What would your three-year-old do if they stumbled upon a vibrant pill on the kitchen floor?
Jessica Thompson had no clue that she had accidentally dropped a single prescription tablet while organizing her daily medications. It wasn’t until her three-year-old daughter, Mia, brought the pill to her that she realized what had happened—something she had always encouraged Mia to do when she finds items on the floor.
After the eye-opening incident, Jessica took to social media to share her experience, which quickly gained traction. “This just goes to show how crucial it is to teach our kids NOT to pick up and eat things off the floor, and to show them to an adult immediately,” she posted. “Mia knows she shouldn’t put anything in her mouth from the floor, even if it looks like candy. We constantly reinforce this rule.”
Jessica highlighted the potential dangers of the medication her daughter found. “This is a levothyroxine tablet for my thyroid condition, and it could have been serious enough to send Mia to intensive care. I pride myself on being careful with my meds, but even the most vigilant can make mistakes. It’s simply not enough to just keep your prescriptions out of reach.”
The bottom line? It’s essential to not only store medications safely but also to educate kids about the hazards of medicine and the importance of not eating items they find lying around. “Mia picked this up and brought it straight to me,” Jessica explained. “If she had swallowed it, I could have been facing a medical emergency. TEACH KIDS NOT TO PUT THINGS IN THEIR MOUTHS FROM THE FLOOR. We’ve instilled this in Mia from a very young age, and thankfully, we’ve avoided any incidents so far—especially important in a household with various medications.”
Jessica, who is also known for her insightful posts on self-love and mental health, mentioned how parents have responded positively to her story. Many have admitted they hadn’t yet discussed this important lesson with their own children. “People have expressed their gratitude,” she shared with Home Insemination Kit. “While most parents keep medications out of reach, they often overlook the need to teach their kids not to pick up random things and eat them. It’s just not sufficient to keep them hidden away. As parents, we can’t completely shield our children from everything, but we can guide them to make safer choices.”
From the moment Mia was able to understand, Jessica began explaining the dangers of foreign objects on the floor. She emphasized that no matter how tempting something looks, it’s essential to check with a parent first.
While many parents are aware of how to securely store dangerous medications, they might not know how to communicate the risks to their kids. Here are some extra tips from Safe Kids Worldwide:
- Always ensure that medicine is administered by an adult, and never let children take it on their own.
- Avoid referring to medicines as candy.
- Teach children that taking someone else’s prescription can be very dangerous—medications don’t always have the desired effect.
- Set a good example by storing medicine properly and demonstrating how to read labels and dosage instructions attentively.
“We’ve always been straightforward with Mia about dangers instead of pretending they don’t exist,” Jessica added. “Explaining WHY rules are in place makes compliance more likely.”
In summary, Jessica’s experience serves as a crucial reminder for parents. While it’s vital to keep medications out of reach, educating children about the risks associated with pills and encouraging them to show any found items to an adult can be lifesaving.
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