Why do children swallow non-food objects?
Infants and toddlers commonly put objects into their mouths as a way to explore their world. If what they put in their mouth is small enough, it can easily be swallowed unintentionally. Of course, if they think the object looks like candy, they’ll swallow it on purpose! Because of this, many parents and caregivers are careful about the size of objects that small children play with and what may be left within easy reach. They want to avoid the danger of choking. While parents don’t think of older children in terms of this kind of risk, the fact is that sometimes older children use their teeth to pry things apart and can swallow an object or a piece of it unintentionally. Or they may swallow something on a dare or as an experiment. Most objects, if small enough and smooth enough, will pass through a child’s digestive system without causing any health problems.
