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When Your Grandchild Swallows Something
Babies between 6 months and 3 years old explore the world by putting objects into their mouths. The small things babies most commonly swallow include coins, batteries, pins, crayons, buttons, bones, small toys, paper clips, and marbles. Older kids and adults occasionally swallow these and other unusual things, but more out of carelessness than curiosity.
When To Get Medical Help
Fortunately, at least four out of five swallowed items pass through a child's digestive system on their own. Most children experience no symptoms, even after swallowing something sharp. But an object that gets inhaled and caught in your child's windpipe can be life-threatening.
Steven Kairys, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital, explains, "If something that's been swallowed makes your grandchild suddenly start to wheeze, choke, or have trouble breathing, treat it as a medical emergency. Perform the Heimlich maneuver and immediately call 911."
Swallowed objects can also block the esophagus or lodge in the lower digestive tract, and cause symptoms such as difficult or painful swallowing or chronic coughing. If the child has these symptoms, do not induce vomiting. Instead, seek prompt medical attention.
An Ounce Of Prevention
Dr. Kairys explains, "A good rule of thumb is to use a cardboard toilet roll. If an object can pass through, it is too small to use with a child younger than 3 and even with an older child if that child still puts things in his or her mouth." Dr. Kairys points out a few measures that can help prevent your grandchild from swallowing or inhaling foreign objects:
- Watch kids carefully when they eat and play.
- Keep small household items and toys with small removable parts out of toddlers' reach. Be sure to remove common offenders, such as latex balloons, coins, marbles, tiny balls, pen caps, button-type batteries, and pins and needles.
- Never give children younger than age 4 the following food, which can cause choking:
- hot dogs
- nuts and seeds
- large chunks of meat or cheese
- whole grapes
- hard, gooey, or sticky candy
- popcorn
- chunks of peanut butter
- raw vegetables
- raisins
- gum.
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