Prescription Safety with Toddlers

As first time parents, and even repeat parents, we find ourselves in situations we’re just not prepared for, or just never thought of.  Every single day we’re faced with a new set of challenges that didn’t exist in pre-children life.  Sure, we prepare as much as we possibly can with books and research but you don’t know what you don’t know.

Consider things like electrical sockets.  Once your toddler becomes mobile, electrical sockets become an issue because toddlers like to explore.  Sometimes that exploration means sticking things where they just don’t belong. This is often something that just happens to come up when you realize it’s an issue.  Medicine storage is another one of those challenges that seems to present itself after the fact.

Safe Kids Worldwide released a research report developed in partnership with Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. called “Safe Medicine Storage: A Look at the Disconnect Between Parent Knowledge and Behavior,” that explores reasons convenience takes precedence over caution when it comes to safe medicine storage.  The research really hones in on where the gap truly is, which is parental knowledge. 

Safe Kids also surveyed 2,000 parents across the United States and found that while 9 in 10 parents agree it is super important to store medicine safely, about 7 in 10 aren’t practicing what they preach. 

First of all, medicine should all be stored up, up and away!  Out of sight, out of mind is never a bad thing when preschoolers are roaming the house.  Storing your medicines in a high cabinet or in a drawer where children can’t access it is the best-case scenario.  It’s also important to keep your medicines in their original child-resistant packaging.  Pill organization and alternative storage is great for adults, but not when children are present. These alternative storage solutions are usually easier to open than pill bottles and pills can look like candy to children, especially when they have easy access to them. 

 The best thing to do is to practice safe medicine storage as soon as you can, even pre-baby birth just to get into the habit.  It is reported that babies as young as three weeks old have ended up in the emergency room after consuming medicine left within reach.  If you’re concerned about remembering when to take and give doses, go ahead and set an alarm or a reminder on your phone.  Leave notes for yourself around your home!

At the end of the day, you can never take too many precautions when it comes to medicine storage and children.  For additional information and data, check out the infographic below!