Toxicity: Minimally toxic.
Expected symptoms: Minor oral irritation, stomach upset or loose stool.
What to do: Give your child a drink of water to wash the deodorant/antiperspirant down to the stomach.
Note: If your child has gotten deodorant into their eyes, call the Missouri Poison Center now for help on how to rinse the eyes.
Deodorants/Antiperspirants are used on the skin to reduce perspiration and control body odor. They are sold as creams, roll-on, aerosol spray, and solid forms. Most deodorants/antiperspirants contain a form of aluminum combined with a fragrance or essential oil.
When children get into the solid deodorant they sometimes dig their finger into the surface and put that finger into their mouths, or sometimes take a bite directly from the surface. Ingestion of small amounts of any form of deodorant is expected to result in minor stomach upset and maybe a loose stool.
If you find your child eating deodorant, do not panic. Take the deodorant away from them , wash off any visible product from their hands, and give them a drink of water. If problems start or you have questions, call the Missouri Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222. The poison center is open all day, every day for poisoning emergencies and questions.
If a child is able to spray the aerosol deodorant near their mouth, the spray can be inhaled and may cause coughing or a difficulty breathing. If this happens, or if the child gets deodorant into the eyes, play it safe and call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away for the proper treatment advice.