Which houseplants/outdoor plants should we avoid having a baby on the loose?

(This was in an email that I received from BabyCenter.... and be forewarned... there are A LOT!)

Martin N. Simenc, child safety expert
Many parents worry that their child may get sick from nibbling on a poisonous plant. The good news is that most houseplants and outdoor plants are completely safe. Even so-called "toxic" plants don't usually cause more than a stomachache after a few bites. Still, some plants can definitely be dangerous to children.

See below for a list of toxic plants commonly found in houses and yards. Pictures of many of these are available at Cornell University's Poisonous Plant Database.

If you need help identifying a particular plant, take a clipping to a local nursery for assistance. And if you suspect poisoning from a plant or any other source, call the American Association of Poison Control Centers' national emergency hotline at (800) 222-1222, which will automatically redirect you to a local poison control center. Add this number to your list of emergency numbers by the phone.


Poisonous plants:

Flowers:

Azalea

Daffodil bulbs

Delphinium

False hellebore

Foxglove

Hyacinth

Hydrangea

Larkspur

Lily-of-the-valley

Lupine

Monkshood

Oleander

Rhododendron

Tansy

Wisteria

House plants:

Dumb cane

Caladium

Ground plants:

Baneberry

Belladonna

Caladium

Caper spurge

Death camas

Nightshade

Poison hemlock

Pokeweed

Water hemlock

White snakeroot

Trees:

Black locust

Buckeye

Cherry

Chinaberry

Goldenchain

Holly

Mountain laurel

Sandbox

Tung

Shrubs:

Castor bean

Daphne

Duranta

Holly

Jessamine

Lantana

Mistletoe

Mountain laurel

Privet

Pyracantha (firethorn)

Rosary pea

Yew

Vines:

Goldenchain

Moonseed

Philodendron

Rubber vine

Other:

Jimsonweed (weed found in gardens)

Mushrooms

Rhubarb leaves


Plants don't have to be poisonous to pose a hazard to children. Take a careful look around your home to make sure you don't have any hanging plants or plants on top of furniture that your child might be able to reach. Parents frequently overlook dangling vines that, if pulled, could bring down a heavy pot. And don't overlook potted plants on tables that could fall if your child shakes the table.

Even if you're sure your plants don't pose a poisoning or falling hazard, you still need to take a few precautions. First, don't use any surface or crystallized fertilizer, which could be toxic to your child. Make sure there aren't small rocks in your plant pots — they're easily overlooked choking hazards. If you want to keep your child from digging in the dirt, cut a piece of fine chicken wire or cardboard to fit the pot and place it over the dirt.

If this is too much for you, just temporarily relocate your plants to a room you've made off-limits with a door latch or gate.