How to Reduce a Baby's Risk of Choking on Household Objects

Babies are very curious and excited about exploring their world. One of the most common ways for a baby to learn about her environment is by putting objects in her mouth. You can reduce your baby's risk of choking on household objects by being aware of high-risk items and by baby-proofing your home.

Things You'll Need

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Choke tube or small-parts tester

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Instructions

How to Reduce a Baby's Risk of Choking on Household Objects

• 1

  Watch over your baby while she's eating, playing or crawling around.

• 2

  Consider putting your baby into a playpen or child-restraining seat to reduce his risk of finding and choking on household objects.

• 3

  Get into the habit of doing a room sweep a few times every day. Look for marbles, buttons, bottle caps, coins, safety or straight pins, lighters, balloons and anything else that might draw your baby's eye.

• 4

  Keep dog and cat food up on a shelf or in a protected area where your pet can access it but your baby cannot.

• 5

  Prepare an outside play area for your baby by removing any rocks, pebbles or dirt clumps.

• 6

  Carry a blanket or collapsible playpen for an instant safety zone for your baby while she plays outside.

• 7

  Stay with your baby while he plays in a sandbox, or keep him away from sandboxes altogether to reduce his risk of choking on handfuls of sand.

• 8

  Hang houseplants from the ceiling or set them on high shelves to prevent baby's choking on leaves or dirt.

• 9

  Buy a "choke tube," a small tube open on both ends that is approximately the size of a baby's airway, or use a toilet paper roll to check the size of toy parts.

• 10

  Purchase baby gates and use them to keep your baby out of potentially dangerous areas.

• 11

  Remind guests of the importance of keeping small objects out of your baby's hands.

• 12

  Encourage older children to put away their toys when leaving a room and when finished playing.