BabyWhispererForums.com

EAT => Eating For Toddlers => Topic started by: Andys mum on May 30, 2006, 23:48:18 pm

Title: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: Andys mum on May 30, 2006, 23:48:18 pm

Hi...quick question...are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?  At mothers group a few of the bubs were eating them along with other dried fruit..(they come mixed in little packs).....no one seemed to think it was a problem...I tried Andy with them and he scoffed them down!!!  My sister and dad said that they are a choking hazard and shouldn't be eaten until much later...any advice?

Thanks,
Andy's mum.

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: Katie on May 30, 2006, 23:57:11 pm

Hi,

I gave them to my dd at about 10months!! she loved them never thought about them being a choaking hazzard... but she never did, the only problem i had was nappies!! the sultanas seemed to reappear whole gross!!!!

she still loves sultanas now and she's 2 and a half!

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: tylersmommy on May 31, 2006, 00:16:39 am

They're usually included on the list of choking hazards, but if your LO did okay with them, then they're probably okay. I'd still be cautious, though...make sure he's supervised and not running around while eating them, just to be safe!

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: me and bean on May 31, 2006, 04:05:47 am

bean eats them too, along with raisins etc...  has done since around 9-10mo i think.  he loves them!

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: Katet on May 31, 2006, 04:26:11 am

As far as I know they are fine, I've never seen them listed as a food to avoid here... some children do gag on food the size of sultanas, but gaging is different to choking
From memory on looking at anatomy books  from about 9months old the size of the osophegus should be large enough that is shouldn't be an issue for choking... raisins being that bit bigger could be an issue though
i've been feeding them to Liam since he was about 10months old... but he has never gaged on any food.

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: tylersmommy on May 31, 2006, 14:30:01 pm

Kate-

In general, all dried fruit is considered a choking hazard...you might not have seen sultanas listed as a food to avoid because in some parts of the world (like in the US), sultanas and raisins are the same thing. What makes them a choking hazard, more so than their size, is that they're sticky. Most babies do fine with them, but it's just something to be aware of!

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: Katet on May 31, 2006, 23:06:33 pm

Melissa, here almost all other dried fruit is considered choking hazzard, but not saltanas & currants due to their small size, they are still considered "gaging hazzards' which means they may cause a child to gag (due to their ability to swollow ceratin foods) but not to choke... by definition (from the early child hood book I got from our nurse) something has to he bigger than the oesophogus to choke - ie not be able to breath (it gives "relative sizes for age) ... here saltanas are smaller than (1/2 size or less)  a pea & far more squashy, where as  Raisins are about 3-4 times bigger & are considered a choking risk here.

But whether a food is a choking risk or not, if a child can eat it then, there is no reason why not

 ALL meals should be 100% supervised -  I know a child that choked on juice... well it gaged on a drink & that caused him to vomit & he choked on his tongue.

Title: Re: Are sultanas OK for 12/13 month old?
Post by: Andys mum on May 31, 2006, 23:56:00 pm

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the replies.  I guess the real answer is that he can choke on anything really...and it has made me think do I really know what to do if he chokes?  Might read up on my first aid again.

Kate, I'm in Sydney too!

thanks again,
Andy's mum.