Toxicity: Risk for toxicity will vary based on the amount ingested. Minimal exposure in young children has a low risk for toxicity.
Expected symptoms: Unpleasant taste and possible stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea.
What to do: Wipe out the child’s mouth with a wet cloth or rinse the mouth. Give your child a drink of water to help get the taste out of the mouth. Contact the Missouri Poison Center immediately.
Quick Facts about shaving cream:
Shaving cream is a fluffy white cream used on the face or body when shaving the skin. The ingredients, which include soaps, surfactant, and propellant, are mildly toxic, but not serious if ingested in small amounts.
Children might be attracted to shaving cream because it’s fun to play with. Shaving cream may sting if it gets into their eyes and may cause stomach upset if some is ingested. When children are not supervised, shaving cream should be kept out of reach.
If you notice that your child has ingested shaving cream, do not panic. Most children will react strongly to the taste of it and may cough or gag. Take the can away from the child and wipe their mouth out with a soft wet cloth. You may give them some water to drink to get the taste out of their mouth. Do not try to induce vomiting. If the shaving cream gets into the eyes, immediately call the poison center for the best instructions on how to rinse the child’s eye.
After you have removed your child from the situation, immediately call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.Treatment recommendations are often determined by the amount ingested. The poison center is open all day, every day for poisoning emergencies and questions and our team of medical professionals will help to walk you through the next steps.