My Baby Ate Baby Powder: What To Do?

It is not simple to be a mother. I have a lovely daughter whom I love to the moon and back. Raising her, on the other hand, has been no easy task. Once my baby ate baby powder accidentally. It was a horrible experience. I had tons of questions and concerns in my mind, but there was no proper answer. 

The first thing is to check for any signs of physical discomfort. Call local poison control or go to a nearby hospital or healthcare provider if there are any. If your baby ate only a little bit of baby powder, probably nothing serious would happen. Either way, seek emergency medical help. 

In my case, the amount my baby ate was tiny. Nothing serious happened to my girl. But, no matter what, my anxiety was sky-high. At that time, I wished someone had told me these things in a calm and well-organized manner. I feel your concern as a mother. That’s why I have tried to put all the necessary information here in order. 

What Should You Do If Your Baby Swallowed Baby Powder?

Check your baby for any physical discomfort. And call poison control immediately if you find any. For the U.S., it is 1-800-222-1222. Rush to the nearby hospital emergency if they are unreachable.

I know it’s hard, but I suggest you keep your nerves calm in this situation. I was also the one panicking out of my mind when my baby swallowed baby powder. But now I wish I knew better. My little girl also panicked, seeing me panicking. It took a lot of effort to calm her down to know the actual scenario. 

In my case, nothing serious happened to her. Fortunately, the baby powder didn’t have any harmful ingredients. Also, the amount she ate was not much. Still, I checked her for any severe physical discomforts. And I found none. But if you want to make sure nothing happens to your baby, go to a healthcare provider for your baby’s checkup.

Do You Need To Go To The Emergency Room If Your Baby Ate Baby Powder?

If your baby develops any poisoning symptoms, then yes. Moreover, talcum is a poisonous ingredient to inhale or swallow. Breathing difficulties are a major symptom of talcum poisoning. Check the ingredients of your baby powder. If you find your baby in any physical discomfort despite the ingredients, rush to the emergency.

In my case, I didn’t need to go to the hospital. My kid didn’t have any adverse side effects. She was just a bit panicky seeing me panicking. Also, the amount of powder swallowed is important here. Even a tiny amount of talcum most likely won’t do your baby any harm. Do a health checkup on your baby, even if they swallowed a tiny bit of talcum powder. 

Remember that powder is a dry substance that can cause a little bit of coughing. But if the coughing gets severe, get medical help as soon as possible. You can’t handle it at home. It’s a medical emergency. 

Things To Expect In The Emergency Room

The doctor or healthcare provider would want to know the baby powder’s name. Take the powder container with you if possible. That way, the ingredient list would be clear. Doctors may check the expiry date of the powder. The doctor may want to know how much time has passed since the baby ate the powder. The amount of powder your baby has eaten is also important. 

Doctors will measure your baby’s vital signs, such as body temperature, oxygen saturation, breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. They will give your baby the treatment they need. Also, doctors will do all the necessary tests. They may want to admit your baby to the hospital if there are any lingering complications. 

I know that this situation will be tiring for you. Take emotional help from your family and friends at this time. Also, don’t dwell on the negative outcome. I know how anxious a mother can be when her baby is in danger. Take a deep breath and give the doctor all the possible correct answers. After that, rest assured that doctors are doing their best. 

Baby Powder Poisoning Symptoms

If the baby powder contains talc, then the probability of poisoning increases based on the amount inhaled or consumed. Some major symptoms of baby powder poisoning are- 

• Choking 
• Coughing from throat and airway irritation 
• Eye irritation 
• Chest pain 
• Respiratory distress
• Rashes or blisters 
• Stomach ache
• Diarrhea 
• Shock from poisoning 
• Fainting 

From now on, check the ingredients of the powder. Try to buy products with safe ingredients. A good baby powder for your baby is safe and effective for your baby’s overall skin health. Don’t compromise your baby’s safety and well-being for marketing gimmicks by large companies. 

If your child has any of these symptoms, get medical help as soon as possible. Also, make sure this information is ready- 

• Your child’s age and medical history 
• The name of the baby powder 
• When the baby swallowed the powder
• The amount of powder swallowed

How Long Should You Wait For The Symptoms To Come Along? 

There is no research-based data on when the symptom will start appearing. It can be right after eating the powder, or it can take some time. But from the data collected for other poisonous substances, it should be around half an hour if it’s not slow poisoning. 

Also, it depends on how much powder the baby has eaten. So there is no surefire way to know about this. If you feel afraid, call for emergency help when you find your baby ate the powder. Go to the hospital and do the checkup. There is no loss here. 

If twenty-four hours have passed and no possible symptom has appeared, then you can rest easy. It is improbable that you will develop poisoning symptoms after twenty-four hours. Also, keep checking your baby for physical discomfort after eating the powder. 

You may ask if there are any long-term side effects of talcum powder poisoning. If the baby ate the powder only once and you make sure they don’t consume it again, then there are no lingering health hazards for your baby. But change the talc-based powder to a safer choice of powder, as talc is toxic if swallowed or inhaled. 

First Aid If Your Baby Ate The Baby Powder

Don’t make the child vomit. In that way, you can damage the throat and block the air passage. Instead, rush to the hospital or call poison control if poisoning symptoms appear. Healthcare professionals manage poisoning by harmful substances. Move your baby to fresh air if they inhaled some of the powder while eating. 

Other first aid includes checking your child if they have any signs of respiratory distress, stomach pain, or chest pain. If symptoms occur, don’t try to do anything at home. Only professionals can handle this type of poisoning. Go to the nearest healthcare provider or call local poison control. 

If your baby doesn’t develop any severe symptoms, you can relax. Calm down in this situation to let the baby relax. A child mimics their mother’s reaction. It’s natural to get anxious about your child. But if you exhibit intense panic, your child will get more scared about the situation. Try to keep your head calm. I know it’s better said than done. But try it. 

How Harmful Are Baby Powders For Babies If Swallowed?

It depends on the ingredients of the baby powder. Check for the ingredients that are safe for babies. Some examples are cornstarch, arrowroot, and plant extracts. But if your baby is allergic to any of those possibly safe ingredients, avoid them. But talcum used in some baby powder is unsafe if the baby accidentally inhales or eats it. 

Some brands say that their baby powder is safe to use, but they are not. Do your research on safe ingredients. You may need to customize the ingredient list for your baby. My daughter is allergic to flowers. So I need to check if the baby powder ingredient list has any flower extracts. 

That’s why I always check before I buy anything for my kid. Organic baby powders are an excellent option for kids not allergic to any ingredients. Also, check for the dermatologically tested sign before buying anything for your child. 

How To Stop Babies From Eating Baby Powder?

The only option is keeping the powder out of reach from your baby. Keeping a watchful eye on your child is also essential. Still, accidents happen. You shouldn’t beat yourself up for it.

Ensuring babies’ safe swallowing of skincare products is a way to dodge the accident. But you don’t want your kid to eat powder now and then. So it’s wise to keep every potential non-edible product out of the child’s reach. 

I know it’s hard, especially if you have a toddler. Toddlers are everywhere at the same time! It’s impossible to hide anything from them. That’s why I hide everything potentially dangerous from my kids in high cabinets and shelves. If that’s not an option for you, lock the things up away from your child. 

Conclusion 

Accidents happen. That’s how it is. Even after keeping sharp watchful eyes, my baby ate baby powder too. A mother always wants to keep her child safe. You are also doing the same. 

Be proud of handling every disastrous moment bravely for your baby. Good luck!