A mum has described how her baby accidentally swallowing a minuscule amount of a popular cough and cold ointment was “like being in a horror movie”.

Eleven-month-old Poppy developed a violent reaction which left her rocking her head, rolling her eyes and becoming as “stiff as a plank” after licking a smidgeon of Vicks VapoRub.

Carly Lloyd was told by paramedics that her daughter could have died after grabbing the open pot, which had slipped out of her handbag.

Packaging on the mentholated ointment clearly states that the product should be kept out of the reach of children and should not be used on children under the age of two but Carly was unaware of the warnings, and wanted to share her experience to make more people aware.

Mother-of-four Carly, 38, said she had no idea the medication was so toxic, and although she had used it on herself and her family for years, she has vowed to never have it in the house again.

The harrowing ordeal unfurled as she was changing Poppy’s nappy at their home in Sidcup on Saturday.

In a split second, Carly saw what had happened and wiped it out of Poppy’s mouth and hands, but within 15 minutes, she started to vomit.

As a precaution, Carly called 111 but was told as it was just “a fingernail” amount and, at the time, she was not showing any other symptoms, she should be fine.

Two hours later, her condition suddenly took a turn for the worse.

Carly said: “She was nodding violently and crying in pain. Her head then swung from side to side.

“It looked as though it was gradually attacking her brain.”

As husband David tried to cradle her in his arms, she started to go stiff and “zone out”.

The terrified couple then dialled 999 and an ambulance rapid response team arrived within minutes.

After being stabilised within an hour, Poppy was taken to the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington for observation.

Carly now wants to alert parents about the ointment, which can be bought over the counter and has been widely used for ailments for more than a century.

She said: “I just want to make people aware of how dangerous this stuff is. I have been using it for years. My mum used it on me when I was young.

“Surely there should be a red sticker on the lid to alert parents? And why does it not have a child safety lock, like Calpol?

“It is said it is suitable for children over the age of two, but what if they rub it on their chest and put it into their mouths?

“The whole thing was crazy and very scary. It was like being in a horror movie.

“The ambulance woman said she could have died if she had taken more. And I gave her a bottle of milk, which lined her stomach.”

A spokesman for the manufacturers, American-based Procter and Gamble, said: ”We were really sorry to hear about this unfortunate accident and acknowledge the distress it must have caused the family.

“The safety and well-being of those who use our products is our utmost priority.

“We’d like to provide reassurance that our products are safe when used as intended.

“Our packaging clearly states that this product should be kept out of the reach of children, should not be used on children under the age of two and provides helpful guidance on what to do if the product is accidentally ingested.”

Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated ointment which is used to relieve a wide range of ailments, including sore throats, coughs, nasal catarrh, muscle aches and pains.

It contains camphor, a toxic compound that can prove fatal for infants and children if swallowed, even in small doses.