How to reduce choking risk in babies and young children

Young children explore with their mouths and are still learning to chew. The American Red Cross says children under 5 are at particularly high risk. Most of what lowers the risk happens at the table and on the floor, long before any emergency.

By the HEAL IQ team. See how we write this site. Last updated 2026-11-04.

Foods the CDC lists as choking hazards

From the CDC. The CDC notes the list may not include every food that could cause choking.
Group	Examples
Fruit and vegetables	Uncut grapes, cherries, berries, melon balls and cherry tomatoes. Hard raw carrots and apples. Whole corn kernels. Raisins and other uncooked dried fruit.
Protein foods	Hot dogs, sausages and meat sticks. Tough or large chunks of meat. Nuts and seeds. Nut butter by the spoonful. Large chunks of cheese, especially string cheese. Whole beans. Bones in meat or fish.
Grains	Popcorn, chips, pretzels, cookies, granola bars, and crackers or breads with seeds or nuts
Sweets	Hard or round candy, jelly beans, gummy candy, caramels, chewy fruit snacks, chewing gum, marshmallows

How to prepare and serve food

Prepare food to a shape, size and texture that suits your child's stage. Cut it into smaller pieces, or mash it.
Keep your child sitting up to eat, in a high chair or other safe place. No lying down, crawling or walking with food.
Avoid eating in a car or a stroller, where you cannot watch closely.
Watch your child the whole time they eat.
Keep meals calm. Avoid distractions and rushing.

These steps are from the CDC. Ask your child's doctor or nurse about specific foods if you are not sure.

Small objects

The NHS says children, especially those aged 1 to 5, often put objects in their mouths, and that marbles, beads and button batteries are the right size to get stuck. The 2025 pediatric guideline lists balloons, foods such as hot dogs, nuts and grapes, and small household objects as the most common causes in children, while liquids are common among infants. So:

Keep small objects out of reach, and check the floor before a baby plays there.
Keep balloons away from young children.
Do not leave the small parts of any product within a child's reach. That includes the parts of first aid and anti-choking products.

Know the signs in a young child

The NHS notes that sudden coughing in a child who is not ill, and who was eating or tends to put things in their mouth, is a strong hint of choking. Loud coughing means encourage them to keep coughing and stay with them. Silent coughing, or trouble breathing in, means act now.

What to do if a child chokes

Call 911. Over age 1: 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts. Under age 1: 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts, never abdominal thrusts. Read the full steps now, and take a class that covers children and infants through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

Do I need an anti-choking device for my child?

You need the first aid skills. The 2025 pediatric guideline says the effectiveness and safety of suction devices have not been established in infants and children. Our own device, ResQVac, has no age limits or child-specific instructions in its manual, no FDA clearance or authorization on file, and no clinical study on file. We do not advise using it on a baby under 1 year. See what FDA says before you decide.

Sources

More from us: all guides or the ResQVac product page.