Food Products and Poisoning Most poisonings as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics occur when parents are not paying close attention. If you are ill or stressed, you may not watch your child as closely as usual. The hectic routine of getting dinner on the table causes so many lapses in parental attention that late afternoon is known as the arsenic hour by poison center personnel. In addition, children like to put things into their mouths and taste things. This is a natural way for children to learn about the world around them.
Children also copy adults without knowing what they are doing.
The best way to prevent poisoning is to lock up all toxic substances where your child cannot get to them. Also, watch your child even more closely whenever you are somewhere that is not childproofed. Be especially attentive when your child is visiting another home, or a grandparent s home, where childproofing may not have been done. Keep a small bottle of syrup of ipecac on hand with your other medicines out of children s reach. It is available without prescription at most pharmacies.