Cutting grapes

[birdmom]

A while ago, there was a discussion about cutting grapes. DS will be 2 in January. I always quarter his grapes when I give them to him. He eats fast and gets excited sometimes when he eats, I don't want to risk him choking.

Daycare put up a sign up sheet for their Halloween party tomorrow (it got moved because of the hurricane). I signed up for grapes, since no one had yet. I bought a bag with a few pounds, washed them and quartered them. I figured that 1. I didn't want DS eating them whole and 2. I didn't want the teachers to have to spend the time cutting them for every kid, if they even would. Just out of curiosity, would you ladies have cut them up if they were being shared with the whole class?

[lindyanne]

For that age group, yes. I don't usually do DS' grapes bc I know he's a good chewer and when I give them to him I watch him like a hawk (if I'm doing anything else like cooking while he's snacking I'll cut them). With a big group, you can't do that.

[birdmom]

I trust his daycare teachers, but since its a "party," I didn't know if other classes would all be sharing food. Since some of the kids are older, I realize that some of them probably eat them whole.

[lmh1209]

Our preschool (a co-op) requires us to cut grapes at least in half even for three-year-olds when we bring in the shared snack. I would quarter them for under threes (or if there would be anyone under three in the group). (That's what our pediatrician recommends -- quartering grapes and hot dogs until three.)

[h]

I always cut grapes if I was taking them to my kids' day care as a snack for the whole class.

[UnderProtest]

I guess I would think of it like you would any other snack. You wouldn't bring in cupcakes that needed to be baked, would you? So that is on the extreme example side, but what about popcorn. You wouldn't expect the teaachers to pop it for you. You bring in ready to eat food and if that age group requires cutting, then that's how you bring it in.

Wow, I really can't explain myself here. I hope that made sense to someone. It barely makes sense to me.

[Deleted]

I have never cut grapes for my 18 month old. It never occurred to me to do it. Even so his favorite thing to do with them after they are in his mouth is chomp down and make them explode in his mouth.

[mie]

Yes, I would cut them. Our preschool has something in their handbook stating that grapes need to be cut.

[annieh2]

Another vote for cut. I'm sending them as a group snack next week and will be quartering them ahead of time as well.

[ECB]

I would too. I don't cut DS's grapes at home anymore, but if I send grapes in his lunch, I at least halve them. His provider is busy w/ other kids - I don't want to take a chance that she's distracted and he starts to choke.

[Deleted]

I halve my DD's grapes. I would definitely at least halve for the class.

[atouchofklasse]

Yes

[Ashley&Scott]

I would have cut them too

[mishap]

Yes. I still cut my 6-year-old's grapes. ZOMG! HELICOPTER PARENTING!!!!

[UnderProtest]

Oct 31, 2012 23:17:22 GMT -5 mishy said:

UP, it makes sense to me. Like you wouldn't bring in a whole watermelon.

Thank you. Where were you in my horrific Romney post to translate?

[jena]

Even if I bring them in for my kid's own personal snack, daycare requires that they be cut. Even for the pre-K class. If you send whole grapes they will cut them if they have time, but otherwise they will not serve them to the kids.

Our state daycare regs state "You must not serve foods that present a risk of choking for infants and toddlers;" and "Examples of foods that present a risk of choking include hot dogs sliced into rounds, whole grapes,..."