Medication Safety
While it might be tempting to refer to medicine as “candy” when you're trying to get some down a reluctant toddler's throat, don't! Just think what will happen if he gets into a bottle or a box when you're not around. Many parents don't realize that overdoses of vitamins can be dangerous, too. Follow these basic safety strategies:
Call medicine by its real name.
Use products with child-resistant packaging.
Don't confuse “child-resistant” with “childproof.” (The name changed when it was discovered how quickly toddlers could get the covers off. Very few items are toddler-proof!)
Keep medications in their original containers to avoid confusion down the road.
Avoid storing liquid medicines in cups or soft-drink containers that might tempt a thirsty toddler.
Install childproof locks on cabinets, drawers, and closets where medications are stored. (Don't depend solely on locks! Little fingers can sometimes work them open.)
Keep track of how much medicine has been used. (If you discover his hand in the bottle and pink syrup ringing his mouth, or her hand in the pills and white powder on her tongue, you'll have an idea how much has been ingested.)
Treat vitamins containing iron like the medicine it is; an overdose can be fatal.
Check the dosages and use a proper spoon or vial for measuring before each administration. (A teaspoon from your set of measuring spoons is NOT the same as a teaspoon from your silverware drawer.)
Don't mix medications without your pediatrician's approval.
If the phone rings while you're administering medication, take it with you. (Don't leave unattended drugs around a toddler!)
Don't take your own medication around a toddler — you don't want her to mimic you. Children need to learn that when it comes to prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, they are to take
Older Is Not Better
Parents should check the medicine cabinet from time to time and dispose of expired medications and those more than two years old. Flush them down the toilet and rinse bottles before discarding in the trash. The chemical changes that occur over time can render some ineffective. Others can become poisonous! Always discard aspirin that smells like vinegar; it has lost its effectiveness. Likewise, throw away any liquids that have separated or changed colors. And finally, dispose of old eye drops and eye washes; fungus can grow in them.
In 1998, an astounding 70,242 children under age six were treated in health care facilities after accidentally ingesting medication, ranging from acetaminophen to nitroglycerin. That included more than 6,000 youngsters who ingested diaper products.
When it comes to toddlers and medication, you can't be “too careful.” Keep prescription and over-the-counter medications locked up and out of reach at all times!
Herbal Safety
There's no guarantee that an herb is safe, and some homeopathic remedies can pack a big punch. Before administering alternative remedies to a toddler, check the following:
That it has been tested on youngsters
That its effectiveness has been established
The kinds of side effects and adverse reactions that may occur
That it won't interact with other prescription and over-the-counter medications your toddler is taking
