What should I do if my child swallows a coin?

As long as your child is acting normally (i.e., can breathe and talk and drink fine), try not to panic. Most coins smaller than a quarter will pass right through without getting stuck. Touch base with your pediatrician, who may advise you to check your child’s stool for a few days until you find the coin. If it doesn’t come out the other end, a doctor may have to go looking for it. A simple x-ray film can tell exactly where the coin is and whether a specialist needs to retrieve it. If your child is in diapers, it’s easy to search for loose change. If he is toilet trained, have him go on a paper plate, or loosely plastic-wrap the toilet to catch the poop. Isn’t parenting fun?