Medicine out of reach of kids ... how old?

[Laiste]

Keeping medicine out of reach of little fingers is obviously good practice.

Tell me though, what age would you start to relax a bit and trust them not to touch?

It depends on the child but definitely keep medicines locked away while they are at primary school.

Whats your reason for NOT wanting to keep them locked up?

My 80 year old mum has a stash worthy of a large general hospital a lot of medicine. Mainly tablets. I have a 4 year old. We're all about to start sharing a house.

I was just wondering what the general consensus on here is on age of child and hiding medicine.

This is kind of inspired by the pill on the floor thread running at the mo. (Although that's about babies which is a no brainer obvs).

If they’re big enough to reach the top self of a top cupboard, they’re probably big enough to know not to touch medicine. I’ve never known any household to keep medication out and about, however in the case of the disabled or infirm I could understand the inability to put in a high cupboard or locked up.

I kept medicines out of reach up until the point where my children could actually reach higher than I could.

I'm a short-arse not particularly tall though, so they were probably about 12 years old by that point.

I intend to keep medicines locked up pretty much forever. Why take the risk? Especially with more potent medicines than a bit of calpol.

At 4 I would say definitely keep it locked away. There's a certain lack of imagination about 3 and 4 year olds that can lull you into thinking they're quite sensible and then they hit 5 and suddenly have this greater capacity to plan ahead and a whole world of doing stupid things opens up before them.

Wise thoughts. All of you.
sigh

Is say until they are teens tbh - because even if they’re old enough to know not to eat pills like candy they could still try to self-medicate a heacahe or something and get the doseage wrong. But I am a bit of a captain cautious 😁

I think primary school is a bit over the top, although of course it depends on the child. My youngest is just about to turn 10. She knows where the medicine cabinet is and what is in it but I know she wouldn't dream of taking anything from it apart from a plaster. So that's not been locked for a few years now. I also don't fuss if someone takes painkillers etc and leaves the packet out, or make diabetic relatives hide their insulin and medication etc. But she is very sensible and always has been.

I will keep all medicine locked away for ever not just out of reach,
I started stealing and regularly taking painkillers and other pills from about 9 so obviously old enough to understand I shouldnt but not mature enough to know the dangers and what to do instead.
Theres no need to have a large number of pills accesable to someone who doesnt need to take them.

My 10 year old has bern able to reach them for the last 2 years. He is sensble and wouldn't have touched them from around he age of 6. My older child now an adult wouldn't have been so sensible at age 10. There is no age limit it depends on the child.

I relaxed at around age 8 or 9. My kids are very sensible though.

You can get lockable medicine cabinets. Would your mum be ok with that and actually keep it locked?

I think 4's still a bit young. 8 year olds are vastly more sensible than 4 year olds.

What about just using a child lock on a cupboard door, could your mum work that OK? or put a bolt across so you and she can reach it but DD can't, or use top shelf of the fridge if meds are OK there. We have tended to just put pills on high shelves, but I guess that might be tricky for your mum.

Yes i'm being an idiot. I'm going to have to have the conversation with DM. It's one of many. I'm just trying hard to keep the clash of generations softened a bit but there are some things which have to be dealt with.

DD is very bright but not entirely trustworthy :)

We're doing a new kitchen soon and DM is used to having her tablets just in drawers at hip height. Padparadschas thoughts about elderly/infirm not being good with high or locked cupboards and drawers sums it up really.

Maybe i can get DM a large tray which slides into the bottom of a top cupboard ... She can lift it down and see her pills. I think it mostly all comes out when she refills her weekly pill dispenser thingy.

Apart from DD4 DM is the shortest in the house and wont see/reach up easily.

I think she'll struggle with a child lock.

She refuses to even try to open baby gates ect.

She could get a small safe to keep it in? A lot of older people have those in the house and you just type in a short code to get access

Medicine cabinet? They lock with an ordinary key, bit like a filing cabinet.

Could your mum move to predispensed pills? They come in a large folder type thing with foil to seal the individual compartments. I suspect they'd be easier to secure and less tempting to a child.

A lockable box sounds like the best option.

Either a combination lock or one that you lock with a key, depending on which type your mum would find easiest to manage.

A lockable box sounds like the best option.

For DM or DD?

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll look into the box solution. It does sound the best but i don't think DM will want to go for it.

Boots will put your pills into day by day labelled packets I think, or they used to where I used to live, if that would help.

Otherwise I suspect an actual lock may be the only way. I imagine you could fit a simple turn lock onto a kitchen drawer:

www.locksonline.com/Rim-Lock-18-mm-Diameter-Cylinder-26-mm-Backset-For-Drawers-Keyed-Alike-7374.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlqLdBRCKARIsAPxTGaUWYVPlkCyRybHrEzsJXYJjGWxLV2scNAs9JBdlB4MOrKo9VTrSnnMaAgM0EALw_wcB

Something like this, then keep the key on a hook somewhere out of reach of little ones?