Common choking foods for kids

Our resident baby expert, Jenni Johnson, dishes out advice on what foods to avoid and what to do if your child chokes…

Common choking foods are big pieces of fruit and vegetable, hot dogs, nuts and popcorn. The most common age for choking is at 4-years and boys are more prone to choking than girls. Eating too fast and too big a mouthful are also causes so teach your children to eat slowly, take small bites, to sit and eat and know what to do if your child does choke. I will put first aid teachers and courses that can be done on jennisays.com

Separation anxiety can begin as young as 4 months of age, baby suddenly realises you’ve left the room and cries. If your baby is with you all time separate yourself from your little one for short amounts of time, leave him/her safely and go to another room and then come back. If crying starts as you leave the room say ‘I’m coming now’ and return. When your baby starts to crawl let him explore in a safe environment without you being with him all the time.

Grandparenting is an opportunity to play, to love someone new, to appreciate the magic of a developing mind and to be needed by a young person again. The role of grandparent allows you to share your wealth of knowledge with an eager learner. It allows you to provide support and encouragement to your children and your grandchildren and with technology today long distance relationships can be meaningful too.  

One of the ways to teach your children how to support the needy and less fortunate is to request a collection tin from your favourite charity, keep it in a visible spot in your home and let your children post some of their pocket money or spare change when your wallet needs some tidying. When full call the foundation and they will pick it up or give you a delivery address.

Growing pains in children are common between the ages of 2 and 12. There is no treatment but if your child complains or wakes at night because of sore legs it is possibly due to this. Explain that they’re getting taller, put up a measuring stick on a door frame to witness growth. Growing pains don’t affect how a child runs or walks and there should be no swelling or redness. Gentle massage can help.

* Catch Jenni on-air every day just after 10am with her tip of the day.

Jenni Johnson, our resident ‘Baby Whisperer’, has been a practicing child-care practitioner for 15 years, and owns a busy ante and post natal clinic in Durban.

At Jenni’s ante and post natal clinic in Durban, parents are taught a system that gives them structure and routine to the baby and childhood years. Jenni has a nursing background. She’s a registered nurse, midwife, psychiatric nurse and a practicing child-care practitioner for the past 15 years. Jenni’s online clinic, can be accessed online via www.jennisays.com. For appointments, e-mail [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter via @JenniSays or on Facebook by 'liking' The Berea Baby Clinic.