing not happen to an adult?! Couldn't we also suck something down the wrong way?! I have gotten choked many of times of stuff because I didn't chew well or I tried to talk or something. I think it is all about teaching them how to chew things! I am not knocking anyone that doesn't give their child popcorn or things on the list but I wish others (PUNK) would not judge me for giving it to my child!
Ok, this made me think.. this is kind of a funny story, so sorry to get off track but I just had to share. I was on my 3rd date with DH and we went for pizza.. well, the cheese was really gooey and it kinda slid down my throat.. so i tried getting it back up or swallowing it demurely when i began coughing and inhaling it into my lung! (i can laugh now as i picture the scene but i was MORTIFIED when it happened).. i was coughing so hard it hurt, and i began sweating and my face was all red.. it felt like i was going to die.. i got up to run to the ladie's room and on the way(still coughing like a crazy woman) i gagged and ended up throwing up on the floor!!! IT WAS AWEFUL!!! We still talk and laugh about that.. a few dates later he said to me "when will it be ok for me to laugh about the cheese incident?" HAHAHA.. to this day it's known as "the cheese incident" HAHAHAHA.... Ok. carry on.. LOL

omg! that is scarry and the exact reason why i never ate cheese sticks on a date.

brittneycc1982 · October 2009

punkfiction:
oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

I never see you ask questions period. You just like to throw your opinion in there. Oh wait... you ask things like "hypothetically... blah blah.." Confused

punkfiction · October 2009

brittneycc1982:
punkfiction:
oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

I never see you ask questions period. You just like to throw your opinion in there. Oh wait... you ask things like "hypothetically... blah blah.."

uh, right. and i just explained why i don't ask questions.

its like im in the twilight zone.

brittneycc1982 · October 2009

punkfiction:
brittneycc1982:

punkfiction:
oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

I never see you ask questions period. You just like to throw your opinion in there. Oh wait... you ask things like "hypothetically... blah blah.."

uh, right. and i just explained why i don't ask questions.

its like im in the twilight zone.

You are! You should totally leave! It's not safe here! RUN!

punkfiction · October 2009

brittneycc1982:
punkfiction:
brittneycc1982:

punkfiction:
oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

I never see you ask questions period. You just like to throw your opinion in there. Oh wait... you ask things like "hypothetically... blah blah.."

uh, right. and i just explained why i don't ask questions.

its like im in the twilight zone.

You are! You should totally leave! It's not safe here! RUN!

hey! why are you on this thread? KU needs you to tell her to vax her kid so your kid is safe on the swine flu thread! go!!

jessicada76 · October 2009

brittneycc1982:
punkfiction:
brittneycc1982:

punkfiction:
oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

I never see you ask questions period. You just like to throw your opinion in there. Oh wait... you ask things like "hypothetically... blah blah.."

uh, right. and i just explained why i don't ask questions.

its like im in the twilight zone.

You are! You should totally leave! It's not safe here! RUN!

DITTO!!!!!!!!!

brittneycc1982 · October 2009

punkfiction:
brittneycc1982:
punkfiction:
brittneycc1982:

punkfiction:
oh, and i dont ask questions on this board bc, as ive stated before, my child is older than most (i know there are a few of those with older kids) and the answers i get are pretty much useless as it would be what i did a year ago - but not now.

I never see you ask questions period. You just like to throw your opinion in there. Oh wait... you ask things like "hypothetically... blah blah.."

uh, right. and i just explained why i don't ask questions.

its like im in the twilight zone.

You are! You should totally leave! It's not safe here! RUN!

hey! why are you on this thread? KU needs you to tell her to vax her kid so your kid is safe on the swine flu thread! go!!

Dude, you're still here?? Not enough drama going on over on 12-24? NFT from ME!

punkfiction · October 2009

jessica, you need to be more confident. how pathetic that you are *this* riled up bc i (and others) informed you that feeding your kid popcorn is full of stupidity. if you think your decision is a good one - then who cares what i think? you do. that's who.

jessicada76 · October 2009

punkfiction:
jessica, you need to be more confident. how pathetic that you are *this* riled up bc i (and others) informed you that feeding your kid popcorn is full of stupidity. if you think your decision is a good one - then who cares what i think? you do. that's who.

I am not "riled" up over anything! You are actually giving me a good laugh when i was bored at work! I think you are hilarious when you think you know it all! I guess I am just one stupid Mom - on no wait it minute - that is YOU! :-)

punkfiction · October 2009

jessicada76:
punkfiction:
jessica, you need to be more confident. how pathetic that you are *this* riled up bc i (and others) informed you that feeding your kid popcorn is full of stupidity. if you think your decision is a good one - then who cares what i think? you do. that's who.

I am not "riled" up over anything! You are actually giving me a good laugh when i was bored at work! I think you are hilarious when you think you know it all! I guess I am just one stupid Mom - on no wait it minute - that is YOU! :-)

2 of the best (ie: worst) comebacks on the internet to deflect -

1. "whatever! you are making ME laugh!! im actually laughing here... RIGHT NOW!!!"

2. name calling. extra points when you know you are wrong, but trying to hang on one last second

Calips · October 2009

Punked - you are such an ass. If this board is useless to you, why stay so you can spout your holier than thou crap on people. And basically put then down. I don't see people begging for your pearls of wisdom.

Feeding a child popcorn is not stupidity. Being informed of risk and making your own educated decisions by understanding risk and evaluating your own child's ability to handle/chew certain foods is the bets way to go. Living in fear of every "could have" and restricting everything based on this is much less intelligent.

Do you think every kid 4 years and 1 day can now handle popcorn? Come on.

That said, you totally remind me of my sister.

jessicada76 · October 2009

Calips:

Punked - you are such an ass. If this board is useless to you, why stay so you can spout your holier than thou crap on people. And basically put then down. I don't see people begging for your pearls of wisdom.

Feeding a child popcorn is not stupidity. Being informed of risk and making your own educated decisions by understanding risk and evaluating your own child's ability to handle/chew certain foods is the bets way to go. Living in fear of every "could have" and restricting everything based on this is much less intelligent.

Do you think every kid 4 years and 1 day can now handle popcorn? Come on.

That said, you totally remind me of my sister.

OMG!!!!!!! You are my new best friend! WELL SAID!

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