From fertilizer to antifreeze and medicines to makeup, there are
poisonous items located throughout our homes. Here are some
important steps you can take to help prevent your child from
ingesting a poisonous substance.
Medications
- Don't rely on packaging to protect your kids -
child-resistant packaging does not mean childproof
packaging.
- Never prepare or give medication to a child in the dark: You
may give the wrong dosage or even the wrong medication.
- Never leave vitamin bottles, aspirin bottles, or other
medications on kitchen tables, countertops, bedside tables, or
dresser tops. Small children may decide to try to copy adults and
help themselves.
- Never tell a child that medicine tastes like candy.
Store all medications - prescription and nonprescription - in a
locked cabinet, far from kids' reach. Even items that seem
harmless, such as mouthwash, can be extremely dangerous if
ingested in large quantities by children. Just because cabinets
are up high doesn't mean kids can't get their hands on
what's in them - they'll climb up (using the toilet and
countertops) to get to items in the medicine cabinet.- Make sure purses and bags - yours and guests' - that
could contain poisonous items such as medications are kept out of
the reach of kids at all times.
- Always keep pills and liquids in their original
containers.
- Try to keep a record of how many pills are left in a
prescription container.
- Be aware of all medications in your home (and in those of
relatives if your kids spend a lot of time there).
Cleaning Products and Other Household Chemicals
- Never put cleaning products in old soda bottles or containers
that were once used for food.
- Never put roach powders or rat poison on the floors of your
home.
- Store household cleaning products and aerosol sprays in a
high cabinet far from reach.
- Don't keep any cleaning supplies, including dishwasher
detergent and dishwashing liquids, under the sink.
- Use safety latches for all cabinets containing hazardous
substances.
- Keep hazardous automotive and gardening products in a
securely locked area (ideally, in your garage, if you have
one).
- When you're cleaning or using household chemicals, never
leave the bottles unattended if there's a small child
present.
Alcohol
- Don't leave alcoholic drinks where kids can reach them.
Take special care during parties - guests may not be conscious of
where they've left their drinks. Clean up promptly after the
party.
- Keep bottles of alcohol in a locked cabinet far from
kids' reach.
- Keep mouthwash out of the reach of children. Many mouthwashes
contain substantial amounts of alcohol.
- Food extracts, such as vanilla and almond, may contain
alcohol and can be harmful to kids.
Lead Paint
- Don't use cribs, bassinets, highchairs, painted toys, or
toy chests made before 1978; these may have a finish that
contains lead.
- If you have an older home, have the paint tested for lead.
For more information on lead, call the National Lead Information
Center at (800) 424-LEAD (5323).
- Keep up on toy recalls due to the use of lead paint - you can
receive notifications from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC).
Other Items
- Never leave cosmetics and toiletries within easy reach of
children. Be especially cautious with perfume, hair dye,
hairspray, nail and shoe polish, and nail polish remover.
- Keep kids away from houseplants - and plants around your yard
- that can be poisonous. Either put plants out of reach or buy
only plants that are nonpoisonous. A few examples of toxic
houseplants include: rhododendron, English ivy, lily of the
valley, and holiday plants such as holly and mistletoe.
- Discard used button cell batteries (like those in watches)
safely, and store any unused ones far from kids' reach
(alkaline substances are poisonous).
Be Prepared
If you're expecting a baby or you already have a child,
it's wise to:
- Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the abdominal
thrust procedure (the Heimlich maneuver).
- Keep the following numbers near the phone (for yourself and
caregivers):
- poison-control number
- child's doctor's number
- parents' work and cell phone numbers
- neighbor's or nearby relative's number (if you need
someone to watch other kids in an emergency)
- Make a first-aid kit and keep emergency instructions
inside.
- Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Maintaining a Safe, Kid-Friendly Environment
To check your childproofing efforts, get down on your hands and
knees in every room of your home to see things from a child's
perspective. Be aware of your child's surroundings and what
might be potentially dangerous.
Completely childproofing your home can be difficult. If you
can't childproof the entire house, you can shut the doors (and
install doorknob covers) to any room a child shouldn't enter to
prevent wandering into places that haven't been properly
childproofed. For sliding doors, doorknob covers and childproof
locks are also great for keeping little ones from leaving your
home.
Of course, how much or how little you childproof your home is up
to you. Supervision is the very best way to help prevent kids from
getting injured. However, even the most vigilant parent can't
keep a child 100% safe at all times.
Whether you have a baby, toddler, or school-age child, your home
should be a haven where your little one can explore safely. After
all, touching, holding, climbing, and exploring are the activities
that develop your child's body and mind.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD, and Kate M. Cronan, MD
Date reviewed: October 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2009 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. All rights reserved.