Poison Safety Tips for Baby’s Early Years

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Texas Poison Center Network would like to congratulate you on the birth of your child. We want to help you keep your child safe as he or she grows. This brochure contains safety tips for poisoning dangers your child will face during the first few years.

Take a moment and save the number for your local poison center in your cell phone, 1-800-222-1222.

0-6 Months

The most common problem at this age is with medicine.

• Use measuring syringes or droppers given to you by your pharmacist or doctor. Give the right amount. Do you give a drop or a dropper-full?
• If you are unsure, check with your pharmacist or doctor before giving the medicine.
• Any amount over ½ teaspoon (2.5 mLs) should be verified with a doctor or pharmacist.
• The amount of medicine to give your child is based on their age and weight.
• Make sure your babysitter has clear instructions for giving medicine to your baby.

6-9 Months

Your baby is now crawling. To see what your baby can see, get on your hands and knees and crawl around the house. Here are some things you should pay attention to:

• Cleaning products that are kept under cabinets need to be stored out of sight and out of reach.
• Know the names of your indoor and outdoor plants. Take a leaf and picture to your local plant nursery to find out what it is, then call the poison center to see if the plant could be dangerous to your child.
• Your baby now has access to the entire floor of your house. The things your baby might find are rat poison, insect bait, and medicine that was dropped by mistake.

9 MONTHS AND UP

Your child may be walking and climbing now, which means they could get into anything.

• Medicine cabinets are now within reach. Remember child safety caps are not childproof.
• Children have access to the entire yard. Remove all mushrooms, dangerous plants, and pesticide products from the yard.
• Children love to get into parent’s things. Do not store medicine in your purse.
• Remember children’s medicines like vitamins and cough syrups might taste great! If the child can get to this medicine, he may take it.
• Teach your child that medicine is not candy.
• Remember, a child’s “taste” is still changing. Just because it tastes bad to you, doesn’t mean it tastes bad to your child.

FOR THE BABYSITTER

Follow these steps if you suspect a child has been poisoned:

• Take the product away from the child.
• Check the baby’s mouth and gently remove any pills or liquids. Do not induce vomiting.
• Call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222
• Follow the advice the Poison Center gives you.
• Tell the parents what happened and what steps you have taken.
• Help parents make the house safe so the baby doesn’t get poisoned again.
• Go to our website and look under Kids’ Corner to download “Babysitter Notes” to take with you when you baby sit.