Mom & Former Paramedic Warns Parents of Unexpected Danger Lurking in Everyone’s Fridge

@tinyheartseducation/TikTok

When we feed our kids, we try to choose the healthiest and safest options. Many of us probably take extra precautions with certain foods such as hot dogs and grapes, which are known for being choking hazards. We might cut those up into smaller pieces or not give them to our kids at all for fear that they may choke. After all, our kids' safety should be our top priority.

One mom and former paramedic posted a TikTok warning of another hazardous snack we may not even be aware of. Nikki Jurcutz, who posts under the handle @tinyheartseducation, explained in a recent video that parents must be careful about feeding our kids cucumber and offered safer ways to prepare the healthy snack.

Choking is scary.

@tinyheartseducation Cucumbers aren’t talked about much when it comes to choking, so I wanted to shed some light so you feel more prepared. How do you prepare cucumbers for your little one? #cucumber #introducingsolids #startingsolids #firstfoods #chokinghazard ♬ sometimes all i think is you - ☁️

If you have ever experienced choking or watched someone else struggle, it can be terrifying. Thankfully, we can help lessen the risks of choking by how we prepare our food. It is always a good idea to cut food into the smallest pieces possible for our kids, particularly when they are very little.

Jurcutz recognizes that parents are probably aware of risky foods such as hot dogs, carrots, grapes, and olives, but she said cucumbers are not as safe as we think. She warned that they can break off and quickly get lodged in the throat.

We never would have thought of her food prep technique.

Full disclosure: We had no idea that cucumbers were a significant choking hazard and have totally given them to our kids cut up without a second thought.

Jurcutz suggested parents steam their cucumbers to soften them for a little one before cutting them into little strips or grating them. The safety-centered mom also explained that offering them in thin slices is OK as children get a little older.

Some parents were surprised by the tip.

@tinyheartseducation Replying to @rae_mccarthy Grating cucumbers is a great wat to make them more safe for your little one. Here’s some other ways you can prepare cucumbers to reduce the risk of choking #cucumber #introducingsolids #startingsolids #chokinghazard ♬ sign of the times -

Cucumbers are a pretty soft food, and not everyone realized they could cause choking.

"this is way better than what I was doing. someone take my mom card away," someone wrote.

"Omg I gave my 10 month old cucumber sticks today l didn't even think that they were a choking hazard. I'm so glad I've seen this video now," another parent commented.

Lots of other parents have had trouble with cucumbers in the past.

"only food my son has choked on and we even sliced them thin like that. so sad cause he LOVES cucumbers," one mom wrote.

"My son choked on a cut up piece of cucumber at a BLW course, [the] mums were all older than me and I got SO JUDGED!! They all saw him choking before," another mom admitted.

"yep. no one talks about them but my baby has choked on them twice," someone agreed. "[I]t actually got worse when he got more teeth because he'd bite off chunks," someone else agreed.

Jurcutz is an excellent resource for parents.

@tinyheartseducation The position you put your baby in matters! And this reel demonstrates why ☝️ Remember for baby’s a neutral “sniffing the sky” position is optimal for opening the airway. Save and share this info that could save a little life ❤️ #firstaid #cpr #parentsoftiktok ♬ original sound - sophia

Her TikTok account has 19.8 million likes — and for good reason. She offers helpful tips for parents on everything from eating healthy to car seat safety and CPR. She is an excellent resource for helpful information that is no-nonsense and could help save a child's life.

"Could you please upload more food safety ways to prepare it I'm on a baby led weaning page but they say to cut it like this. Xx," someone asked on her choking video.