Dear Baby

When I was a little girl, I choked on a hotdog one night while I was eating dinner. I remember my mom panicking and trying to swipe her fingers down my throat to get it out. She screamed for my father who was outside. Fortunately, he knew how to do the heimlich maneuver and out came the hotdog. I was just a little thing, but I remember that experience so clearly. I can’t even imagine the relief that must have washed over my parents once they knew I was going to be ok.

Because of my experience, I became hyper sensitive to the risks of choking with children. Whenever I would babysit, I would cut up their food in such tiny pieces that they would sometimes complain that it didn’t even look like a hotdog or chicken nuggets anymore. “It still tastes yummy, I promise” I would reassure them. Other times, I would play a “game” where they had to chew each bite atleast 8 times before swallowing, with me counting outloud in english and spanish. Meal times were a constant stress for me, even if I did know how to give the heimlich.

Even as an adult, I’m always afraid that my dogs will choke on a treat or a bone. How in the world do you do the heimlich on a dog???

Anyway, I can only imagine how strong this fear will be when our child begins to eat solid foods. Don’t be surprised if I try to purree everything they until they are 13. I found this hot dog slicer online today and it made me giggle.

M