1. Lock Them Out
One of the best ways to prevent childhood poisonings is to use childproof locks, early and often. Don't wait until you catch your toddler on a journey of discovery through your medicine cabinet; install locks during the child's infancy. You must periodically assess the efficacy of childproof locks. The best lock for your family can change over time, as your child gains dexterity and ingenuity. A 6-year-old requires a different lock than a 6-month-old does.
2. Get Grandma in the Know
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most childhood poisonings occur when the child is in the care of a friend or relative. If your child's caregiver doesn't have young children living in the home, she is less likely to have a home equipped with child safety exclusion devices. A caregiver may not realize the child's ability to explore unauthorized areas of the home. Keep caregivers apprised of your child's capacity to access things he shouldn't have, and share your childproof locks with the caregiver.
3. Toxic Plants
Some of the plants we use to add beauty to our yards are toxic to children. Berries that resemble the fruits we eat on our breakfast cereal can captivate children, with deadly results. Learn the names and toxic potential of the ornamental plants you grow on your property, and watch children with vigilance in outdoor settings. Some otherwise edible plants have toxic parts, so exercise care in the vegetable garden as well. For example, the leaves of rhubarb plants can cause convulsions, coma and death.
4. Insidious Iron
Good nutrition is one of the chief concerns of parents of young children, so it's no wonder that we flock to the store to buy children's supplements that look and taste like candy. It's ironic that the product we buy to help children thrive can also be deadly. Iron-containing vitamin and mineral supplements are the leading cause of childhood poisoning. In fact, 3 gm of iron is a lethal dose for a 2-year-old child. Keep vitamins locked away from children as you would any other poisonous substance.
5. Deceptive Packaging
In their earnest efforts to adopt green living practices, some parents reuse food containers to house a variety of excess substances that could poison a child. For example, a margarine tub may seem like a good place to toss a bit of extra fertilizer. Although an adult wouldn't confuse these blue granules for toast spread, young children automatically equate food containers with edible contents, setting the stage for accidental ingestion. Furthermore, you must keep potential poisons in their original containers because they share cautions and first aid instructions on the label.
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