HELP. I am having real problems with GP leaving tablets in reach of children AGAIN

[OnEdge]

I am getting so mixed up with this one.
recently, I had a problem with my Dad leaving tablets on his bedside table where my 3 yo DD and 1yo DS could access them easily. I posted on here about it.

Then to my releif, I went round, and he had them in this special bag so that he could quickly put them all on top of his wardrobe when we arrived.

My DD is staying there tonight. Was just chatting to Mum and she said that DD ran off hiding something. hey couldnt find it, and were asking her what it was. They asked her if it was tablets and she no. In the end , they concluded it had been a packet of salt out of some crisps. Mum then said her tablet draw was shut. It turns out that in her bedside table, in the top drawer she stores all her medications.

My DD sleeps in her Grandma's bed. So I said to Mum, "Does that mean that she is now in your room, alone (admittedly asleep) with tablets in a drawer next to her?"

Mum got really cross, and said that it was their house and there was no where else to put them. DD didn't touch tablets anyway.

I don't know what to do now.

I am worried, because 1 yo DS is now toddling and I have another one on the way.

I don't think its safe, but Mum is getting really narked now, she blames it on my anxiety.

Also, when I was a toddler I had to have my stomach pumped out because I swallowed some of her tablets.

bump

Could you persuade your mum to fit a drawer lock on her meds drawer?

don't let your kids go there unless you are there too. SHe's clearly on the neglectful side when it comes to safety.

could you get them a locking medicine box?

Oldladyknowsnothing I thought of this but my DD was able to get into these when she was 2, we had them on the kitchen doors. Do you know if you can get extra difficult ones? Could fit an actual lock on the drawer.

colditz yes i think you are right, it is such a shame. I dont know why Mum cant see the danger, especially as it happened to me.
Trouble is I am 200 miles away tonight working. Think she will be very aware but its gonna cause a huge row I just know it. DH will be fuming when I tell him. She has a mental block where safety is concerned, I asked her not to give her lollipops yesterday because I read on here they could be dangerous. During the tablet conversation she told me how she had had a lollipop this evening. I let that one go tonight but FFS !

geraldinetheluckygoat
have found one in US but have to phone to order, I will just buy two tomorrow. You would have thought there would be loads on the market but not in UK.

thanks for nice responses, I just feel so far away stuck here with negligent GP looking after DD, I love her so much and they are risking everything.

i am anxious but its no fucking wonder with a family like mine !

Totally understand your anxiety. If you can fit a proper lock to the drawer, that's maybe a help; but could you rely on your parents actually locking it?

(Sorry, don't want to cause any more worry for you. )

i think they would lock it. they just think i look for faults all the time, i darent say anything, they think im criticising.

Yeah, some folk are just over-sensitive, but it can also be hard for older folk to take advice from younger ones, and when it's a parental situation that can just make it ten times worse.

OnEdge, what about getting a cash box or similar small locking box that can go in the bedside drawer?

GPs aren't neglectful.it is their house,you need to be vigilant they cant be expecetd to toddler proof their home

When you leave them there you have to do a sweep, make sure there is nothing they can get their hands on.

Stick everything in a box with a lock (buy a petty cash box from whsmiths or somthing) and then give your Mum the key, that should sort it.

it's so hard in your parents house, wrt to my parents, everthing has been in the same place for 20 years (woe betide any of us if we dare move it) so they find it very hard to understand teh concerns (IME)

scottishmummy

I disagree, they have a responsibility to make the environment safe for the grandchildren. I was not there last night, I was 200miles away. How can I be vigilant?

My mum's own child (me) had to be rushed into A&E to have stomach pumped out because I got hold of her valium tablets. You would think that would make her more careful ?

I find it hurtful that she isnt actually.

jareth

Yes I do normally and Mum watches me, I think she feels scrutinised, but as a parent I do it automatically. It is impossible to make it safe without upsetting them really. I have found a childproof medicine box I am going to order from the US.

I have just realised too that all their cleaning stuff is in the cupboard under the sink.

When I was a student nurse, we had a few children in who had ingested stuff, I remember one was windowlene. The Mum rightly brought the bottle in to show the docs, then she went and placed it on a chair in the ward so all the kids running round the ward could have swallowed it too some people just dont learn !

I am probably oversensative because I did it , and I also experienced it as a student.

they are adults with capacity their medication arrangements suit them,not your dc.are you getting free childcare?if dc around meds you need to negotiate a solution with them perhaps.dosette box,blister pack.its their home, and they adhere to their day to day standards of how adult meds for adults are stored safely

OnEdge - my parents accuse me of being too anxious- I did have anxiety related PND (DS is 2.6 now) and they didn't want to know.

Big part of it was that I had seizures as a child, including stopping breathing. My Dad had to resusitate me. They wonder why I was uber vigilant about DS when he was tiny... gah, even now I check on him hourly to make sure he's breathing. (that is overkill, I admit, but what harm can it do?)

You know what you're doing, you're the Mother here, you musn't let their ideas dictate the rules.

in their own home adults can medicate as they wish,you don't like it dont send the dc there then

in rl people take and store prescription meds very casually.what do you seek?gp dosette box,blister pack.can you negotiate any other way

no one wants prescription meds left near your children but,this is they live.what can you all negotiate that is safe

as usual, scottishmummy speaks sense

Stop leaving your DC there?

jareththegoblinking
I have an idea for you, why not get an alarm to slide under your child's mattress. If they stop breathing for more than 20 seconds it goes off like a smoke alarm dead loud. I used one for both my children, and 1 year old still on it. You can buy em second hand off e bay for £25. I sleep easy all night cos I know he is breathing if it is quiet.

here

OP - i understand why you'd be more sensitive than most - I guess the only solution is to not leave your DCs with her until they are old enough for this not to be a problem - and tell her why. Don't have a go, but just make it clear as it happened to you you don't want it happening to them.

scottishmummy and morloth
It isnt as simple as not leaving the children there, although I was tempted yesterday. My Mum and Dad want to have her on Fridays. It isnt really free childcare in my view. My daughter loves going, and my parents enjoy having her. To pull it would cause a real nasty upset. I have spoke to mum since and we havn't mentioned it. I will go round this week and see if the situation has changed. if not, I will gently suggest these boxes I have seen on the web. The strange thing is that Mum is very quick to spot potential hazards when we are out or at my house.

you need to be tactful,not all guns blazin.pharmacist can blister pack meds or buy a dosette box.but do negotiate options

It is that simple. If you think it is dangerous to leave her there than you are mad to continue doing so.

If they can't be relied upon to keep the drugs out of the DC's reach (for any reason, forgetfulness, bloody mindedness whatever) then it isn't safe.

I would rather cause nasty upset than have my DC swallow a bunch of pills accidentally.