How to Prevent Accidental Medication Poisoning in Kids and Toddlers

Every year, more than 90 percent of accidental medication poisonings in children happen right in the home-often while a parent or caregiver is nearby. It’s not a matter of neglect. It’s a matter of oversight. A pill left on a nightstand. A bottle in a purse on the floor. Medicine called ‘candy’ to get a child to take it. These aren’t rare mistakes. They’re common, preventable errors that lead to emergency rooms, poison control calls, and sometimes worse.

Where Kids Find Medicine (And Why It’s Not Where You Think)

Most parents assume they’re safe if they keep medicine up high. But toddlers can climb. By 18 months, many can pull themselves up on furniture, use the toilet as a step stool, or stand on chairs to reach countertops. A 2022 study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that 78 percent of poisoning incidents involved medicines stored below 4 feet-the average reach of a toddler. Even if you think your cabinet is ‘out of sight,’ a child might see it from their perspective. Get down on your hands and knees. Look around every room. What do you see?

Medicines don’t just live in the bathroom cabinet. They show up in purses, coat pockets, bedside tables, and even on the kitchen counter after a quick dose. Visitors-especially grandparents-often bring their own meds. One study showed households with frequent visitors had a 35 percent higher chance of a child accessing medicine. A pill bottle left on a dresser while visiting? That’s a hazard.

The Biggest Mistakes Parents Make (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake 1: Relying on child-resistant caps. Child-resistant doesn’t mean child-proof. These caps are designed to slow down a curious child, not stop them. Persistent toddlers can figure them out in minutes. A 2022 report from UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital found that over 40 percent of poisoning incidents occurred when parents thought the container was secure. The fix? Always lock the medicine away-even if it’s in a child-resistant bottle.

Mistake 2: Storing medicine in bags or pockets. A purse on the floor, a jacket hanging by the door, a backpack left in the living room-these are all prime targets. In fact, 30 percent of exposures come from medicines left in visitors’ belongings. Keep all medications in one locked location. No exceptions.

Mistake 3: Using kitchen spoons to measure doses. A teaspoon isn’t a teaspoon. A regular kitchen spoon can hold anywhere from 3 to 7 milliliters. The standard dose for a toddler? Usually 5 mL. That 20-40 percent variation? It can mean underdosing-or overdosing. The American Academy of Pediatrics says to always use the dosing tool that comes with the medicine: a syringe, dropper, or cup with clear milliliter markings. Keep it with the bottle. Never guess.

Mistake 4: Calling medicine ‘candy’. It’s tempting. ‘Take your medicine, it’s like candy!’ But research from the AAP shows this practice makes kids 3.2 times more likely to take medicine on their own. If a child thinks medicine tastes good and looks like candy, they’ll go looking for it. Say it plainly: ‘This is medicine. It’s not food.’

Which Medications Are Most Dangerous?

Not all pills are created equal. Some are deadly in tiny amounts.

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)-Overdose can cause liver failure. Just a few extra teaspoons can be toxic.
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)-Can cause stomach bleeding and kidney damage in small children.
• Aspirin-Never given to kids under 18. Can trigger Reye’s syndrome, a rare but deadly condition.
• Liquid nicotine (from e-cigarettes)-As little as 0.5 mL can be fatal to a toddler. This is not a joke. One sip can stop a child’s breathing.

These are the top offenders in poison control data. If you have any of these in your home, they need to be locked up-no exceptions.

How to Lock Up Medicine the Right Way

A locked cabinet isn’t enough. You need the right kind of lock.

• Use automatic-locking safety latches that snap shut when the cabinet door closes. These are better than simple child locks.
• Install magnetic locks at least 54 inches above the floor. That’s beyond the reach of most toddlers, even when standing on furniture.
• Don’t use drawer locks alone. Toddlers can open drawers with a chair or stool.
• Consider a medication lock box-many pharmacies now offer them for free to families with young children. One program saw a 41 percent drop in access incidents after families used them.

Also, don’t just lock it once. Make it a habit. After every use, put it back in the lock. Even if you’re just stepping into the next room. Even if you’re tired. Even if you’re sure you’ll be right back.

When Accidents Happen (And They Can)

No matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen. That’s why preparation matters.

• Post the Poison Help number (1-800-222-1222) on your fridge, near the phone, and on your phone’s speed dial. Homes with visible postings respond 47 percent faster in emergencies.
• Save the webPOISONCONTROL online tool in your phone’s bookmarks. It gives instant, expert advice without needing to call.
• Don’t wait for symptoms. If you suspect your child swallowed medicine-even a tiny amount-call immediately. Poison Control says 89 percent better outcomes happen when help is called within 5 minutes.
• Know basic CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. In 12 percent of severe cases, life-saving action is needed before paramedics arrive.

High-Risk Times and Places

Poisonings don’t just happen at night. In fact, 58 percent occur between noon and 6 p.m.-when parents are busy cooking, cleaning, or supervising other kids. It’s the busiest, most distracted time of day.

Also, rural households face a 22 percent higher risk of severe outcomes. Why? Longer ambulance response times. If you live outside a city, make sure your poison control number is even more visible. Keep a first aid kit with activated charcoal (if recommended by your doctor) and know the nearest emergency center.

What’s New in Prevention

Technology is starting to help. Pilot programs for ‘smart’ medicine containers are showing promise. These devices track when a dose is taken and send alerts if someone opens the bottle without permission. In early tests, they reduced unsupervised access by 63 percent.

Pharmacies are also expanding free lock box programs. Ask your pharmacist. Many offer them to families with toddlers at no cost.

And schools? Programs like ‘Over-the-Counter Medicine Safety’ are teaching kids in grades 5-8 how to spot unsafe medicine storage. Since 2015, communities with active campaigns have seen a 19 percent drop in pediatric exposures.

Final Checklist: Your Home, Your Safety

Do this once a month:

• Check every cabinet, drawer, bag, and coat pocket for medicine.
• Confirm all medicine is in original containers with clear labels.
• Test your lock. Can your child open it? Try it yourself from their height.
• Make sure your poison control number is posted and saved.
• Remove any medicine you no longer need. Don’t store old prescriptions.
• Teach older siblings: ‘Medicine is not a toy.’

There’s no perfect system. But there is a safe one. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. One locked cabinet. One dosing tool. One clear rule: ‘This is not candy.’