Baby swallowed something and I don't know what

[itsmehiimtheproblemitssme]

I'm gonna sound like the worst mother in the world but I took my eyes off my little one and then saw him eating something, he pulled a bit of an 'ew' face and swallowed whatever it was very easily before I could even grab it from his mouth.
I'm now worrying that it could've been something dangerous. I hoover every night so I just don't know what it was, but I did see half a skip (the crisps) on the floor so I guess I must've dropped one and maybe it was some of that.
But we are full of cold right now, he's drooling a lot but was before the swallowing incident. He's constantly coughing but again we're sick, so I can't tell if anything is wrong.
I don't know if I should take him to A&E because we actually have been before because I thought he swallowed a coin (he didn't)!!! So they're going to think I'm a shit mother and probably report me to social services!!
Would I know if he swallowed something dangerous? Aaagh I'm so exhausted.

Don't panic. We have baby twins and a 3 year old who will drop things everywhere, and definitely don't manage hoovering every day. It's ok. They almost always spit out things that aren't food, or pass stuff like bits of chewed up board book, so that provided you are generally careful, you can watch for tummy pains or discomfort as a guide.

Get a lock box for batteries and painkillers, keep a space for them to roam around where you keep a watch on what goes into it, and then try not to worry. Babies learn the world by tasting it.

If you’re pretty certain there was nothing dangerous (medication, batteries, any cleaning fluids etc) just monitor him for any gastro-type symptoms or listlessness. I’m pretty confident you would see anything alarming in a fairly short space of time and if anything was stuck in his throat you’d be able to differentiate a cough trying clear an irritant from a cold cough.

its a wild ride looking after these tiny lemmings but as long as their general environment is free from obvious dangers there’s only a small chance of them doing irreparable harm to themselves.

Unless there's a chance it was a button battery or medication or something sharp like a pin or needle, I wouldn't worry. Like PP said, they usually pass anything they swallow within 24-48 hours. It was probably just a hairy Skip.

Thank you guys for your lovely responses. I don't think it was anything sharp, I'm certain that the only potentially dangerous thing it could have been is the plastic attachment for Christmas baubles as a few have fallen off, but I really really doubt I would've missed it laying on the floor as they're quite shiny and big.
He's lost his appetite and has been coughing but again we both have a cold. Not been sick, so going to keep an eye and go to A&E if he gets worse.
I'm totally prepared for them to think I'm useless

This was me OP, two years ago. I was convinced somehow DD had swallowed a metal ball from a broken bracelet and that it was absolutely perforating her bowels. The fear is real!

It really is! I am convinced now that something is stuck in his oesophagus. I'm going to the docs this afternoon so we'll see 😌😢

I used to have these doubts all the time with my little one. Once I thought he swallowed a button battery was terrified but it was nothing. Let us know how the doctor appointment went x

Thanks all and to the PP. We have been to the doctors and while it doesn't seem like he's swallowed anything, he does have strep and a bacterial throat infection apparently. Poor baby :(
Thank you all for reassuring me I really appreciate it!