Is Eating Cherry Pits Dangerous?

R. -I know that you got your answer and glad it relieved your anxieties. But thought I would add a couple of things.

First, if anyone ever has a similar question, call poison control 1-800-222-1222.

Second, some fruit pits can be toxic to infants. I believe peach pits, for example, are toxic, which is why moms who make their own baby food have to be careful not to let any pits get in. I think it is something like cyanide but not sure. Anyway, it is in a dose small enough to not harm an adult but can be fatal for a small baby.

So anyway, it is a very god quesiton to ask when it comes to the little ones.

I don't know how the pits may effect your 2 year old but I ate many, many cherry pits in my childhood. They should pass right through without any problems. I'd just check to make sure she goes poop tomorrow without any trouble.

Hope she is better soon.

Honestly, not really sure. She'll probably just poop them out. This warrants a call to your pediatrician or the nurse. She didn't choke though, so you might be alright.

I'd call the doctor instead of waiting for responses here. Does your pediatrician have a "triage line" or nurses line you can call any time with quesstions? I don't know if pits themselves are toxic -- anyone out there know? -- but if she ate as many as 10 of them that might be a concern as a wad of hard stuff she'll have to "pass". Also, if she ate them straight off the tree, there might have been bird droppings on them; birds do carry some diseases that humans can pick up. Ask your doctor about that too. It's really fortunate she didn't get several cherries in her mouth at once and choke. Please let us know here what happens. I hope she's much, much better very soon. Maybe cut the lower tree branches so they're out of her reach...?

Hi R.,

With something as small as cherry pits I shouldn't worry about it and they're not poisonous. I used to constantly find beads and polly pocket shoes and other goodies in my son's diaper that my daughters had apparently left lying on the floor! They work their way through in the end.

Hi R.,

Did your child throw up the Cherry pits when she vomited?

Cherry pits don't digest in the stomach. They will usually come out in the stool.

Hope she is doing okay now. D.