What happens if a baby eats a bath bomb?

What is a Bath Bomb?

A bath bomb or bath fizzie is a consumer product used during bathing. It was invented and patented in 1989 by Mo Constantine, co-founder of Lush Cosmetics. It is a compacted mixture of wet and dry ingredients molded into any of several shapes and then dried. Bath water effervesces at the surface of a bath bomb immersed within it, with attendant dispersion of such ingredients as essential oil, moisturizer, scent, or colorant.

Ingredients Inside Bath Bombs

When you purchase a bath bomb, there are many varieties. But they will all come with some basic ingredients to make them fizzy and last during your bathtime. Let’s discuss the main ingredients in bath bombs.

• Epsom salt (also known as magnesium sulfate) is probably something you’ve heard of – it’s composed of sulfur, magnesium, and oxygen.
  • Uses: For hundreds of years, it’s been used to treat insomnia, fatigue, muscle pain, and fibromyalgia, but it’s important to note that these benefits haven’t been really researched as treatment.
  • While some people do drink it (not recommended), most people use epsom salt soaks as a way to manage stiffness, muscle pain, and swelling
• Sodium bicarbonate is a combination of citric acid and baking soda. This is what gives the bath bombs that fizzy consistency when the citric acid and baking soda are introduced into the bath water.
  • Uses: The results of these ingredients hitting the water (through some amazing chemical reactions) is the release of carbon dioxide gas, which forms the bubbles in the water, eventually giving you that delightful fizzy feeling.
• Cornstarch is another ingredient it’s likely that you’ll see listed on the label of your bath bombs and it serves a very important purpose.
• Uses: to slow down the chemical reactions so that the fizz (carbon dioxide – a gas) last longer.

What happens if a baby eats a bath bomb?

If you accidentally eat a bath bomb, you may experience irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
This is because it contains sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, which can cause a chemical reaction in your stomach and produce carbon dioxide gas.
Sodium bicarbonate can also cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance if consumed in large amounts.
Citric acid can also cause oral irritation or sensitive teeth due to acid erosion.
It is quite uncommon to eat a bath bomb due to its unpleasant taste and texture.
However, some bath bombs may look like food items, such as cupcakes or donuts, which can attract curious children or pets.
You can call the poison control center at 1 (800) 222-1222 if you or someone else has eaten a bath bomb and is experiencing symptoms.
They can provide you with advice on how to treat the situation and when to seek medical attention.
To avoid accidental eating of bath bombs, you should store them in a safe place away from children and pets.
You should also label them clearly as bath products and not food.
You should also supervise young children when they are using bath bombs in the bath.