children and choking two part question?

Question

O.k my sister and I are having a diagreement, she gives her one year old daughter a whole ice cube to suck on and she thinks that her daughter won't choke because the ice will melt I disagree, can anyone t ell me who is right.Ok now the reason for the whole conversation is my daughter who is four chokes on things really easily as a matter of fact I have to cut her food up like you would a nine month old she has really enlarged tonsils and has to have them removed now does anyone know if this could be a cause for her choking

Answer 1

Probably

Answer 2

well you're both right, kind of. It is difficult for a one year old to choke on an ice cube, not because it would just melt, but because it to big to get lodged in her throat, it's kind of the equivalent of an adult choking on a baseball. But It's not totally safe to suck on an ice cube because it get smaller as it melts which will eventually cause a choking hazard, and the edges of the ice can be hazardous to her throat. And, like somebody above me said, it takes a lot longer for the ice to melt than it does to choke. Set a an ice cube on the table in front of your sister and tell her to hold her breath until the ice melts; she may change her mind on the whole ice cube thing.
As far as your daughter choking, I'm assuming she isn't actually choking but just gagging. choking is where the food is physically lodged in her throat, she cannot breathe, talk or cough (it's a common misconception that if a baby is coughing that they are choking on something, you are unable to cough when you are choking which is why it's so dangerous). More likely, she is gagging frequently, her eyes may water, she will cough or make that great "ack" sound. This is probably a result of her enlarged tonsils which may irritate the back of the throat and the uvula giving her a super sensitive gag reflex. The problem should get better after she has them removed and the tissue has time to heal, in fact a lot of people lose their gag reflex all together when their tonsils are removed.

Answer 3

I wouldn't give a one year old an ice cube to suck on. I won't even give my two year old and ice cube. It will melt but it will take longer to melt than to choke on it. Also as it is melting and the child is struggling to breath I would think that the water would get aspirated into the lungs and cause drowning! And as for your 4 year old choking, the tonsils could very well be the culprit. I knew a 5 year old that was the same way and had her tonsils removed. She eats just fine now.

Answer 4

My Mum was giving my kids ice cubes at that age. They never choked on them. They loved them. It was a concern for me though. So if my Mum gave her ice I'd put it in a freezer bag and then smash it till it was in tiny pieces and then give it to them. Or my Mum would just bite the ice into little pieces and give it to them like that.

The fact that your daughter chokes easily is not an indicator that her daughter will choke on the ice. It sounds like its your daughters tonsils. Or something else. Get her checked out.
Just tell your sister to crush the ice first so its safer.

Answer 5

It sounds like she has a really sensitive gag reflex. But the tonsil thing don't help. That is why i constantly choke cause of gag reflex and the ice numbs it. It is ok with the ice thing that is what pediatrician said about my daughter. but chewing on ice cubes ruins the enamel on the teeth so it is a bad habit to start.

Answer 6

you are right about both things. the one year old can choke but the ice will eventually melt. will it melt before or after the child gets brain damage due to lack of oxygen to her brain is to be determined. my son loves ice as well and I have always given him a cup of ice chips even if I have to put the ice in a plastic baggy and crush it myself. as for your child, her tonsils do have something to do with how easily she chokes.