The Hopes also called Poison Line and were told the next couple of times they used their vacuum they would need to throw out the bag immediately, he said.
National Poison Centre spokesman Dr Michael Beasley said he did not think the family needed to throw out clothes, bedding or toys - they could have been washed instead - but precautions were needed when disposing of the powder form of mercury inside eco-bulbs.
This included leaving the room for 15 minutes, ventilating it, using pieces of cardboard or paper to scoop up the broken bulb before putting it in a sealed bag and vacuuming the area.
Mercury levels in the bulbs were very low - 1-8mg per bulb, far less than the 4g of liquid mercury found in thermometers.
Mercury poisoning can cause chronic kidney problems, affect the brain or damage the lungs, he said.
"But a one-off exposure to a small amount [from an eco-bulb] is not going to cause organ problems."
Energy Mad, which produces eco-bulbs, said there was only 1.5mg of mercury in each lightbulb, not enough to cause any harm.
A spokeswoman said that people who broke a bulb should simply collect the pieces with a paper towel, put it in a plastic bag and put it in the rubbish bin.
"It's nothing to be worried about."
