Age for hard candy?

crzygirl · June 2011

At what age can kids eat hard candy?

1CINCYGIRL · June 2011

I was told 3 years old. My DS was 3 1/2 and I gave him a mint. I was folding laundry and heard an odd noise. I looked up to see DS choking on mint. He was breathing, but drooling everywhere. It was stuck in his esophagus and the look of panic was on his face. He eventually cleared it after several swallows( as I was getting ready to take him to emergency room), but he was not allowed (or even wanted) hard candy for a very long time. He is now 5 1/2 years and still remembers it.

CD+AL · June 2011

DS has had a couple of mints at restaurants, but it honestly still makes me nervous. I make him sit the whole time and if he even thinks about fidgeting he either chews it or spits it out. I'm not a huge fan of hard candy anyway, so there isn't a lot of it around to tempt DS with anyway.

L D · June 2011

My kids are 5&6. This is one thing Im know Im over thinking it but they are still only allowed to have Lifesavers as far as hard candy goes.

crzygirl · June 2011

1CINCYGIRL:
I was told 3 years old. My DS was 3 1/2 and I gave him a mint. I was folding laundry and heard an odd noise. I looked up to see DS choking on mint. He was breathing, but drooling everywhere. It was stuck in his esophagus and the look of panic was on his face. He eventually cleared it after several swallows( as I was getting ready to take him to emergency room), but he was not allowed (or even wanted) hard candy for a very long time. He is now 5 1/2 years and still remembers it.

Good to know! Thank you for sharing. I will hold off for a few more years.

crzygirl · June 2011

1CINCYGIRL:
I was told 3 years old. My DS was 3 1/2 and I gave him a mint. I was folding laundry and heard an odd noise. I looked up to see DS choking on mint. He was breathing, but drooling everywhere. It was stuck in his esophagus and the look of panic was on his face. He eventually cleared it after several swallows( as I was getting ready to take him to emergency room), but he was not allowed (or even wanted) hard candy for a very long time. He is now 5 1/2 years and still remembers it.

Good to know! Thank you for sharing. I will hold off for a few more years.

Taylor44 · June 2011

KateB1984:

1CINCYGIRL:
I was told 3 years old. My DS was 3 1/2 and I gave him a mint. I was folding laundry and heard an odd noise. I looked up to see DS choking on mint. He was breathing, but drooling everywhere. It was stuck in his esophagus and the look of panic was on his face. He eventually cleared it after several swallows( as I was getting ready to take him to emergency room), but he was not allowed (or even wanted) hard candy for a very long time. He is now 5 1/2 years and still remembers it.

This for us too. DS1 had his first hard candy at 3.5 and was sitting down and everything to eat it. He began to choke but was getting some air still (I could hear him wheezing). I'd just retaken a child first aid course, which was a relief because I think it helped me be more calm and not try to intervene while he was struggling with it. After a minute or two (felt WAY longer) DS1 finally gagged enough and threw up which dislodged it. It's going to be a looooong time before I go there again.

Yes, this for us too. It just happened the other week. My son is 3 1/2. He asked for a hard life saver. I thought it would be ok if he sat, and I watched him. I turned for a second, and I heard a strange noice. He swallowed it by mistake, and it got stuck. But he was still breathing fine, and could talk. He was really scared. Then he kept telling me it was stuck. He kept drinking water. Finally, it disolved, and he seemed to feel better. It scared him and me both. No hard candy for us for a long time.

blueshirt2003 · June 2011

Most 3 year olds can eat it but they definitely pose the risk of choking on it.

I think a "good" safer age is really 5.

smilejenn · June 2011

blueshirt2003:
Most 3 year olds can eat it but they definitely pose the risk of choking on it.
I think a "good" safer age is really 5.

Ditto the later recommendation. I have an almost 4 year old, and it will be at least a year before I venture into hard candy with him.

ecoppins · June 2011

Dd is eatting a dumbdumb right now (as a special treat) but I'm assuming that doesn't include lollypops. It is the only hard candy she is allowed. I'm afraid of the above instance.

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