Hemp Gummies Around Children and Pets: Storage and Accidental-Ingestion Steps

By TakeHempGummies.com Consumer Research Desk | Last verified: August 2026

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement, medication, or treatment program. Individual results may vary.

If a Child or Pet May Have Eaten Hemp Gummies, Act First — Read While You Move

If a child or pet has eaten hemp gummies, or you think they might have, don’t wait to see what happens. Move the rest of the product out of reach right away, then follow the two steps below.

• For a child: Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. This is the national Poison Help line, operated by America’s Poison Centers (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), which connects you to your regional poison center 24 hours a day, free of charge.
• For a pet: Call your veterinarian, a local emergency animal clinic, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. A consultation fee may apply for this line.

Have the product label or package in hand when you call. Do not try to make a child or pet vomit, and do not wait to see if symptoms appear before calling. The sections below walk through what to gather, what counts as an emergency, and how to store hemp gummies to reduce the chance of this happening again.

Why Hemp Gummies Call for Extra Caution Around Kids and Pets

Hemp gummies look and taste like ordinary candy, which is part of what makes them a specific storage risk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has flagged this exact problem with delta-8 THC products, a cannabinoid sometimes found in hemp-derived gummies, chocolates, and other food items. The FDA has stated plainly that these products should be kept out of reach of children and pets, and has noted that manufacturers often package and label them in ways that can appeal to children.

The FDA’s review of delta-8 THC-specific data found real-world evidence of the risk. Between January 2021 and February 2022, the agency reported that national poison control centers logged 2,362 exposure cases involving delta-8 THC products. Of those cases, 41% involved patients under 18, and 82% of unintentional exposures affected pediatric patients. 70% of these cases required evaluation at a health care facility, and the FDA noted 1 pediatric case with a fatal outcome. The agency separately reported that animal poison control centers have seen a sharp rise in accidental pet exposures to delta-8 THC products.

This data is specific to delta-8 THC products rather than hemp gummies as a category. Hemp-derived gummies can vary widely in what they contain — some are formulated primarily with CBD, others include delta-8 or delta-9 THC, and cannabinoid content and potency can differ by brand and batch. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that cannabis and its derivatives are complex mixtures, and that non-inhaled cannabinoid products can carry side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea, with more caution warranted around interactions with other substances or medications. Because ingredient content varies by product, the label and lab report for the specific gummies in your home are the most reliable source of what a child or pet may have consumed — which is exactly why keeping that information accessible matters.

Storage Checklist

Use this checklist to reduce the chance of an accidental ingestion in the first place.

• Store hemp gummies in their original, child-resistant container whenever the product ships with one.
• Keep the product in a locked cabinet, lockbox, or high shelf that a child or pet cannot reach or climb to, not a countertop, purse, or nightstand.
• Store hemp gummies separately from regular candy, snacks, and vitamins so they aren’t grabbed by mistake, by a child, a guest, or you.
• Reseal the package fully after each use rather than leaving it open or loosely folded.
• If you travel with hemp gummies, keep them in the same locked or child-resistant storage you use at home, not in an easily reached bag pocket.
• Ask visiting relatives, sitters, or house guests who may bring their own hemp or CBD products to store them out of reach while in your home.
• Dispose of any expired or leftover product according to the label instructions rather than leaving it in a household trash can a pet can access.

Label-Retention Tip

Keep the product label, or a photo of it, even after you’ve moved gummies into a different storage container. The label typically shows the cannabinoid content per serving and per container, the manufacturer or seller, and a batch or lot number that may match a certificate of analysis (COA). If you ever need to call Poison Control or a veterinarian, having this information ready lets them give you faster, more specific guidance than “hemp gummies” alone would allow. A simple habit: photograph the label and any COA link before transferring gummies from their original packaging.

Before You Call: What to Gather

If you suspect a child or pet has gotten into hemp gummies, gather what you can in the moments before or while you call. You do not need every item below — call first if information is hard to find quickly.

• The product name, brand, and label, or a photo of it.
• How many gummies are missing or how many the child or pet may have eaten, if you can estimate it.
• The cannabinoid content per gummy, if listed on the label (for example, milligrams of CBD or THC per serving).
• The approximate time of the suspected ingestion.
• The child’s or pet’s age, and for pets, the approximate weight.
• Any symptoms you’ve already noticed, even mild ones.
• For pets: the species, since dogs, cats, and other animals can respond differently to the same exposure.

Emergency Red Flags: Call Right Away

Do not wait to see if symptoms pass. Call Poison Control, your veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic, or 911 right away if you notice any of the following in a child or pet after a suspected ingestion:

• Loss of consciousness, unresponsiveness, or extreme difficulty waking up.
• Trouble breathing or unusual breathing patterns.
• Seizures, tremors, or repeated uncontrolled movements.
• Severe confusion, disorientation, or hallucinations.
• Repeated vomiting.
• A noticeably slowed or irregular heart rate, or extreme drowsiness that seems different from normal sleepiness.
• Any symptom that is worsening or that worries you, even if it isn’t on this list.

If a child or pet has already collapsed, is having a seizure, or cannot be woken, call 911 or get to an emergency room or emergency veterinary clinic immediately rather than calling a hotline first.

Human vs. Pet: Who to Call

Human and animal poisoning cases are handled by different specialists, so it matters which number you use.

• Children and adults: Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. This connects you to your regional poison center, staffed by medical professionals around the clock.
• Dogs, cats, and other pets: Call your regular veterinarian first if they’re reachable, or an emergency animal clinic. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 1-888-426-4435, is also staffed by veterinary professionals who specialize in animal poisoning cases; a fee may apply.

Don’t rely on advice intended for one species when the exposure involves another — dosing, symptoms, and appropriate responses differ between humans and animals, and among animal species.

What Not to Do

A few things to avoid if you suspect an accidental ingestion:

• Don’t try to make a child or pet vomit unless a poison control specialist or veterinarian specifically instructs you to.
• Don’t wait to “see if symptoms show up” before calling. Call first, even if the child or pet seems fine.
• Don’t rely on home remedies to speed up or manage the exposure. Let poison control or a veterinary professional guide next steps.
• Don’t assume a small amount is automatically harmless. Age, weight, and species all affect how a given amount is tolerated, which is part of why the professionals on these lines ask for those details.

Who Should Be Extra Cautious

Beyond the child-and-pet storage issue, a few groups warrant added caution with hemp gummies generally, based on general cannabinoid safety information from NCCIH and product-specific FDA guidance:

• Anyone taking prescription medications, since cannabinoids may interact with certain drugs — this is a question for a pharmacist or prescribing clinician, not a product label.
• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Anyone with an existing heart, liver, or psychiatric condition.
• Households with young children, elderly family members who may confuse products, or pets, given the storage risks covered above.

None of this is a substitute for individual medical guidance. If you have a specific health condition or take medication, that conversation belongs with a clinician or pharmacist who knows your history.

Limitations of This Guide

This article is general safety and storage education, not a substitute for professional medical or veterinary advice, and not a treatment or outcome guarantee of any kind. The adverse event and poison center data cited above comes from FDA reporting specific to delta-8 THC products; hemp gummies as a broader category include different cannabinoid formulations, and this data should be read as context about the category’s risks rather than a statistic about any specific product. Always check the current label and certificate of analysis for the product actually in your home, since cannabinoid content and potency vary by brand and batch.

FAQs

Are hemp gummies as risky as delta-8 THC gummies if a child or pet eats them?

It depends on what’s in the specific product. Hemp-derived gummies range from CBD-only formulations to products containing delta-8 or delta-9 THC, and cannabinoid content varies by brand. The label and lab report for your specific product are the most reliable way to know what was ingested, which is why keeping that information on hand matters for any call to poison control or a veterinarian.

Should I make my child or pet throw up after they’ve eaten hemp gummies?

No. Do not attempt this on your own. Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) for a child or a veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) for a pet, and follow the specific guidance they give you.

What if my child or pet seems completely fine right now?

Call anyway. Some effects can take time to appear, and a poison control specialist or veterinarian can tell you what to watch for and whether an in-person evaluation is needed based on the amount and type of product involved.

Is there a safe amount of hemp gummies for a child or pet to accidentally eat?

There’s no universal “safe amount” that applies across products, ages, weights, and species. This is exactly the kind of judgment call poison control and veterinary professionals are trained to make once they know the product, the estimated amount, and the child’s or pet’s age or weight — which is why calling promptly matters more than trying to estimate risk yourself.

Related Reading

For background on how federal hemp rules affect what’s allowed in a finished product like a gummy, see our guide to the current federal hemp definition and THC limits. For more on how we vet health and safety claims on this site, see our editorial standards and our medical disclaimer. This site may earn a commission from products discussed; see our affiliate disclosure for details.

Educational Disclaimer: This article is for general consumer education and is not medical, legal, or veterinary advice. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition, and it does not replace guidance from a poison control specialist, physician, or veterinarian. Statements about hemp and cannabinoid products may not have been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you suspect a poisoning emergency, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 (for people) or your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 (for pets) immediately.