SAN DIEGO -- A young mother accused of twice trying to poison her 23- month-old son with caustic chemicals, possibly to get her fiance's attention, had her preliminary hearing postponed Thursday to Jan. 13.

Christina Noel Howell, 21, is accused of having her son drink various household cleaners, including Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover, Liquid-Plumr and Clorox bleach.

Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe told Judge Daniel Goldstein that he had just given the defense more than 8,000 pages of documents, making it necessary to delay today's scheduled hearing.

According to the prosecutor, on May 25, Howell's 23-month-old son, identified as Christian D., was airlifted to Children's Hospital for what was thought to be an accidental ingestion of Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover.

Christian suffered caustic chemical burns to his throat and stomach and first-degree burns to his face, Watanabe said in June.

Howell told hospital officials that Christian drank a whole 32-ounce bottle of Tilex cleaner and explained that the child must have unscrewed the cap, the prosecutor said.

Christian was released from the hospital the next day, but on May 28, he was again flown to Children's Hospital for severe vomiting, altered consciousness and seizures.

According to doctors, the child suffered severe chemical burns to his throat, esophagus and stomach.

Endoscopy revealed large areas of ulceration and necrosis.

Authorities said Christian was unable to eat and had to be fed intravenously for two weeks in the hospital, and that Howell was not present for much of her son's hospitalization.

On June 19, detectives found several empty bottles of household cleaners and clothes stained with red vomit in Howell's home. At the time, she allegedly told detectives that she poured cleaner into one of Christian's sipper cups for the purpose of using a toothbrush to clean the toilet and must have forgotten to wash the cup before serving Christian apple juice in the same cup.

She later admitted to giving the child laced apple juice on purpose and stated that maybe she would get more attention from her fiance if Christian was ill, Watanabe said.

According to hospital records, the defendant's 8-month-old child has been taken to San Diego County hospitals 13 times, usually for vomiting and diarrhea that was never observed by hospital staff.

Howell is being held on $300,000 bail. She faces more than 11 years in state prison if convicted on child abuse and poisoning charges.