Grandparents Leave Pills Laying Around . . .

When I was about 3 I ate nearly a half a bottle of chewable baby tylenol. (I remember the entire event vividly!) My mother had been up with my <6 month old sister all night who was sick so I was trying to get my own breakfast. (sounds lame, but it's what goes through a 3 yr old's mind). The only reason I lived is I woke my mother up within a half hour, which I only know because the cartoon I was watching hadn't ended. I wanted to brag that I was a big girl and got my own breakfast. Okay, that was lame too, but again, I was 3..... I knew enough to know it was medicine, but not enough to know it could hurt me. Incidentally, my mother kept the bottle in a cabinet above the stove. She thought it was inaccessible because of the hood over the stove. However, like most children I was able to get to it quite easily. As a result of this incident I keep most of my medication in a location that is physically impossible for her to reach, even if she got a chair or step stool. Very shortly all of my meds will be in a locked box with a combination lock.

FYI: did you know that adult multivitamins are the #1 cause of childhood death due to overdose? The iron, among other things, is incredibly toxic at an adult dose.

I might have your hubby present it as, I know you would never want to do anything to endanger the kids. Do you know how incredibly dangerous this is? If you appear "informative" instead of accusing it might go over better...

On a side note: I don't think I would let the kids have free reign of the house even if the grandparents start picking up the pills (though they should still be requested to do so). Ever cleaned out the car and found a french fry between the seats and realized you haven't allowed food in the car in months? Same thing with the pills, they could have rolled under the sofa or be hidden in a million places an adult would never think of and a child is certain to find.

Good luck,

S.

H.,

This is definitely a problem. I suggest you and your husband together sit with your in-laws to talk about this, showing a united front. I would start by reminding them children cannot tell the difference between candy or medicine, and when medicine lays around they may eat it on accident. I would also remind them they are taking medication that could be lethal for children.

Finally, to make the point hit home, I’d go to the grocery store and purchase Pepto Bismol tablets and that pink candy in the bulk bag section that looks like the Pepto, (I can’t remember what it’s called). Then ask your in-laws to tell you which is which form a distance, (like table length).

I would end the conversation with a clear understanding that if their behavior doesn’t change you will not allow the children at their home, but they are welcomed at yours. Reiterate that your children’s safety is your only concern.

I wish you the best of luck with this!

R. Magby

I would, when you first arrive at your in-laws do a thorough search of the house, and put away and up any pills you find. Then, once and a while search again. Be defensive--you know what pitfalls await your daughters now--and you can do something about these.

Good luck.

I haven't had this problem with my kids, but my Mom had the problem with me and my brothers and my paternal Grandmother's pharmacy. It's scary, no doubt about it. Short of making the rounds through any room your children will be in, you need to have a heart to heart conversation with your in-laws. They would be mortified if one of the grandkids was harmed because they got a hold of one of their pills. It still wouldn't hurt to go through the house when you arrive, check the floor (my youngest brother was a vaccuum cleaner, if it fit in his mouth, it was there)and the tables. Make sure all the bottles have their caps on and offer to take them off when you leave. If they come to visit in your home, provide them a pill sorter and keep the medications out of reach. It's not easy being the double stuff between the cookies. But life does get easier, I promise.

Hello,

My parents leave pills out in their bedroom and bathroom, but not all over the house. Of course you cannot NOT visit right? So, I would do a check of the house just as soon as you can, check all low spots/table, on the floor etc.

My daughter is NOT allowed in my parent's bedroom/bathroom without me - that is a rule for privacy, protection (hers - from pills) and respect for my parent's things. My sister and brother don't care, so sometimes it makes it awkward for my daughter, but safety and respect are my two biggies at my parent's house.

You also might have your husband telephone ahead and ask them to check that there aren't any pills around.

Positively,
M.

This is a hard one, but I do think you need to make it really clear that this is a bad habit that your In-laws she break right away. It is a serious danger to your child. As for how to do it, you might start by pointing out to your in-laws what you've noticed and what your fears are, see if they can change without accusing them or making it a battle.

This isn't to make your paranoid, but just a little heads up about where to look for pills. I helped my husband paint his grandma's bedroom and when we moved her bed there were like 5 pills on the floor around it. My son hasn't visited her house because it's very far away, but I've always kept the memory of finding those pills in the back of my mind. So, you might just take a peak around the bottoms of the bed and couch too since kids spend a lot of time on the floor.

Because this can be life-threatening, you will have to be be "triple safe". First, talk to your in-laws so they can put their meds away. However, everyone gets distracted and older people can be forgetful (I'm already there). So when you arrive, do a quick tour of the house to check for pills and other hazards. If they have alot of antiques and breakables, this is not a child-proof home! Third, know the poison hotline phone number and talk to your doctor about keeping ipecac or activated charcoal on hand in case of an emergency.

It sounds like you already watch your daughters carefully. Hopefully, taking a few precautionary steps will give you some peace of mind when you visit your in-laws.

Don't be afraid or hesitate to talk to them about this. This is a serious situation. If one of your children took one of those pills, it could do them serious harm. Just politely approach the grandparents and explain that your daughters had recently found some of their pills. Ask them if they could politely put the medication in an out of to reach spot when you come to visit.

Have you talked with them about the pills being within reach of their grandchildren? If not then do so before you allow your children to have the run of the house. If you have and they're still leaving medication out within your children's reach let them know that you cannot allow your children to be "loose" in their home. Keep your children confined in some way or you go around and inspect all surfaces on which meds could be within reach of your children and remove all meds.

Be calm but direct and stay firm. I believe this issue to be that serious. Emphasize that you want to continue the good relationship that you have with them and that you want to continue spending time at their house. Let them know that when they leave medication out and available to their grandchildren they are endangering your ability to be with them.

Do your in-laws not realize the danger of a child, weighing very few pounds ingesting a prescription pill designed to treat an adult weighing over 100 or 200 lbs? If the pill will affect an adult it will do harm to a child.

Perhaps, during your talk, you could talk about why they leave the medication out and then brainstorm other ways to manage it.

I sometimes set meds out so that I'll see them and remember to take them or, in the case of pills to take at bedtime, put them next to the bed. If that's the reason, suggest that they use an old child proof bottle in which to keep the one pill, out of site, next to their bed or chair. But only if the 5 yo is still unable to open the bottle. I put pills that I want to have handy in a small, 2" square "baggy", that I then put in my pocket. Until I found these in the pharmacy section I used sandwich baggies. A zip lock bag is still not safe to leave within a child's reach. Using one just makes it easier to keep it out of their reach.

This is a serious situation and I would keep working with my in-laws to prevent having medication available to my children. Until you know that your children are safe do not let them wander away from you. Do not leave them alone with their grandparents.

Do they realize how harmful the pills are for the little ones? they need to be made aware so they can think twice about forgetting and leaving them out...as far as their items being breakable...it is their space and they probably think that your child should be behaved enough to not touch them. Regardless...

They grew up in a no touch, no talk, not be seen era. the children should be either kept busy or taken outside.

Our generation is so much more open with touch and exploration as well as responsibility (like when we teach them "be gentle - it is fragile") or and admiration from afar. It is a cultural cross that you will all have to bridge. You are in a better place to have compassion though. so remember they are your elders and deserve respect, but if they knew that they were placing the children in danger, they would probably adapt.

sounds familiar. you have to keep an eye out yourself and ask your parents to keep pills out of reach. My mom was mortified when I pointed out her pill on a dining room chair. Now she keeps them in the bathroom high on a shelf and only takes them there.