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Think Ahead to Treat Poisoning by Posting Your Poison Control Number

Last Updated: September 27, 2008

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Parenting Tips for Your 12 Month Old Child

  • Store poisonous products in a locked cabinet and out of your child’s reach. Return products to the locked cabinet immediately after you use them.
  • Look up the phone number for your Poison Control Center. Write it down and keep it by every phone in the house. The universal number in the United States is 800-222-1222.
  • Never put a poison in food or drink containers. Someone may think it is food and eat it.
  • Watch out. Other people’s homes may not be childproof.
  • Don’t take medicine in front of your young children. Never tell children their medicine is candy. This will help them think it’s OK to eat medicines as if they are candy. They might eat the medicine and hurt themselves.
  • Do not use syrup of ipecac. In years past, first aid kits contained syrup of ipecac. It was used to make children vomit or throw up the poison. Now doctors feel this can do more harm than good, so do not use it. Research has shown that vomiting will not help a child who has swallowed a poisonous substance. Activated charcoal is still used by hospital emergency rooms. If your child is having convulsions, stops breathing, or loses consciousness, call 911.


Learn more about Your 12 Month Old Child from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
Note to Parents: When reading this newsletter, remember: Every baby is different. Children may do things earlier or later than described here. This newsletter gives equal space and time to both sexes. If he or she is used, we are talking about all babies.
References: These materials were adapted by authors from Extension Just in Time Parenting Newsletters in California, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Wisconsin.

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