Toddler Health Archives - Page 3 of 6

Medication Safety for Kids: Separating Candy from Medicine to Prevent Poisoning

Tacs, M&M’s, Mike N’ Ikes, Good N’ Fruity, Sweet Tarts, Skittles, even chocolate — the list goes on. Look in a medicine aisle and you’ll find a medication that looks nearly identical to many popular candies. Packaging removed, many adults can’t even tell the difference between candy and pills. Mix that with the impulsive sweet-tooth of most kids, and you have a recipe for misfortune and a serious reason to practice some medication safety for kids. One out of every 250 2-year-olds ends up in the ER from accidental medication poisoning.

So how can you keep your child from mistaking medicine for candy?

Medication Safety for Kids:

-Teach your child a symbol that means something is icky, a no-no, and dangerous. Since many poisonous substances already use the skull and crossbones, you can add this symbol to your medications, pills, and other hazards for children such as make-up, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Make the symbol big and on neon paper if possible. You want it to really stand out. Be clear to your child that they should never touch anything that has this symbol. You can also buy stickers if you prefer.

-Avoid referring to medications or pills as “candy.” While I realize children often make this association themselves (my toddler calls his Flintstone vitamins candy), never tell your child a pill is candy to get them to take it. If they do mistake a medication for candy, correct them. Teaching that there is a difference between medicine and candy from the very beginning is important.

-Teach your kids never to eat candy off the floor. My toddlers eat off the floor all the time, it’s an effect of constantly throwing food. However, teaching that all foods should pass a mom/dad inspection can prevent accidental poison or medication ingestion. This one can take time, so in the meantime, keep a close eye on younger children, especially when in public places or locations like hotel rooms where you may not know who all has been there.

-Try to take your medicine out of your child’s sight. Young children in particular, as you likely have noticed, are mimics. Anything you do they’ll not only want to do, but likely will try to do. Simply taking your pills out of your child’s sight can help tremendously when your aim is medication safety for kids.

-Buy child-resistant packaging, and be sure the bottles are closed after use. Most medications now come with tamper-resistant or child-proof packaging, but some don’t. Be on the look-out for packaging that is extra tricky to open, the more difficult the better. Also be sure you properly close medication after use. My very first scare with my toddler and pills was due to me not fully placing the lid back on my Advil. Luckily he didn’t consume any, but if the cap isn’t secure, child resistant packaging doesn’t work, so check it twice. Also be sure to always keep medication in its original, safe package with the added no-no label.

-Keep medication in a locked location well above your child’s reach. When it comes to preventing accidental poisonings and medication safety for kids, you really can’t be too careful. Place those child-proof bottles and packages in a locked location that is well above your child’s reach, such as a bathroom cabinet above the mirror or toilet or on a high shelf.

What should you do if you suspect your child ate a pill or medication?

Don’t wait to see if your child has a reaction. Many medications will show little to no symptoms, but can be fatal over time. If you know the medication or pill that was or possibly was ingested, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 in the US for instructions and follow them. If you’re unsure of the pill or medication taken, grab any remains — even if it’s covered in spit and is half-eaten — and go immediately to the ER. Also try to remember or even write down what the substance looked like in detail, so you can provide hospital staff with accurate information.

Bedtime Routine Checklist for Kids Who Wet the Bed

While the majority of children are diaper-free by age 3, 20 percent of all children still have issues with night-time bed wetting at the age of 5. Night-time bed wetting in children over the age of 3 is usually a result of poor bladder control, a small bladder, or an internal need-to-pee signal that is too weak to wake up the child. All the above make bed wetting a common and perfectly normal issue in younger children, even though it can be frustrating for parents. Luckily, like most frustrating yet common bedtime problems, bed-wetting frequency and hassle can be reduced with a simple routine.

The following bedtime routine checklist provides an example of how to start the night to increase the chances of a dry morning:

Establish a routine. Many bedtime routines for 3- to 5-years-olds begin with calming activities, such as a bath, story, or short cartoon. It may take some experimenting to find what works best for your child. What’s important is to establish a routine and stick to it. Start bedtime things at the same time every night and follow the same steps to help your child’s internal clock learn when it’s time to pee and when it isn’t.

Try to avoid fluids later in the day. If you have a child that’s struggling with bed-wetting issues, try to make sure your bedtime routine doesn’t involve water or other fluids close to bed time. Often avoiding liquids an hour or so before bed is plenty.

Prepare for the worst. While your child is brushing their teeth and preparing for bed time, it’s a good idea to prepare the bed. A simple plastic mattress cover and having an extra set of sheets and pajamas for nighttime accidents nearby can make things run far smoother. Work out an accident plan with your child so that they know what to do if they pee the bed. Older children may even be able to clean up themselves without waking you. This can reduce guilt, as they don’t have to wake everyone up and make a big deal out of their accident.

Make the toilet the last stop. The final stop in a bed-time routine for a bed wetter is the toilet. A potty break should occur immediately before climbing into bed. You might even consider ‘double voiding.’ This is a practice where you have your child go to the bathroom not once, but twice before bed. For instance, you might have them go at the start of your bed-time routine and the end.

Inform and reward. Outside of augmenting your bedtime routine, it’s also a good idea to talk with your child about bed wetting. Be sure they understand that bed wetting is common and is not their fault. Offer rewards for dry nights and avoid punishing not-so-dry nights.

With the proper preparation and routine, bed wetting can be reduced, and when it does occur, it can be less of a hassle and less of a mess for both parent and child. If you have continued problems you might consider a potty alarm for bed time. Above all, don’t get discouraged. Remember — this too shall pass — but if it doesn’t by age 6 or 7 or your child is complaining of lower abdominal pain, there’s no harm in reaching out to your pediatrician.

Toddler Snoring: What’s All the Noise About?

In most cases, a baby that snores, snorts, and even drips snot is not unusual as nasal passages are still developing, but less parents are prepared for toddler snoring. Whether your toddler has sawed logs from night one or it’s a new a noisy development, there are some things that should be known about toddler snoring.

What causes toddler snoring?

A toddler snoring can occur for a number of reasons. Some of which are no cause for concern, and some that warrant some pediatrician attention.

First, your toddler could just be congested.

Any obstruction of the nasal passages can cause toddler snoring. If your toddler suddenly becomes the loudest sleeper of them all, it’s a good bet snots to blame. He or she may have a cold coming on or just need a good booger sucking. Older toddlers can also be taught to blow their own nose to avoid that midnight rendezvous with an aspirator no parent enjoys. A humidifier by your child’s bed may also prove helpful or administering steam baths just before bed. Swollen tonsils will also cause toddler snoring in many cases.

If the snoring isn’t new it could still be congestion, but it may be the result of an allergy. Pet and seasonal allergies both are common even in little tykes. You can try eliminating common triggers one at a time on trial basis and see what happens or talk with your pediatrician about getting an allergy medication.

Another possible cause of lifelong little snorers is a deviated septum, meaning an irregularity in the nasal passage. This, of course, would require a medical opinion which would come with expert advice on treatment.

Finally, saving the most dangerous but less common cause of toddler snoring for last, it could also be sleep apnea, a disorder that causes disrupted sleep. You may or may not notice this at an early age. In many cases, sleep apnea does not onset until age 3 to 6. Sleep apnea can be caused by an obstruction preventing proper respiration, a neurological issue where the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe, or a combination of both. Kids with sleep apnea usually also have trouble sleeping, wake often, are restless, can be heard struggling to breathe in their sleep, and may wake seemingly still sleepy. They may also suffer other sleep disturbances such as night terrors. In most cases, sleep apnea can be treated, but does require prompt medical attention. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to developmental long-term effects.

What can you do about toddler snoring?

If your toddler has been snoring since birth, it’s recommended you just bring it up to your pediatrician to have it checked out. If the snoring is new and your child is showing other signs of sickness, chances are its just a congestion issue. Treat for a cold and keep an eye on it, if it becomes a long-term issue or your child becomes increasingly ill, see your pediatrician.

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