Infants and toddlers commonly swallow dog food, cigarettes, mushrooms and plants. Many household products are brightly colored, attractively packaged and they may look like food containers to young children. Remember, children under the age of five cannot read labels and can be confused by the packaging. Strong smells or bad tastes do NOT stop children from drinking things such as bleach, pine-oil cleaners, gasoline, lamp oil, charcoal lighter fluid or toilet bowl cleaners. Medicines are a leading cause of serious and sometimes fatal accidental poisonings.
Many medicines look like candy to children.
Children will drink an entire bottle of cough and allergy medicine because they like the taste. To prevent accidents, leave safe snacks within reach of early rising children. Teach children that medicine is only to be taken for illness and that taking too much medicine at one time can make them very sick. Don't let children give other children medicine. Don't increase, decrease or stop medication before consulting with a physician or pharmacist.