I was surprised that the vast majority here doesn't seem concerned about the possibility of chocking. I wonder if maybe we were talking kids a bit older than my dd. So please elaborate! FYI, dd never chokes when eating, but I think that driving increases the risk so I don't want to take a chance, especially since it happened with a friend of a friend.
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s/o eating in car - at what age did you start letting them?
- Thread starter minismom
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BW1426
Well-known member
I'm a very, very bad one to ask 
I'm sure with the first child it would have been different, but with E and Bubby in the car, I let Bubby eat far sooner than he should have. He was under a year. I'd give him puffs in a snack trap. Really, really bad, I know. He'd freak if E was eating and that's how it started.
Bad.
I'm sure with the first child it would have been different, but with E and Bubby in the car, I let Bubby eat far sooner than he should have. He was under a year. I'd give him puffs in a snack trap. Really, really bad, I know. He'd freak if E was eating and that's how it started. Bad.
Um, I'm not sure. Before 2, for sure. Depends on the food and the situation. Definitely not until I have witnessed my kids learn the anti-choke gag maneuver. And like Brie said, more comfortable with sibs in the car to keep an eye on a RFing kid.
In fact, come to think of it, I think my eldest has already given the baby a Cheerio (one at a time) in the car (without my express permission) a few times.
In fact, come to think of it, I think my eldest has already given the baby a Cheerio (one at a time) in the car (without my express permission) a few times.
katiesmommy
Active member
Under 18 months it was fruit or veggie puffs only and I would sit in the back and hand them to her. But around 18-20 months I started just giving her a little baggie with them and she would eat them on her own. It was still fruit puffs only though. It was more about learning not to stuff them all in her mouth then chocking on them for us I think though.
MustangMama
Active member
My DD was about 2.5-3 when we let her have her own food in the car. Before that we always sat with her and fed her.
Young. A year? Not sure. I remember needing Nathan to unbelt once because she'd fallen asleep with chicken in her mouth on the interstate. She was rear facing and so he had to lean over her seat and pluck it out of her mouth. I think she was older then, about 2.5. But she was pretty young, I'm sure. She gagged often and had a wonderful reflex and was very noisy about it, so between that and the mirror I could see what she had spit out. It was never a problem.
Wendy
Wendy
natysr
New member
Could you please describe this? My son is 4 year old, and I haven't seen him do anything like that.
bobandjess99
Senior Community Member
huh......since 6 months or so with ds....but those little dissolv-y puffs mostly, and graham sticks, cookies, banana, etc. DD can have anything really, since she was..2.5/3?......burgers, hot dogs, chicken, tacos, ice cream, cookies, apples......She eats her breakfast toaster strudel in the car every morming on the ride to school....But I'm generally laid-back, lol.....
Sure. By 4 they've usually outgrown it although my 2 year old still did it occasionally until a few months ago. All my kids have mastered it by 10 or 11 months at the latest. Basically, when they're learning to eat tougher foods, ones that aren't mush and don't dissolve immediately but require some gumming, they will be gumming and lose control. It will go too far toward the back of their throat, and they will choke a little. I watch them to see if they're in control or not. Usually the first several times it happens, they need help-- repositioning, or even a hooked finger to clear the item out. But after a month or two they will learn to deliberately interrupt the choking and reverse into a gag, while simultaneously maneuvering their tongues to bring the food item back to the front of their mouths where they can resume gumming on it. Once they are choking very little and consistently rectifying it in this manner each time they do, I feel okay letting them have food with a slightly lower level of supervision (not sitting right in front of them, watching every second while they eat.) I still do not give obvious choking hazards like nuts or anything, but something like Cheerios I'm okay being in a different part of the room and just keeping an eye and an ear out, checking over every minute or so. My eight month old is already at this point.
Thanks for the responses, I guess you guys have a good point, it depends on the child and the type of food. The child I know of who died was a 2yo and he was eating grapes. He was FF and the mother heard and saw him choke, that wasn't the issue. The problem was that she was driving on the freeway and couldn't stop the car fast enough. Very very sad!
I have always heard that you're supposed to cut grapes in quarters because it's a choke hazard (keep in mind maybe the mom in case did that, I have no clue, just going a bit off topic here). However, in one of dd's mommy and me classes every week someone brings snacks and twice grapes were part of the snack and they were not given to the kids cut and I swear those were the biggest grapes I've ever seen. Dd put one in her mouth and took it off a second later when she realized she couldn't do anything with it. The other kids ate them I guess and no one said anything... Anyway, I was just wondering.
I have always heard that you're supposed to cut grapes in quarters because it's a choke hazard (keep in mind maybe the mom in case did that, I have no clue, just going a bit off topic here). However, in one of dd's mommy and me classes every week someone brings snacks and twice grapes were part of the snack and they were not given to the kids cut and I swear those were the biggest grapes I've ever seen. Dd put one in her mouth and took it off a second later when she realized she couldn't do anything with it.
The other kids ate them I guess and no one said anything... Anyway, I was just wondering.
mommy2env
Active member
Grapes? Yeah, I wouldnt give whole grapes to my kid. I know of a 24 yo who died last year, by choking on a grape.
Most of the time, someone is in the back seat with my little one. Without supervision, I think it was close to 15 mos. Of course, it was something like puffs, or dry cereal.
Most of the time, someone is in the back seat with my little one. Without supervision, I think it was close to 15 mos. Of course, it was something like puffs, or dry cereal.
I have to admit, I only cut grapes for my kids until they're 18 months. Then I let them have them whole. BUT, I would not give a child grapes in the car. I give them whole grapes so they'll learn how to eat them, but they only get them while seated where I can watch them and assist if necessary.
Yeah, that makes sense!
It's part of our whole philosophy; I also don't use outlet covers. I know most places where they'll be won't have outlet covers, so I prefer to teach them not to touch an outlet or plug, and if they can't do that, not leave them in an area with an outlet.
Shaunam
New member
I think I started letting DS when he stopped choking on everything all the time! And after he was ff'ing. He wasn't normal though as far as I'm concerned. Most kids can actually swallow food by the time they are a year old with minimal problems.
If I had a kid who didn't choke, I'd be handing them whatever it took to keep them quiet. LOL
If I had a kid who didn't choke, I'd be handing them whatever it took to keep them quiet. LOL
bobandjess99
Senior Community Member
LOL..ya that! i had it written, but erased it ....but seriously...I'd let ds gnaw on a raw squirrel if it kept him from screaming.....
theshapeshifter
New member
If we're on a longer car trip where both DH and I are in the car, one of us (usually me) will sit in the back and feed DS easy-to-eat snacks if needed. I wouldn't let him eat on his own in the back yet; not sure when I would feel okay with that, definitely not till he goes FFing at least.
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