Wild flowers safe for baby?

polr

Farway wrote: »

Oak leaves, not really, heavy in tannin, which is not poisonous, but not too wise either

Foxgloves, certainly are, digitalis, can cause heart failure

Ferns, the spores can give rise to asthma, probably best avoided at such a young age

Guess the rest is down to Google & Wikipedia

Thank you.

Hmmm...I should research the ferns, our garden is coming down with them.

polr

Reen wrote: »

That's a lovely idea, but it might be advisable to encourage her to check with you before handling anything new. Yew berries are pretty but poisonous, and laburnum seed pods look like peas.

Yeah she's not quite old enough to 'get' that she's to ask yet it's more what I'm handing to her. Funnily enough I'd been about to buy a laburnum when I found out it wasn't a good idea.

polr

GwylimT wrote: »

Babies and toddlers naturally avoid plants, trust her instincts.

Not this one unfortunately, she's into and grabbing everything if I pass withing grabbing distance she thinks it's fair game. I want to get some 'safe' ones I can give her to distract her from just going for everything but without discouraging an inquisitive child.

polr

themull1 wrote: »

The Thistle may not be the best idea....

Yeah, I was obviously going to be handing her the thorny bits ;-)

polr

I_have_spoken wrote: »

I'd be more worried about dog walkers leaving their pet's excrement all over the place so the eggs of parasitic worms are on the plants

Have to say the dog poo issue is on my mind when she's sitting on the grass in the park etc but what can you do?! I've seen many a dog owner round here leaving without picking up but that;'s a whole other thread/moan!

polr

Elsewhere wrote: »

Some of the things you have mentioned are poisonous but I think unlikely to do much harm in tiny quantities - as well as those already mentioned bluebells and buttercups are bad for you.

I think it's more important to be very careful about fungi, and also members of the umbellifer family (cow parsley, Queen Anne's lace type of plants). Most of them look pretty similar and though some are edible (carrot, celery, fennel etc.) there are some which are very poisonous - hemlock for instance - or irritant to the skin like hogweed and giant hogweed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2408578/Walker-Keith-Copper-stepped-poisonous-giant-hogweed-Whitley-Bay.html

Thanks for this. Need to do a bit more reading I think.

Mojisola

polr wrote: »

Funnily enough I'd been about to buy a laburnum when I found out it wasn't a good idea.

If you'd like a laburnum, look for Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii' - it's a sterile variety so it doesn't make seeds.

polr

Mojisola wrote: »

If you'd like a laburnum, look for Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii' - it's a sterile variety so it doesn't make seeds.

Thank you, I'll look it up - such a lovely plant and I'd really like it in the garden.

Mojisola

Reen wrote: »

That's a lovely idea, but it might be advisable to encourage her to check with you before handling anything new.

As she gets older, this is good advice.