The similarities between candy and medicine are stunning and can create danger- especially for a child. Remember, young children can't read labels, and many medications look like candy to them.
Follow these important steps to make sure your child doesn't mistake medicine for candy:
Lock medicines up where children cannot see or reach them.
Make sure medicine contains child-resisent packaging if possible. Keep in mind, NOTHING is childproof!
Store medicines in their original containers.
Don't call medicine candy.
Take your medications where children cannot watch; children often learn by imitation.
Teach children to ask an adult before putting anything in their mouth.
Candy or Medicine?
Household Look-A-Likes
Do you think of your floor cleaners as a poison? How about your mouthwash? If used properly, these items and other household products don't pose a threat; used wrongly, they can be harmful.
What children see, they like to mimic. Talk to your children about how household products can be poisons if they drink or swallow substances that are not meant to be ingested.
Lock up your cleaning and household products out of children's reach.
Some common household products that are potentially poisonous include:
