Yahoo Finance Doctor reveals genius toilet roll hack to keep children safe
A doctor has gone viral on TikTok for sharing her simple but effective test to see which toys you should allow your toddler or baby to play with.
Paediatrician Doctor Norajiaka shares information on her social media channel about caring for children, but it’s her simple test to see if an item is in danger of choking a child that has gained almost half a million views.
Using an empty toilet roll, Dr Norajiaka shows a range of toys and items that can pass through the roll and some that can’t.
She advises if a toy can pass through the toilet roll, it’s not safe for children under the age of three years old as it may become stuck in your child’s windpipe and restrict breathing.
If the item is too big to pass through the toilet roll, it’s likely that item is safe to give to your child.
In Australia, 11 per cent of deaths in children under the age of eight are caused by accidental threats to breathing, such as suffocation or choking, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Dr Norajiaka recommends the toilet roll test for any item you are planning to give your child under the age of three as this is the age they are most likely to put toys in their mouths and choke.
She cautions supervision is still advised.
The toilet roll method also works as a reminder to cut food capable of blocking airways such as grapes and apples into smaller pieces.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also provides a Choke Check Tool that can be printed from their website.
It mimics the size and shape of a child’s throat up to 36 months, which you can use to help identify toys and other objects that can pose a risk of choking or ingestion hazards.
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