Foreign body ingestion occurs when a child swallows an object that is not meant to be consumed.
Swallowing objects is a common issue among young children, especially those under 5 years old.
This is largely because young kids are naturally curious, often putting things in their mouths as part of exploring their surroundings. Most of the time, swallowing an object is just a minor issue, but it can sometimes lead to serious problems or even require hospital care.
Babies under 6 months old typically can’t pick up and swallow objects on their own, but older siblings can sometimes unintentionally help them do so. It’s important for parents to keep a close watch and ensure small objects are out of reach to prevent such incidents.