feeding your toddler...

Cheyenne - posted on 06/17/2011 ( 5 moms have responded )

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my son is 16 months old and he will pretty much eat anything i give him. but some people think( my sister in law) think i shouldnt let him feed himself like he does. recently i started giving him grapes and he eats the whole thing, skin and all. my sister in law is one of those parents that cuts up food into little pieces when its a baby. her youngest daughter is 3 years old and she still tells her how to eat. i mean i know there are moms out there who have strict diets, vegiterians, eat whatever, for there kids. but i think its the parents desion on how to let there child eat. i trust my son, and its not like im not there when hes eating his food. im close by if i have to leave. i just think its funny because my sis in law is telling me hot dogs are the #1 cause of choking for kids, and grapes are # 2. if you cant learn to trust your child from when they start feeding themselves then how are you going to trust them later down the road when they want to borrow the car, or want to walk down the street to there friends house?

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5 Comments

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Jennifer - posted on 06/18/2011

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While it is not a matter of trust when you are feeding your child, I see your side. My daughter (18 months) has a mouth full of teeth and can chew skin and all up on grapes, hot dogs, etc. I also give her grapes whole and she knows to bite them in half, if she has trouble chewing them up she takes it out of her mouth and hands it to us. It was actually my pediatrician's advice to give my daughter items that she has to bite and chew and let her figure it out on her own...that is how they learn to chew things completely so they don't choke. If my daughter did not have the mouth full of teeth and demonstrated the knowledge of chewing things thoroughly before swallowing then she would not be allowed grapes or hot dogs; she tested other finger foods for awhile before being given either of these foods as they are a choking hazard. I am very firm on I'll feed my kid how I choose (we don't allow sugary foods or anything to drink other than milk/water) and you can choose to feed your kid how you want...as long as they aren't being abused it is not my place to judge.

Lise - posted on 06/18/2011

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Agree with Teresa... It is dangerous and risky to give a child a food that is a choking hazard. We did babyled weaning, so solids from 6 months old, but I will not give my child something that could kill her. Frozen blueberries are cut in half, grapes are halved, etc.

As for the trust issue, does this mean that you'll give your kids the keys and send them off in a car without teaching them how to drive? I mean, you trust them - right? Do you teach kids to swim by throwing them in the deep end?

You've received a ton of responses on this topic already...

Teresa - posted on 06/18/2011

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You think it's funny that kids choke to death on hot dogs and grapes? That is messed up.

Sorry, I'm not in the mood to be 'nice' since this is the third forum I've read this on. It has nothing to do w/ trust and everything to do w/ SAFETY. Good luck and I hope you never experience the fear of watching your child choking on something that YOU gave them.

Amie - posted on 06/18/2011

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You do know that it has nothing to do with trusting a child. Choking is involuntary. They don't do it on purpose so trust is not the issue.

I taught mine how to eat on their own and try new foods without putting them at risk. There is a reason these foods are choking hazards to children. They are too large for their tiny mouths. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to these situations.

Bobbie - posted on 06/17/2011

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my son is 13 mo old and i let him eat anything he wants to on his own and he dont have no prob with it he will even eat a cheeseburger on his own as long as ur right there that is the only way the kids will learn how to feed themselves