Two-year-old Lexi Buchanan was out walking with her mum Jamie in Newport, South Wales and their dog when she came into contact with Giant Hogweed.
The toddler suffered painful blisters to her hands from the plant, which doctors have said have spread across the country during this year’s warm summer months.
Mum Jamie from Newport said to Wales Online: “We went over to the river to walk the dog like we normally do.
“The next day she went to playgroup and they asked if she had a burn.
“When we took her to hospital the next morning the doctors said she had touched hogweed.
“She was not using her hand very much and was feeling a bit sorry for herself.”
Lexi’s mum wants other parents to know how dangerous the plant is.
She said: “It can cause blindness and the scars can last for up to six years.
“I wasn’t aware it could cause to much damage, luckily it was only Lexi’s hand.”
A Newport City Council spokeswoman said the Council had received a report of Hogweed in the area.
She said: “The council regularly checks its land for signs of Giant Hogweed and if found it is cleared immediately. However the area where this incident happened is not under the council’s jurisdiction and the incident should be reported to Natural Resources Wales.”
The chairman of The Property Care Association’s Invasive Weed Control Group, Professor Max Wade, warned people to avoid the toxic plant.
He said: “It is really important that the plant is spotted and that its toxic sap does not come into contact with skin in the sunlight.
“If this occurs, it can lead to a nasty rash, itching and blisters when skin first makes contact with it.
“An added concern is the fact that Giant Hogweed sap which comes into contact with items such as clothing and equipment can also be transferred via touch, so it can possibly affect somebody else.”
If you come into contact with Giant Hogweed, the NHS advises covering the affected area and washing it with soap and water.
If you begin to feel unwell after contact with Giant Hogweed, you should speak to your doctor.