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Watch Out: Medicines with Iron Can Be Deadly

Last Updated: September 14, 2009

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Parenting Tips for Your 47-48 Month Old Child

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that iron medications (sometimes identified as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate) can be deadly to a young child. Many adults may not realize how dangerous medicines with iron in them are. The Commission recommends that parents keep medicine with iron out of the reach of young children.

Iron is available in combination with vitamins or alone. According to Poison Control Center data, iron supplements are responsible for 30 percent of pediatric poisoning deaths from medications. A small number of iron pills consumed by a child can cause death. Poisonings happen when children swallow their parents’ iron pills. The CPSC wants pregnant moms to know that prenatal medicine with iron is poisonous to children.

The CPSC requires that iron-containing medicines and vitamins with iron be packaged in child-safety cap bottles. Parents should always be sure caps are put back on securely. In addition, parents should keep medicines with iron out of the reach of children and should properly throw away iron pills they do not want, so children cannot reach them. Do not discard them in a wastebasket where children can find them.


Learn more about Your Child: 47-48 Months 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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