Laundry Pods Pose Danger to Children

Parents with small children may want to think twice about purchasing laundry detergent in the pod form. It might be safer to stick to the liquid or powder variety of laundry detergent until the little one is a bit older.

That's because in the last two years the U.S. Poison Control has recieved, on average, 24 calls a day about a child under age six, who ingested a laundry detergent pod.

Of that number, an average of one child per day was admitted to the hospital. 

One child died, and a number of others were placed in intensive care. Some went into a coma and were on breathing machines for days. Others suffered brain dysfunction and trouble staying awake.

Children who ate the laundry pods also experienced difficulty breathing, vomiting, coughing, choking, eye irritation, and mouth pain.

The laundry pod complaints are more severe and long lasting than most calls to the Poison Control center. That's because unlike the liquid or powder form of laundry detergent, the pods are extremely concentrated forms.

Children who ingest the pods usually get the full dose, enough to clean an entire load of laundry, whereas children who accidently get into liquid or powder detergent usually ingest a comparatively tiny portion.

Another drawback to the laundry pods is the plastic shrink wrap packaging, which contains solvents that are toxic.

Laundry pods are very tempting to children: they come in see-through bags and the pods themselves are brightly colored and soft-textured, much like toys or candy.

If your child eats, drinks, or inhales something that you think could be dangerous, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. A healthcare provider will help you assess the situation and advise you what to do.