Quick HELP!!!! Anyone know if Cross fountain pen ink is toxic/non-toxic????

[rockingaroundthechristmastree]

DD (10 months) just found my pen whilst I was expressing and I'm not sure how much ink she sucked out, but her black tongue/mouth/lips/the virtually empty ink cartridge have me a bit worried! The Cross website says nothing and the customer service line is now closed. And DH totally not impressed...(Cuz I should be able to simultaneously express breastmilk, apply for a new job online, and ensure DD doesn't manage to eat anything she shouldn't .... ok I know I shouldn't have had my handbag down on the couch but FFS!!!)

Anyway - Can anyone ease my mind and tell me it's non-toxic and not to worry????

PLEASE???

[Ewe]

NHS direct?

[rockingaroundthechristmastree]

I might just have to - but every time I call them they send us straight to A&E/Out of Hours...not sure if they'd even know...

[Jacksmama]

writing ink is usually not toxic

[teddygrowlsunderthesofa]

They will know, they contact a special national poisons place (I think it might be in Scotland) and find out from there. Def NHS direct (with as much info as possible about what it is).

[Jacksmama]

and the amount in an ink cartridege if it's the kind i'm thinking of is about 1-2 mL

looks awful (you know how spilled blood always looks like a lake even if it's a teasoon) but really a small amount

wash her mouth out with wet cloth

monitor for vomiting

should be o.k.

hugs!!!!

[psychomum5]

ink AFAIK is non-toxic as ink often leaks, so you (or she), should be safe, but I am no medic so please don;t quote me, and ring NHS direct in case (they can access poisons websites, going on they had to with my DS1 when he drank essential oils at 14mths ).

she may well have interesting poo for a few days tho

[Jacksmama]

also remember school children used to learn to write with ink - how often do you think ink was drunk by some experimenting munchkin?

try not to worry too much

and btw, what was DH doing whilst you were expected to be multi-tasking mummy of the year? watching the telly??

[rockingaroundthechristmastree]

Thanks for the reassuring words - have just gotten off the phone with NHS Direct who have just given me Jacksmama's excellent advice .

Right before calling NHS, Also managed to find the number for Cross customer service in the US - woman who answered didn't know if ink was toxic, then put me on hold and came back with, "Well, it doesn't say. But it does say that it doesn't contain anything harmful. And if swallowed to induce vomiting, give water, and seek medical attention. So, I don't know. What does the book that came with the pen say?"

DH (who was supposed to be watching her whilst I expressed) had gotten up and tottered off to the bedroom...only to come back and blame me. GRRRR! !

[psychomum5]

I will bet that your handbag will be up high from now on!

but not before whacking your DH with it for tottering off while you expressed.

[Jacksmama]

i think you should wait until (D)H is asleep and then poke him sharply in the ribs with the pen
wish I'd known you were going to call Cross in the US, that must have cost a fortune, I live in Canada, would have called for you

[rockingaroundthechristmastree]

Everything in my house will be up high from now on!

And I'm thinking DH needs a double whammy - handbag to the head and pen in the ribs about fifteen minutes after falling asleep!

Jacksmama - thanks for the offer, but it was fine - my family's in the US, so we have a great international calling plan

[JacksFirstChristmasMama]

no worries! hope she's fine... let us know if she poos sepia for a few days

[JacksFirstChristmasMama]

So did she have blue-black poo today?

[rockingaroundthechristmastree]

Poor bug woke up with a big gray vomit 15 minutes after I put her to bed last night...though I think it helped clear most of it out of her system, only a slightly darker than usual poo today !

And on the subsequent NHS call I spoke to someone who said that pens manufactured after 1992 don't contain oxy???something which is what used to be the toxic substance in ink - good to know for future ink-drinking adventures!

Jacksmama - Had a peek at your profile - Jack's a doll btw!!!

[JacksFirstChristmasMama]

Thank you - I like him

Your poor little monkey!! I don't know what the toxic substance would have been but I figured with the amount of ink that gets licked off grubby little fingers etc, it couldn't be toxic if school children used it. Hopefully she'll remember the experience, although she sounds like she's only a few weeks older than Jack... I have no clue how much they remember at this age...