Are snake plants toxic to babies?

Many parents worry that their child will get sick from nibbling on a poisonous plant. The good news is that most houseplants and outdoor plants are completely safe. A few bites of even “toxic” plants usually causes no more than a stomachache.

Still, some plants can definitely be dangerous to babies and children. See below for a list of common toxic plants. Pictures of many of these are available in Cornell University’s Poisonous Plant DatabaseOpens a new window.

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 national emergency hotline of the American Association of Poison Control CentersOpens a new window at (800) 222-1222, which will automatically redirect you to a local poison control center. Add this number to the list of emergency numbers programmed in your phone.

Poisonous houseplants

Here are commonly found poisonous plants.

Houseplants:

• Caladium
• Dumb cane
• Philodendron
• Snake plant

Flowers:

• Azalea
• Daffodil bulbs
• Delphinium
• Foxglove
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Larkspur
• Lily of the valley
• Oleander
• Rhododendron
• Wisteria

Shrubs:

Are snake plants toxic to babies?

Yes. Though snake plants are attractive and easy to grow, you’ll need to keep them out of reach of babies, kids, and pets. All parts of snake plants (also called mother-in-law’s tongue or Saint George’s sword) are toxic, due to the presence of chemicals called saponins.

Saponins can cause gastrointestinal discomfort as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in humans and pets, although the symptoms are much milder for humans.

Other houseplant hazards for babies and kids

Plants don’t have to be poisonous to pose a hazard to children. Young children can pull potted plants over (sometimes using a dangling vine to bring down a heavy pot) or shake a table until a plant falls off.

Take a careful look around your home to make sure you don’t have any hanging plants or potted plants that your child might be able to knock over.

Even if you’re sure your plants aren’t poisonous and won’t fall over, you still need to take a few precautions:

• Don’t use any surface or crystallized fertilizer, which could be toxic to your child.
• Make sure there aren’t small rocks in your pots – they’re easily overlooked choking hazards.
• 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.
• Or, you can temporarily relocate your plants to a room you’ve made off-limits.

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