Dd just swallowed a Geomag ball - how much would you panic?

[purpleturtle]

Dd (nearly 5) just came through to the kitchen saying she thought she was going to be sick. Gave her a bowl, sent her to dh, because she thought she needed to sit on a lap. A few minutes later she and I were alone and she confessed to having swallowed one of the little balls from ds's geomag set. How many times have we told her off for putting them in her mouth in the past couple of days?!

I'm inclined to let nature take its course, being that kind of parent in general.

What would you do?

I don't wish to worry you, purple but aren't the geomag balls magnetic? Has she swallowed more than one?

I ask because apparently swallowing magnetic things can be serious as once they get to the intestines they attract each other and can then cause an obstruction with very serious consequences.

I would get her down to A&E pronto myself. Sorry to be the lone voice of dissent :(

This was the case which you reminded me of:

\link{http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/225765\Swallowed magnets from building set killed toddler}

Thanks, Georginars. But in that case the child had swallowed 2 magnets, whereas dd has swallowed one non-magnetic ball which connects the magnetic rods together.

She's fine!

Sorry, GeorginaA! Knew I should have double-checked.

That's a relief :) I wasn't sure if you were certain that she'd only swallowed one, or if the balls were magnetic as well!

Didn't want to not pass the info on - I know when I read about that toddler I became very cautious with how and where ds1 played with his magnetix set...

Awful story about the swallowed magnets. DS1's coin made an appearance in his poo this morning, thank goodness.

Oh that's awful about the magnetix, which I assume is the same as Geomag.

Dh has the poo peeping job, and I'm not convinced he's being particuarly assiduous, tbh!

When I was little I swallowed the metal spring from the middle of a peg - not really sure why or how!
Cos it was spikey and metal I was actually kept in hospital for a few days until it passed in my poo, but fortunately no lasting damage.

What is with kids wanting to put things in their mouths, or up their noses or generally in other places they shouldn't go??

For anyone still interested, the offending article has just been retrieved from the toilet pan.

Not as silver as it once was...

lol pmsl! thats good at least you know its out of the child

It is a bit of a relief - not that I was especially worried, but I had begun to wonder how long it might be able to sit in there unnoticed!

cheer

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew and phew!

Hausfrau, you know that, and I know that, but dh seems to think we need to keep it. No doubt he'll be posting a photo of it on his blog later as well.

He needs a job. (Not to mention a life - but that's probably a whole other thread )