Toddler eaten berries from the garden - don't know what they are - help!

[ajm200]

Nipped to the loo and left my toddler in the garden unsupervised for a minute or so. When I got back outside he was eating something. Asked him to spit it out and he spat out about 10 small red berries, I don't know if he has swallowed any or if they are poisonous.

The shrub that they are from has very small (.5cm long) shiny dark green leaves and flowers with white flower in the late spring/early summer.

What should I do?

[CountessDracula]

rosehip?

[saltire]

Personally, I would take him and the berries to A&E jsut to be on the safe side

[CountessDracula]

yes me too

[dereelicte]

Yes, I think I trip to A&E I'm afraid. Take the berries with you, and a snippet of the bush.

[catinthehat]

sounds like cotoneaster, in which case would be helpful to have an idea how many have been eaten. "LArge amounts" seem to be the key for this plant - if that is the culprit.
But its an A&E job really

[ajm200]

OH has the car and will be home in 30 mins or so.

I called NHS direct for advice in the meantime, talked to a really helpful nurse who was able to identify the plant and got me to compare it with a photo on the internet.

Good news, it isn't poisonous thank god! I have to keep my son up for the next 4-6 hours to watch for allergic reactions and fill him up with milk but other than that we've had a lucky escape.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[ajm200]

The national poisons db advises that ingestion may cause upset tummies so I can expect some nasty nappies over the next few days but it won't kill him or cause lasting damage

[tortoiseshell]

Did they tell you what it was? Sounds like hawthorn to me.

Apparently, no children have died in the last 20 years from eating poisonous berries, which is encouraging.

[ajm200]

It is cottoneaster.

[ajm200]

He didn't have time to eat a large number and spat about 10 out. He would have to eat a very large amount before it is considered toxic