Any parent knows that the greatest way to keep a young child happy is by having something to fill their mouth with. Whether that’s a pacifier, teething toy, food or even your finger, it’s amazing how quickly a situation can go from screaming and fussing to quiet and peaceful with a mouthful of distractions.
One of my personal favorites are “puffs.” You know, the long bottle that hangs out of every diaper bag?
But after puffs, or “cheesies,” as he called them, almost claimed the life of his daughter, Justin Morrice has an important warning for all parents.
“As I sit here still shaking I’m posting this as a reminder to ALL parents of small children…please always read labels on the foods we feed them,” he wrote in a post on Facebook.
Justin says he had just finished feeding his daughter, Annabelle, when he headed to the sink to clean her dishes. Before doing so, he poured some “cheesies” on her highchair tray to occupy her while he stepped away.
Justin Morrice
“In less then 10 seconds I had turned to rinse her bowl in the sink…turned back and saw her gasping for air. She was trying to cry but no sound was coming out!”
Justin rushed to Annabelle, flipped her over and started “slapping” her back repeatedly, hoping to clear her airways. But when he flipped her back over, her lips had turned blue.
Panicked, he turned her face-down again, and continued the forceful movements, but nothing was working. Her lips were even more blue, and he was quickly losing her.
“At this moment, I thought my little girl was going to die in my arms.”
That’s when Justin did the only other thing he could think to do to get his baby girl breathing again.