A MUM-OF-TWO has shared a life-saving parenting hack revealing how she tells if items are choking hazards for her toddler.
Paramedic Nikki, from Melbourne, simply places her thumb and first finger together to form a circle, and says items that can fit through the hole are potential dangers.
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In the clip, posted on the Instagram page Tiny Hearts Education, the mum can be seen dropping various items through the hole.
She wrote: “Say hello to my favourite parenting hack!
“This is how I check to see if food or small items may potentially be a choking hazard for my bubs.
“The circle is approx. the size of a child’s airway aged 0-3. If anything can fit in this hole, then it’s a choking hazard.”
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The items she drops through the hole, include cherries, popcorn, a coin, a grape, and other toys.
Nikki advised that parents keep these items out of the reach of children.
Many parents were highly appreciative of her tip, and said that it is particularly important at Christmas, when parents are often busy with preparations.
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One said: “Thanks for sharing this, I’m just about to sort the kids’ toys to remove any choking hazard with my smallest about to start crawling and reaching for toys.
“Such a clever way to pick out choking hazard toys!”
Another added: “Choking has always been one of my biggest fears”.
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When queried about how grapes can get stuck, Nikki explained: “This hack was created to help you find choking hazards and potentially save the life of your little one.
“It is designed to show you how easily an object could get stuck in an airway and block it.
“Take the grape, for example, if not in quarters the full grape could completely block the airway. It helps create awareness of certain objects that match this hole’s size and may be a choking hazard…
“This will help you when making buying decisions around toys and even with preparing food for your bub.”
And a mum issued a heartbreaking Cadbury’s Mini Egg warning after her daughter choked to death.
