What Happens if Your Child Swallows Your Wedding Ring?

We all know young infants feel the world with their mouth, and every now and then something they shouldn’t swallow gets in their tiny little belly. Based on research by the Parenting and Child Health website, this kind of thing happens all the time – and it’s normally not that big of a deal.

Your first step is to evaluate the situation. It will be an emergency if your child has trouble coughing, convulsively drooling and/or wheezes when breathing. The second the little tike sounds like a defunct squeak toy, DIAL 911.

Objects that are larger than 18 mm (large coins, batteries and pointed objects) might get trapped in the esophagus on the way down. You’ll know if your wedding ring is clogging your kid’s pipes if he complains about stomach pain and an unwillingness to swallow food or drink. More obvious signs your child is not doing well is when he begins uncontrollably vomiting, which means you’ll have a lovely mess waiting for you after you return from the emergency room.

On the other hand, if little Johnny shows off his triumphant grin after downing your wedding band, you don’t have much to worry about other than playing the waiting game. It’s estimated that a young child should pass a ring-sized object within two to four days after consumption.

Your wedding ring is a symbol of your love and devotion, but is it worth days of sifting through stinky, poopie diapers? Probably. Yet, if you think of the hours of panning for gold through your toddler’s crap every time you look at your left hand, it might be time to look into a new ring.

Check out the Rock Out with Your Ring Out contest presented by Larson Jewelers, where you could win a new Tungsten Ring wedding band and an iPod Touch. Now you can have a shiny new ring and rock out with your favorite tunes during your next amazing trip to the ER.

Don’t worry, you’re not a terrible parent. You’re just going to watch little Johnny a little closer next time.