Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To warn you about Bio Oil and baby oil

139 replies

DesignedForLife · 30/01/2017 23:37

Don't leave in reach of young kids. If inhaled they can kill.

DH is sat in A&E with DD (2) waiting to be transferred to the paediatric ward. She swiped the bottle and drank it whilst he was making her bed.

I'm so worried, and feel so rubbish I can't be with her as baby DS is breastfed and won't take a bottle. I just want to be with her :(

Please please keep oils out of reach of kids. I had no idea. I had no idea she could unscrew lids!

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 31/01/2017 00:33

Reality - http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/babyoil.asp - unfortunately in this case not a myth. The case involved a child who was startled while drinking some, gasped and therefore inhaled.

OP, hope your DD just glugged a bit down the right way and has nothing worse than a bad tum, and thanks for posting the warning. Flowers

OneWithTheForce · 31/01/2017 00:36

I'm really shocked that people don't know this! But surely you keep oils out of reach of babies anyway? Why are people only moving them based on this thread?

FuckOffDailyMailQuitQuotingMN · 31/01/2017 00:41

I had mine out of reach of my toddlers - I had put oilatum in the bath and left the bottle on the counter. While I had my back turned to deal with one DC, the other one got the bottle (he climbed up out of the bath, the counter abuts the bath) and got the oilatum. I had no idea if he'd gulped it, how much or anything. He had reflux which apparently made the risk worse. It was awful.

Original poster
DesignedForLife · 31/01/2017 00:44

I'd normally keep oils out of reach, but not super high up like I would with any medicines.

I guess it's like button batteries. Not everyone realises how dangerous they are, but no one would think it would be a good idea to drink them. I had family members look at me like I was a paranoid loon when I asked them to ensure button batteries were well secured or out of reach.

OP posts:
OneWithTheForce · 31/01/2017 00:45

Sorry, I'm not being clear. I wasn't saying "it should have been out of toddlers reach", accidents happen to all of us in the blink of an eye. I'm wondering at the people on the thread who are just now deciding to move their bottles based on this thread. Had they not already realised they were a hazard even just because of risk of pouring it in eyes or drinking.

Original poster
DesignedForLife · 31/01/2017 00:46

Think I'm going to get a high shelf put up in the bathroom.

OP posts:
cantthinkofabloodyname · 31/01/2017 00:49

Ds2 got hold of a bottle of peppermint foot spray & drank some when he was a toddler. I phoned NHS Direct (current at the time) and they then got on to the poisons unit as peppermint oil is highly toxic. Thankfully he spat it out as soon as he tasted it & he was ok.
OP I hope your DD is ok now?

ChasedByBees · 31/01/2017 00:51

I didn't know this at all! Hope your DD is fine OP x

PinkTrotters · 31/01/2017 00:53

I genuinely had "no idea" that they could kill. I kept all of my ds's emolients on his dresser. They are now locked away thanks to OP for bringing this to my attention

Original poster
DesignedForLife · 31/01/2017 00:57

I feel less stupid that I'm not the only one who had no idea.

She's just had an ECG which was fine, they think she should be ok to come home tomorrow, now DH has to try to get her to sleep. Rather him than me!

OP posts:
PenelopeFlintstone · 31/01/2017 01:00

I personally know of a two year old that died from eventual suffocation from kerosene.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 31/01/2017 01:01

No actually, oneforce I didn't keep baby oil 'out of reach' for any reason other than the fact they'd have made a right bloody mess with it if they'd decided to play with it. I only kept the Olive Oil out of reach because it's in a glass bottle. I don't think it's actually a crime not to know that oils drunk can cause death through inhalation. I'm an accountant, not a scientist. I didn't put them in the same category as chemicals or medicines.

steff13 · 31/01/2017 01:01

I didn't realize this wasn't common knowledge. Frankly, we never kept baby oil in the house when ours were little. Thanks for sharing OP, for those who didn't know.

I hope your daughter gets better soon.

PinkTrotters · 31/01/2017 01:03

My ds is only afew months old btw so I'm baby proofing my house in preparation and I do feel a tad stupid for not knowing the dire effects.

steff13 · 31/01/2017 01:21

Do the baby oil bottles contain a warning there? I'm pretty sure they do here.

OneWithTheForce · 31/01/2017 01:22

I don't think it's actually a crime not to know that oils drunk can cause death through inhalation.

It's not a crime Confused who said it was? That also wasn't what I was surprised about. I explained in my previous post.

nocoolnamesleft · 31/01/2017 01:34

Essential oils are even worse. They're not just dangerous if inhaled, but can be poisonous in pretty minute quantities.

Astoria7974 · 31/01/2017 07:49

I had no idea this wasn't common knowledge either. One of the first thing my HV told me was to keep baby oil away from her reach.

Peanutbutterrules · 31/01/2017 08:18

Glad your DD is bouncing around happily OP.

I had no idea either. Sure, an upset stomach, not great etc etc but suffocating? Was never told, and never 'came up' with other mothers.

Am amazed baby oil doesn't have a child proof cap on it.

SoupDragon · 31/01/2017 08:19

I would hazard a guess that there is not a single parent who will get their children through childhood without at least one, probably more, near miss with something easily preventable.

AnaG1ypta · 31/01/2017 08:23

I like to think I'm pretty clued up on dangers but this was a new one to me.

Hope your DD is home today.

GoesDownLikeACupOfColdSick · 31/01/2017 08:24

Glad your DD is ok, Op. what a massive shock for you and your DH:(

I also did not know oils could have this effect - baby oil etc are out of DD's reach because I just assumed she shouldn't have them, but didn't know why specifically. Eyes opened.

Conclusion - Basically, there really isn't anything that the little buggers can't use to try and kill themselves!!!

Foureyesarebetterthantwo · 31/01/2017 08:29

I have never heard of this before!

No, I wouldn't think to treat baby oil on the bathtub or an oil for stretch marks in the same way I treated bleach or cleaning products.

I really had no idea, so thanks for posting!

AnnieAnoniMouse · 31/01/2017 08:31

How was she through the night? I hope your DH can take the day off work today, both for his sake & yours.

BertieBotts · 31/01/2017 08:33

I didn't know this either. I would have thought it would be the same as shampoo or something - not particularly a good idea to drink, but not potentially deadly.