Here are some basic safety tips for giving your child medicine safely:
1. Read the label carefully each time – it doesn’t matter if you just opened the bottle or are using up the last dose; read the directions carefully.

2. Read what active ingredient(s) are in the medicine and let your doctor know of any allergic reactions to medication.
3. Choose the right strength to avoid accidental overdoses – an adult strength formula can be deadly for an infant or small child.

4. Use the dosing tool that comes with the medicine – a different cup or kitchen spoon might hold too much medicine.
5. Let one parent be the medicine giver – if neither parent knows the other one has already given the child his dose, this can lead to double dosing and accidental overdose.
6. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if this medicine will mix well with vitamins or other medications your child may be taking.
7. Know your child’s weight – this is the most reliable way to gauge the correct dosage for your child.

8. Know the difference between a tablespoon (Tbs) and a teaspoon (tsp) – a tablespoon holds three times as much medicine as a teaspoon which can lead to an accidental overdose.

9. Have your Poison Control Center phone number readily available and don’t be afraid to use it! Post this number by each phone and call them if you have any concerns at all.

10. Be sure the child-resistant caps are locked when closing the medicine bottles – kids love the fruity candy flavors of some medicines and you don’t want them trying to sneak more when you’re out of sight.

11. Keep all medications in a safe place out of reach of children – whether the safety cap fails to lock or you have an inventive child who can figure out how to break the cap open, you don’t want them able to get extra doses of medicine.

12. If you have family members, neighbors, or visiting guests who keep medications in their purses or suitcases, keep the purses or suitcases out of children’s reach – children will be curious about the “candy” Grandma carries in her purse.

13. Look at the expiration dates on both prescription and OTC medications – there’s some controversy about whether it’s safe to take expired medicines. Do you want to risk your child not getting the potency necessary to make her feel better? Or possibly risk it being dangerous to ingest after the expiration date?

14. Never give your child someone else’s prescription.
15. Always check the active ingredients in both prescription and OTC medications – doubling up on an active ingredient could lead to an accidental overdose.

16. Discard expired medicines carefully so little ones can’t ingest them accidentally – crush up pills and seal them in a plastic bag before discarding and never flush medicine down the toilet because it might contaminate your water supply.