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AIBU?

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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:
dataandspot · 31/01/2017 22:36

Hopefully you didn't pour it down your sink or toilet?

CheshireChat · 31/01/2017 22:41

I didn't know this either and we actually ended up in A&E last night because DS got cinnamon oil in his eye! Nobody mentioned that they're this toxic, just that he needs to be seen.

They actually were out of reach, but DS dragged something to climb on Hmm.

SnugglySnerd · 01/02/2017 08:06

Pleased she is home from hospital now.
I have put a cupboard lock on the cupboard with all the olive oil etc. Thanks for warning us all about this.

Original poster
DesignedForLife · 01/02/2017 13:15

Data - you're right, I poured it Down the sink, that was stupid Blush

Errol, I will be, am also trying to find the right standards agency to complain to.

She's doing fine. Very bright orange shiny poos though!

OP posts:
SirVixofVixHall · 01/02/2017 17:41

I had never heard of this either. Does it really apply to edible oils too? Children were routinely given spoons of cod liver oil at one time weren't they? I also drizzle olive oil over everything.

MarvellousMonsters · 01/02/2017 17:43

Most 'baby oil' is made from petrochemical products, and when I trained as a massage therapist we were told to never use it as it's toxic and vile. If you want to moisturise use almond or coconut oil, or even plain sunflower oil. They are gentle and effective and completely non-toxic.

raspberrysuicide · 01/02/2017 17:55

I've never heard this before and I've done a paediatric first aid course as I'm a child minder!
Luckily my 2 children have never tried to drink anything like that because I'm pretty sure it was never put out of reach

GiaContettiBonafetti · 01/02/2017 17:59

Baby oil, mineral oil, and household lubricating oil are hydrocarbons. These slippery liquids can easily go down the wrong way, into the lungs, when someone swallows them. Other hydrocarbons include lamp oil, torch fuel, lighter fluid, gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, heating oil, hair oil, and some kinds of furniture polish.

Sara107 · 01/02/2017 18:08

Friends of ours DS drank Olbas oil (? that really smelly stuff for colds) and had to have his stomach pumped. I was surprised a small child would put it in their mouth because it's so pungent, but sometimes there is no accounting for what little ones will do.

takethattastic · 01/02/2017 18:10

Oh my goodness what a worry you must have had! Toddlers
Can get into anything! Hope you are all ok xx

cannotfindanickname · 01/02/2017 18:12

I have just bought some baby oil and it has a childproof lid. Which surprised me as they never used to have. Hope your Dd is OK

cannotfindanickname · 01/02/2017 18:26

I didn't know this either but have just looked at my johnsons baby oil and it does have a childproof lid and a warning message

Giddyaunt18 · 01/02/2017 18:29

Do you mean ingested or inhaled? Surely inhalation is ok, they have a nice fragrance!

Giddyaunt18 · 01/02/2017 18:30

If you want to moisturise use almond or coconut oil, or even plain sunflower oil. They are gentle and effective and completely non-toxic.

Not if a child is sensitive to nuts!!!!

Realjournal123 · 01/02/2017 18:31

Those dreadful small batteries- OMG! Friends very young daughter was showing distress and when they took her to hospital they found a tiny button battery in her ear which had embedded almost into the bones of her inner ear. It had leaked and now 6 years later and multiple problems later, she still suffers. This has upset and fragmented her whole family as they were all so distressed about it. These batteries are really dreadful so keep them away from small children. Please!

Lynnm63 · 01/02/2017 18:35

So glad your dd is ok, it must have been horrendous for you. I had no idea of the danger either and I've got three all teenagers now.
Accidents happen though so try not to beat yourself up too much. My ds2 used to like to pull on the kitchen cupboard doors. The under sink cupboard had one of those clip locks that snap over the door handle to prevent toddler access. Ds2 pulled and pulled weakening the childlock over time. One day he managed to snap it. He got into the undersink cupboard, opened a bottle of bleach and proceeded to pour half a bottle of bleach over himself. Luckily for me our health visitor had seen him pull on the door several times in visits and knew we had cupboard locks so we didn't get into trouble with SS.
It was a worrying few hours in A&E.

Realjournal123 · 01/02/2017 18:39

I know we are constantly being told what to use and what not to use these days but really..... These awful baby oils and bio oils are now out of date, old fashioned and really ghastly to use on young skin. The way forward is definitely coconut oil or a good natural oil. Even light olive oil is better than these mineral oils. Please stop buying them in their pretty pink plastic bottles from the baby section. They are so toxic. Go to your nearest supermarket or health store and get a good jar of organic coconut oil from your precious child. It lasts forever and you only need a little.

Wombletor · 01/02/2017 18:43

Thanks very much for posting this warning OP. I hope your daughter is okFlowers

Ineke · 01/02/2017 18:51

Yes, first port of call for toddlers, straight in the mouth! Or even in the ears or nostrils! Hope that DD is ok now. I would have thought that vomiting would have been good to get it all out of her system? Lots of fluids might now be a good thing.

newname12 · 01/02/2017 18:51

Friends of ours DS drank Olbas oil (? that really smelly stuff for colds) and had to have his stomach pumped.

If that's true it's not the correct treatment. As has been pointed out on this thread most of the danger if swallowed, is if it's inhaled, usually on the way back up through vomiting. Actually causing it to be brought back up by stomach pumping could have caused inhalation into the lungs. This is why stomach pumping is not done with anything anymore, and definitely not with volatile compounds.

I bet most on here don't realise that Guy's Poisons Unit has been shut down/privatised? The UK's "poisons unit" is now a computer database, instead of trained scientists with poisons expertise available day or night.

Ineke · 01/02/2017 18:54

Realjournal123 my daughter buys her organic coconut oil from Aldi. It's so good that I 'borrow' it. Natural oil is best for babies, such as almond or olive.

liz70 · 01/02/2017 19:09

"Do you mean ingested or inhaled? Surely inhalation is ok, they have a nice fragrance!"

You're confusing inhalation - of the oil - with merely smelling the scent of it in the air. This thread is about the danger associated with accidental inhalation of baby oil into the lungs while it's being ingested by a curious child. If the oil enters the lungs, it quickly spreads and coats the alveoli and can cause breathing difficulties and even suffocation.

Good to hear that your DD is okay, OP.

AntiqueSinger · 01/02/2017 19:19

No I didn't realise that about guys newname that's bloody awful. I bet that info slipped through the media exposure gap!HmmAngry I would have happily marched to defend that.

AntiqueSinger · 01/02/2017 19:20

No I didn't realise that about guys newname that's bloody awful. I bet that info slipped through the media exposure gap!HmmAngry I would have happily marched to defend that.

AntiqueSinger · 01/02/2017 19:25

OP I once stupidly, stupidly left a bottle of white spirit on the floor after decorating. Lid not suffciently tightened. DS took several swigs. He was 3. Thankfully he was fine. Don't beat yourself up too much, no one can be vigilant 24/7 365 days a year. Accidents do and will happen. I hope your DD is fine x

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