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Saturday, April 25, 2009

What Can be Done to Keep Things Out of a Child's Reach?

QUESTION: My two-year old gave me a scare the other day.
I found her putting a strawberry-scented air freshener stick in her mouth! I never thought to keep things like that out of her reach.
What can I do about this problem?

ANSWER: Many supposedly "harmless" items can be lethal for a child who can't yet distinguish between food and inedible objects.
Curious toddlers between the ages of one and three are especially attracted to objects with appealing scents, colors or shapes.
And since, unfortunately, there are no federal regulations governing packaging, manufacturers continue to make products that can be confusing for this age group.
One common pitfall is pills that look like candy.
M & M's, Good 'n Plenti, and Chicklets gum all look like common vitamin supplements or medications which can prove toxic to youngsters.
Toy medicine kits with edible sugar "medicine" only confuse a child further. Never cajole a child into taking medication by telling him it "tastes like candy." And keep all medicines, including over-the-counter drugs, locked away.
Avoid buying novelty candies shaped like batteries or matchsticks; they may tempt a child to eat the real thing later on.
Also, keep out of reach inedible or toxic household items that look or smell food-like; plastic food-shaped toys, or sweet-scented shampoo, mouthwash or household cleaners. Even worse, manufacturers are now packaging many nonfood items in familiar looking food containers which even fool adults.
Report any item you feel is a potential hazard to the Product Safety Commission, 1-800-638-2772.


The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.