30 August 2023 , 12:39
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An ex-paramedic has warned parents about the risk of giving young children marshmallows and branded them a "severe choking hazard," urging them to try and avoid the sweet treat altogether. Nikki Jurcutz, CEO of parenting firm Tiny Hearts Education, took to TikTok to reveal the dangers that can happen.
The educator and mum highlighted they can be difficult for children under five to break down and the sticky treats can get stuck in their airways, which can make it impossible to clear with back blows. As she shared her important message, Nikki included a demonstration of what can happen to a child's narrow airways if the sticky sweet does get stuck, compared to what happens when a grape is trapped.
If you want to give your child marshmallows, she recommended to cut them into small pieces, or to give them mini ones instead, as she explained: "When they're wet, they become more sticky and more difficult to swallow and can be more difficult to remove from the airway. You can modify marshmallows to make them safer by cutting them into smaller pieces or swap out for mini marshmallows instead. Modifying foods is a great way to make foods safer for your little one."
Parents have been thankful Nikki brought this to light, as one parent claimed: "Oh my God, I've been giving my three-year-old marshmallows," whilst another added: "My daughter is four and was just eating marshmallows. I'm throwing them away now."
The NHS website states: "Some small objects, such as marbles, beads and button batteries, are just the right size to get stuck in a child's airway and cause choking. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that small objects like these are kept out of your child's reach."
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If your child does start to choke, it is recommended by the NHS that if you can see the object you should try to remove it, but don't poke blindly. You should also encourage them to cough it up, and if not effective, use back blows, chest thrusts for children under one, and abdominal thrusts for children over one. For more information you can visit the NHS help page here.