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.

I agree with Morloth TBH, things like this are not worth the risk, ever. it only takes one mistake.

I can't understand those who say it's the GPs house, therefore they can store their meds however they like and not toddler-proof their home. I've got five grandchildren, and am on heart medication - there is no way on this earth I'd leave my meds within reach of any of the children. I love them to bits, just as much as I love my own children, therefore I'm happy to toddler-proof and baby-proof my home.

I think the GPs need a good talking to.

they might be grandparents but they're really immature over this issue

nothing the op indicated she was 200miles away.she revealed that ongoing

oh hark at you missy marple.well guess what i dont hang on every bleedin word.so there you go

COuld you provide a link to the medicine box you're purchasing from the states? I've been looking for one for ages (DD 8 months) but haven't been able to find one.

Thanks

Katy

OP I remember your original thread.

I think you should read the Toxic Parents book. Don't be put off by the title - my parents are not in the slightest toxic however the book gives a good perspective on adult to adult boundaries and made me think about how I am not responsible for my parents happiness etc.

I think you need to work out what you are prepared to accept and then write them a letter.

Presumably they leave the meds by their bed because they take them first thing?

Why can't they keep them in a kitchen cupboard up high? Do they need a timer to remind them when to take them?

My father was a pharmacist and my parents have always stored meds high up in a kitchen cabinet. Never any in bedrooms or bathrooms.

In fact my father makes sure than my DS does not see him swallowing/taking the tablets.

I was wondering what is it that your parents think they have in place to mitigate against the risk - is it that they think the containers are unopenable/is it that Dcs are never in that room unattended (presumably not if one is asleep in the room).

FWIW I have cleaning products under the sink. DS 2.9 knows what they are - I mitigate this risk by the fact that I am always aware if he is in the kitchen when I am not because at the moment he cannot open the door (tricky old fashioned door-knob),

It is important not to be too reliant on safety measures so you can start to teach your 3 your old about the dangers - obviously the 1 year old is too young.

Re the lollypop thing - I am afraid your parents are yet again showing that they are taking the piss. They are cruelly playing on your anxieties making you seem unreasonable. Yes there is a small risk with lollies - some will think you are OTT with this - but it doesn't matter - it is your rule - there are tons of other sweets out there.

(I hate lollies - coat the mouth constantly with sugar - my DS would be a danger as he cannot sit still etc - therefore he's never had one.).

this shouldn't solely be what op will accept.in their own home adults can medicate as they wish.

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

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

When I got pregnant I started getting ill. I lived on paracetomol because I was in constant pain, and had Naramig prescribed for daily migraines.

Once dd was born I just got worse. By the time she was standing I was taking 18 pills a day. I had to keep them somewhere fairly low and easy to get at because I couldn't move enough to put them high up, my hands were too uncontrollable to unlock anything or open a tin so they were there, within dd's reach from about 1yo.

I told her, every day, never to touch pills. Never ever, unless me or dh gave them to her. She never ever did. She never even picked them up.

What I'm saying is that it is possible to teach your children not to touch them. They are dangerous things and will make them very ill, sick, in pain, uncomfortable etc etc etc. This is what I told dd. She understood.

Childproof pill bottles available from any chemist. This is not a big deal. Toxic parents and writing them letters? FFS.

toxic parents?she trusts them enough to watch her children

onEdge as nurse dont you encounter dosette boxes and/or childproof bottles.you dont need to irder from overseas,boots sell dosette box -or ask pharmacist next time you are in work. also community pharmacy can blister pack too(but not all meds are suitable)

Morloth and mathsmadmummy

Yes I agree that I shouldn't leave the DC there. I meant that I can't just withdraw from the situation. Will have try and sort something out first and give the situation a chance to be resolved. Bit I agree that I must not leave them there under these circumstances.

katys36 these

tabouleh Thanks for the book suggestion. I like the way your dad didn't even let the kids watch him, kids copy us, that is what worries me. I dont let them watch me eat blackberries. I also had stomach pumped out due to eating berriesas a child.

scottishmummy I dont work that type of setting unfortunately. I work for myself.
I think if I buy the boxes that I have in mind, they will use them.

My mum's reaction was so defensive, it made me feel like I was being over anxious. However thanks to reading your posts, it has put it back into perspective.

It is dangerous to leave medications in reach of kids. Even says so on the fekkin packet.

It is no good expecting a 3 year old be responsible for their own safety. She knows not to mess with knives, but i wouldnt leave her alone with a carving knife.

I will buy the boxes, one each and gentley insist that if they arent used then she cant stay there without me anymore. I think that is fair. ?

With my DD, sometimes, if I stress for her not to do something, she is more likely to do it out of curiosity, or it places the idea into her head.

Did any of you see Derren Brown with the girl electrocuting the kitten? She is a bit like that. Can resist anything but temptation

[[http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DMDwe_PNrACI Derren Brown - Don't kill the kitten!]

Derren Brown - dont kill the kitten

We stay at grandparents about once a month with ds (1yo next week) and i recently suggested I get a pressure fit stairgate we could take with us. My husband, however, pointed out that there are plenty of dangers over and above the stairs, and for visiting, however frequent, we can't really ask our parents to totally childproof their homes. We'll just get more exercise there by following DS around everywhere. In fact I have a cute picture from last weekend of him playing with a washing powder ball and a colander, right underneath quite heavy pans on open shelves at toddler height and with washing liquid bottles strewn around him. Both sets of grandparents are fit enough to also run around after him, and if alone with him I know they would be 100% engaged with him playing.

That said, if the OP's situation is a regular arrangement by mutual request, I don't think she owes any pussyfooting to her parents. She's not asking for an entirely sterile environment to be created, just one or two known risks to be addressed. In particular, with a toddler sleeping in a normal bed, an unsupervised room should certainly be free from silent/time-delayed dangerous things (noisy dangerous things like doors are a lot easier to respond to, aren't they).

However, I am not a parent of that age of toddler so perhaps don't have a full understanding of what can and can't be guarded against. I think the lolly is a bit precious though. Unsupervised stick-based food I agree, but lollies full stop, nah.

Lecilicious its things like this that worry me

And them falling with the stickin their mouths. I know I can't wrap them in cotton wool, but a few precautions are ok.

Luckily my parents live in Bugalow so we havn't got the stair hazard

You don't let your children watch you eat blackberries? Am I missing something here?

I find your parents' attitude absolutely fricking unbelievable. You had to have your stomach pumped from taking her pills as a child - and she STILL won't accept that it's a risk?!

I find scottishmummy's attitude that it's unresaonable to expect grandparents to move their pills on to a high shelf - a 30 second job - equally bizarre. They want their grandchild staying, but refuse to take rudimentary safety precautions? They are the unreasonable ones.

Let's face it, our parents all think our generation is paranoid. They used to take 5 kids in the back of a car with no seatbelts and leave us outside shops in our buggies. But it is your child and she needs to be told that she must respect your rules - or not see her grandchild.

I know it's difficult because that dynamic of your parents being the ones who know best still lingers from childhood. But in this case - they do NOT know best.

Thanks OnEdge

That's exactly what I've been looking for

Katy

OnEdge ugh I wouldn't give a child one of those either, disgusting artificial e-number-packed hyperactivity generators. I thought you meant ice lolly!

But the thing is that kids will find some dangerous way to employ even the safest toy. Literally the only way you can completely child-proof is by never taking your eyes off them. And then we get into the debate about how they NEED to have a certain amount of bumps and scrapes to learn boundaries and what they are/aren't physically capable of.

jane if you are going to paraphrase do it correctly.my assertion is many in community are casual with regards to meds storage.i enciuraged discussion and negotiation,after all is their home.these are her adult parents with capacity,whom she trusts enough to watch her kids.

this bizarre turn of demonising them giving a lolly as gross undermining and disobedience is a bitt ott.and as for the "toxic parent" reading recommendation absolutely bonkers

they are adults living independently in community.making their own choices.actually op needs to negotiate with them.how they store meds in their own home.the conversation needs to be about mediation not confrontation

i dont use cupboard locks for children when storing bleach etc. if somoen demansded i use them they vist or else,id be unimpressed

some posts have put a sinister psycho-babble spin on this.toxic parents and wilful wagging of lollies.my god

no bleedin letters or ultimatums
ease up on toxic parent psycho-babble

Wow am I the only one reading this thinking all these safety measures sound utterly exhausting! I have 2 very lively DS (4 & 1) and have yet to invest in a cupboard lock, socket cover, lockable cabinets or any other such gizmo . My eldest enjoys the odd lolly in a party bag or after a haircut without his teeth falling out or descending into some sort of e-number induced frenzy and my youngest already knows not to climb on the fireplace, touch the cooker, eat the cat food or play with toilet water

Seriously people I'm not suggesting you are lax about your child's well-being, but surely it can't be good to wrap them up in cotton wool