Reduce Your Child’s Chances 

of Pesticide Poisoning
Pesticides:

What are they?

A pesticide is any bait, liquid, powder, 

or spray used to kill a pest (ants, germs, cockroaches, flies, mice, rats, or termites).
You turn your

head and your toddler is 

inserting a sandwich half into the 

DVD player. Mostly, we're lucky; 

our momentary slipups as parents 

aren’t too harmful. However, some 

close calls can be scary—like 

catching your three-year-old 

holding a can of bug spray. 

Most people aren’t aware that 

household pesticides, the products 

we use in and around our homes 

to kill ants, germs, cockroaches, 

flies, mice, rats, and termites, can 

harm a child’s health if stored or 

used improperly.

Each year thousands of children 

under the age of six are poisoned 

by common household pesticide 

products. Many parents still store 

pesticide products within the reach 

of children. One of the simplest 

ways of preventing pesticide 

poisoning is to store household 

products out of a child’s reach. 

Accidents are bound to 

happen in life, but we can’t 

depend solely on good 

fortune to protect our kids 

from harm’s way. Play it safe. 

With some simple prevention 

steps, you can assure a safe 

and healthy home for your 

family despite life’s unpredictable 

moments.
How do children come in 

contact with pesticides?

Children can come into contact with pesticides stored or applied in 

their homes, yards, day-cares, schools, parks, or on pets. 

Children often touch things (that may contain a pesticide) and put 

their hands in their mouths. They also crawl and play on floors, 

grass, or in spaces that might contain pesticides. These activities 

may put them at higher risks for poisoning. Contact with pesticides 

may cause serious harm to a child’s health.
How do you know if 

your child has been 

poisoned?

The signs of pesticide poisoning may look like the flu. If your child 

shows any of the following signs after coming in contact with a 

pesticide, call your poison control center right away.

• Headaches,

• Dizziness,

• Muscle twitching,

• Weakness, and

• Tingling.
How can I make sure that my child 

 Use these tips to help you poison-proof your 

• Read the label first. 

Follow the directions 

as they are written 

on the label before 

using a product.

• Crawl around 

on your hands 

and knees to 

see if you've 

missed any 

potential 

dangers from 

your child’s 

viewpoint.

• Re-close a pesticide 

package if ever interrupted 

during application (e.g., 

phone call, doorbell, etc.). 

Make sure the container is 

completely out of 

children’s reach while 

you’re absent.

• Use child-resistant 

packaging correctly 

by tightly sealing 

the container after 

every use.

• Install safety 

latches on 

cabinets.
doesn't get poisoned?

• Lock up all pesticides 

and harmful products 

in a cabinet, out of a 

child’s reach. 

• Keep 

pesticides 

in their 

original 

containers. 

Never put 

poisonous products 

in containers that 

could be mistaken 

for juice or food.

• Alert all 

caregivers 

about the 

potential 

dangers of 

pesticides and 

share these 

tips with them. • Teach children 

that “pesticides 

are poisons” and 

not to be touched.

Post the 

Poison Control Centers' 

national hotline 

phone number, 

1-800-222-1222, 

near every telephone in 

your home.

 

home:
EPA 735-K-07-003 

July 2007

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency (7506P)

Washington, DC 20460

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300