In our online community, someone inquired about a baby who had eaten some of the gel out of her diaper. I was pleased to answer this query, but I want to be sure that every parent and grandparent and sitter knows about Poison Control Centers. This free 24-hour service is the first place to call whenever a child has ingested something suspicious. Thankfully, diaper gel is a nontoxic water-absorbing substance that passes through kids without doing harm. There is a theoretical risk that it could swell inside as it absorbed water, causing intestinal blockage, but I have never heard of this happening. While safe, I wouldn't recommend diaper gel as a culinary treat!

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