12 month old ate charcoal

Question

My 12 month old picked up a small piece of charcoal that fell out of the surround from our wood heater today and ate it. (obviously it was cold). I was just wondering if this could make him sick etc...? He seems fine and i heard once that charcoal is actually good for you...?

Answer 1

I would call poison control just to ask. I once freaked out when my child ate a fly (yeah I was new at parenting.. lol). Anyway, they are very helpful.

Answer 2

likely he will vomit maybe the runs he should be fine lots of fluids give to him

Answer 3

He wont f**t much for a day or so, then!!!! (Charcoal is quite good for wind)

It's quite digestively beneficial in small doses.

Answer 4

You can buy it for stomach upsets. Thats plain old charcoal, not activated.

I have always wondered why we sterilize everything that come close to baby yet his first day in the garden and he manages to eat a handful of worms.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say that charcoal is good for a person, but it is used in cases of accidental (or purposeful) ingestion of poisons to neutralize them.  Too much charcoal can interfere with nutritional uptake in the intestine, but a small amount is generally harmless - as long as it's charcoal from a fire that has burned out not the self lighting charcoal you get for your grill.

Answer 6

i dont think it would do much. as kids if we were sick dad would give us a spoon full of charcoal followed by a glass of milk. i wouldnt worry,

Answer 7

It can make him constipated for a while

Answer 8

He should be fine... Like others have mentioned it is used to detox the body sometimes.  

Answer 9

Charcoal pills are found in health food in the Colon cleanser/ Internal cleansing/ Body Detox area. I don't think it will hurt him.

Answer 10

I'm sure they'll be fine but I would check with the pediatrician to be safe.. Good luck with the baby.

Answer 11

see what symptoms occur and if anything does...consult a doctor

Answer 12

charcoal is used sometimes as a detox, and as long as it wasn't a huge amount, which you said it wasn't, it will go right through him.