Updated March 21, 2024
Out of the corner of your eye, you catch your toddler drinking from his older brother's bottle of liquid medicine. You quickly call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222). But when they ask you how much medicine your child took, you frantically realize that you don't really know.
Even parents who know the basics of how to prevent accidental poisonings, such as keeping medicines out of children's reach and posting the Poison Control number next to their phone, may not know how much liquid medicine a child has taken. Here's a simple solution: Mark the level of liquid medicine after each use by drawing a line on the label. Then, if a child accidentally drinks the contents, you will know how much is missing. This information will help Poison Control determine whether or not you need to take your child to the emergency room.
Also, be especially watchful when you give your child liquid medicine. Most cough syrups, antibiotics, and other liquid medicines are made to taste good so children will take them. Young children may drink the whole bottle if they get the chance. However, even if the medicine tastes bad, don't let your guard down. There have been cases in which children drank the whole bottle of a medicine even though it tasted awful!
