Encourage children to sit when eating and to chew thoroughly. Teach them to chew and swallow their food before talking or laughing. Never let children run, play sports, or ride in the car with gum, candy, or lollipops in their mouths. Be especially vigilant during adult parties, when nuts and other foods might be easily accessible to small hands. Clean up early and carefully, and check the floor for dropped foods that can cause choking.
Toys Always follow all manufacturers' age recommendations when buying toys.
Some toys have small parts that can cause choking, so heed all warnings on a toy's packaging. Check toys frequently for loose or broken parts - for example, a stuffed animal's loose eye or a broken plastic hinge. Warn older children not to leave loose game parts or toys with small pieces in easy reach of younger siblings. Balloons and Other Small Objects Never give balloons to a child younger than age eight. A child who is blowing up or chewing on a balloon can choke by inhaling it.