A Child Swallowed a Supplement, Essential Oil or Herbal Product: What to Do
What to do first if a child swallowed a supplement, essential oil, camphor or herbal product: 911 for emergencies, Poison Help 1-800-222-1222 for everything else, and no vomiting.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Call 911 now if the child has collapsed, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be woken. [1]
Otherwise call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away, even if the child looks fine. Calls are free, confidential and answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. [2] For a baby younger than 6 months, Poison Control advises calling a poison center rather than using its online tool. [2]
Do not make the child vomit. [1] Have the container ready. [3]
Why a call is worth it even without symptoms
Symptoms can take a few hours or days to start. [3] MedlinePlus says not to wait for symptoms to develop. [4]
Products that are especially risky for small children
These come from the sources we read; they are not a complete list.
| Product type | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Iron-containing supplements | Iron overdose is particularly dangerous for children. A severe overdose can happen if a child eats adult multivitamins such as prenatal vitamins; with pediatric multivitamins the effect is usually minor. Symptoms can go away for a few hours and then return after a day or more. | [5] |
| Camphor | Even a small amount is dangerous if swallowed, and seizures can begin within minutes. In a reported case, a 22-month-old had a seizure lasting over an hour after eating a small piece of camphor placed for roach control. | [6] |
| Wintergreen oil | Very dangerous if more than a tiny amount is swallowed; Poison Control compares it to swallowing a large number of adult aspirin tablets. | [6] |
| Eucalyptus and sage oils | Swallowed eucalyptus oil can cause seizures; swallowing more than a very small amount of sage oil (Salvia) has caused seizures in children. | [6] |
| Lavender extract | A reported case: an 18-month-old who swallowed a small amount of lavender extract used as a home fragrance became very drowsy and confused, and recovered in about 6 hours. | [6] |
| Essential oils in general | Poison Control says misuse can cause serious poisoning, and that children's thin skin and immature livers might make them more susceptible. Inhaling an oil into the lungs while trying to swallow it can cause pneumonia. | [6] |
Poison Control's advice on storing essential oils where young children are present is to discard them safely, or lock them up out of sight and reach of children and pets. [6] The NHS likewise advises storing medicines and chemicals out of reach of children, ideally in a locked cupboard. [3]
Skin and eyes
If an oil or product got on the skin, remove contaminated clothing and rinse with lots of room temperature running water for at least 15 minutes. [1] In the eye, irrigate with room temperature water for at least 15 to 20 minutes. [1] Then call Poison Help.
What to have ready for the call
- The container, label or package, and the child's age and weight. [5]
- What the product was, how much may have been swallowed, and when. [5]
- Any first aid already given.
See What to tell Poison Help when you call for a fuller list.
More about children and natural products
- Children: supplements, gummies and herbs, poisoning and dosing risks
- Essential oil safety
- Poisoning: what to do first
This page does not give amounts or tell you how to treat a child at home. Poison experts and clinicians decide that.
Frequently asked questions
Should I make my child vomit?
No. Poison Control says not to induce vomiting, and that ipecac syrup is no longer recommended. [1]
My child seems fine. Do I still need to call?
Yes. Symptoms may take hours or days to start, [3] and in iron overdose symptoms can go away for a few hours and then return. [5]
Can I use the online poison tool for a baby?
Poison Control says its online tool is for ages 6 months to 79 years and to call a poison center by phone for younger children. [2]
Are children's multivitamins as risky as adult ones?
MedlinePlus says that for iron, the effect of too many pediatric multivitamins is usually minor, but adult multivitamins such as prenatal vitamins can cause a severe overdose. [5] Call anyway; poison experts judge the risk.
Are essential oils a poisoning risk for children?
Poison Control describes cases of seizures and drowsiness in toddlers after swallowing camphor or lavender extract, and warns misuse of essential oils can cause serious poisoning. [6]
References
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). First aid: Act fast!. Read 2026-10-22.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Need immediate assistance?. Read 2026-10-22.
- NHS (United Kingdom). Poisoning. Page last reviewed 12 June 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Poisoning first aid. Review date 1/8/2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Iron overdose. Read 2026-10-22.
- Poison Control (America's Poison Centers). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-22.