Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
As an Amazon Associate, Kids Eat in Color® earns from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links.
Author:
Charlotte Scott
Coauthors:
Hyemyung Kim, RD, CDN, CNSC, CLC
Share
+
Inside: Whether your child is just starting solids or is a more advanced eater, you may worry about choking and choking prevention. Check out some helpful choking prevention tools that can help you quickly and easily chop, cut and slice food into safe sizes for your child.
Alleviate some of the worry by equipping your kitchen with helpful cutting and slicing tools to help prevent choking in children. These tools can help you slice fruit, veggies and other foods quickly and easily. There are several different kinds you can use.
Below, we’ve reviewed the top choking prevention tools for kids. You may find a device that is the perfect fit for you and your family.
What are choking hazards?
Choking hazards tend to be foods that are hard, round or slippery, like crunchy veggies, hot dogs, string cheese and whole grapes.
You can modify foods to prevent your child from choking by cooking, shredding or cutting up the food. Some foods can also be pureed or mashed, like chickpeas.
Read our blog for tips on how to safely prepare and modify foods and to see lists of common choking hazards for kids broken down by age.
How to prevent choking in toddlers and babies
Here are the main things to remember to help prevent choking in toddlers.
Always supervise toddlers and babies when they’re eating.
Avoid serving your child common choking hazards until age 4.
Appropriately modify hard, round or slippery foods based on your child’s age.
Make sure your child is seated while eating. Note: A proper high chair footrest can help your child sit at the table more comfortably and for longer periods of time.
An infant CPR course can help make you feel prepared in case choking occurs.
If your child is a picky eater, our free picky eating guide can help you learn how to make mealtimes easier for your family.
Top choking prevention tools
See our list of top choking prevention tools you can use to cut foods to make them safer for children.
KitchenIQ Veggie Slicer
This veggie slicer allows you to pile in multiple fruits or veggies at once to get the job done! Why do we love this?
This feature allows busy parents and caretakers to cut more produce at one time, making it easy to prepare a large batch of appropriately-modified fruits and veggies to use throughout the week.
Things to consider:
Only certain sizes of fruits or veggies can fit in the slicer (such as olives, grapes, cherry tomatoes).
Simple, portable and handy, this convenient grape slicer definitely makes our list of top choking prevention products.
How it works: Simply place the food item of choice into the concave of the handheld slicer and push down. It slices round food items (grapes, olives, or cherry tomatoes) into smaller segments.
Things to consider:
It can easily be brought on the go.
Some shoppers have reported the handles of the slicer falling apart.
At times, it can be hard to clean (food gets trapped in weird spots).
The blades are only mildly sharp, and they can occasionally cause food to be squished instead of sliced.
Oxo Tot Grape Cutter
The Oxo Tot grape cutters are an all-around favorite. Not only is it the second most affordable option on this list, but it is also one of the highest rated options for choking prevention. Why?
It works like a pump. All you have to do is place your round fruit or vegetable of choice inside and push down on the lever to slice.
It is also so easy to clean and assemble.
Things to consider:
It cuts food in fourths. If you want something smaller, you will need to cut it manually.
The blades have been known to stay sharp over time.
A cover snaps into place for storage or to take on the go.
Firekylin Banana Slicer
Also handheld, this banana slicer is similar to the grape quarterer slicer. However, the banana slicer slices banana-shaped foods into several slim disks at once.
If you need strawberries or boiled eggs to be sliced, this may be the toddler choking prevention tool for you.
Things to consider:
It can be difficult to clean.
The blades are not edged, so it is unlikely they will cut anyone’s fingers.
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Charlotte Scott is a Western Carolina University Alumni with a B.Sc in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Minor in Spanish. She is currently a Child Nutrition Fellow for Kids Eat In Color and a dietetic intern at Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship. Charlotte is passionate about community service, nutrition counseling, and public health in the hope of opening her own center for families and children at financial risk. Volunteering is dear to her heart, and her curious nature intrigues a passion for expanding her knowledge in various fields.
Inside: Whether your child is just starting solids or is a more advanced eater, you may worry about choking and choking prevention. Check out some helpful choking prevention tools that can help you quickly and easily chop, cut and slice food into safe sizes for your child.
Choking is a common concern for many parents, whether they’re feeding rambunctious toddlers or just starting their baby on solids.
Alleviate some of the worry by equipping your kitchen with helpful cutting and slicing tools to help prevent choking in children. These tools can help you slice fruit, veggies and other foods quickly and easily. There are several different kinds you can use.
Below, we’ve reviewed the top choking prevention tools for kids. You may find a device that is the perfect fit for you and your family.
What are choking hazards?
Choking hazards tend to be foods that are hard, round or slippery, like crunchy veggies, hot dogs, string cheese and whole grapes.
You can modify foods to prevent your child from choking by cooking, shredding or cutting up the food. Some foods can also be pureed or mashed, like chickpeas.
Read our blog for tips on how to safely prepare and modify foods and to see lists of common choking hazards for kids broken down by age.
How to prevent choking in toddlers and babies
Here are the main things to remember to help prevent choking in toddlers.
An infant CPR course can help make you feel prepared in case choking occurs.
If your child is a picky eater, our free picky eating guide can help you learn how to make mealtimes easier for your family.
Top choking prevention tools
See our list of top choking prevention tools you can use to cut foods to make them safer for children.
KitchenIQ Veggie Slicer
This veggie slicer allows you to pile in multiple fruits or veggies at once to get the job done! Why do we love this?
This feature allows busy parents and caretakers to cut more produce at one time, making it easy to prepare a large batch of appropriately-modified fruits and veggies to use throughout the week.
Things to consider:
Related: What are the best vegetables for kids? Find out!
The Grape Quarterer
Simple, portable and handy, this convenient grape slicer definitely makes our list of top choking prevention products.
How it works: Simply place the food item of choice into the concave of the handheld slicer and push down. It slices round food items (grapes, olives, or cherry tomatoes) into smaller segments.
Things to consider:
Oxo Tot Grape Cutter
The Oxo Tot grape cutters are an all-around favorite. Not only is it the second most affordable option on this list, but it is also one of the highest rated options for choking prevention. Why?
It works like a pump. All you have to do is place your round fruit or vegetable of choice inside and push down on the lever to slice.
It is also so easy to clean and assemble.
Things to consider:
Firekylin Banana Slicer
Also handheld, this banana slicer is similar to the grape quarterer slicer. However, the banana slicer slices banana-shaped foods into several slim disks at once.
If you need strawberries or boiled eggs to be sliced, this may be the toddler choking prevention tool for you.
Things to consider:
Related: Does your child love fruit? Learn about the best fruit to serve kids.
Any properly sharpened knife
Slicing tools can make preparing the right-sized food easier and quicker for some. But slicers are not a one-size-fits-all kind of kitchen tool.
You don’t need fancy chopping tools to safely serve food to your child. If a regular, standard chef’s knife is your perfect slicing tool, that works!
Helpful tools for feeding kids, toddler and babies
Read more articles about mealtime tools and kitchen utensils that can help your child eat better.