[mondk]

We were at my in-laws' house yesterday and they've put marbles in empty medicine bottles and were letting Joshie play with them. They said I shouldn't mind because they had child proof lids on them. My take on it is just what if he did get the bottles open...and thinking anything inside could go in his mouth.

I'm really against it because when my sister was a baby she got the top off the baby aspirin bottle and swallowed half a bottle of baby aspirin and they had to pump her stomach. My dad said when I was little, I took half a bottle of Flintstone vitamins and ate every single one of them thinking they were candy.

How do I get my in-laws to listen to me and put their medicine bottles up?

Blessings, Michelle

[kelceesmom]

I have to say I did that with Kelcee. I use the bottles that you can flip the lid either way to make the childproof or not never just a childs tylenol bottle. I made sure that they were on tight and only used the child proof bottles. But, I only used them when she was in my sight. Never by herself. But, I also stopped using them when she a certain age because they do get good at opening things just when you think they can't.

Bottom line tho it is your child and they should respect your wishes. Good luck.

[srhbj]

I was always afraid to let my daughter use them as a toy when she was little, because I was afraid she would try to get in the medicine cabinet and play with the real thing. I guess I always felt it was better to be safe than sorry.

It's hard to deal with situations like you are having. You don't want to hurt their feelings, but at the same time, he is your son, and you want to protect him.

I guess the only advice I would have is to just explain to them that you would prefer that he not have it as a toy and ask them to please not let him do that when he is with them. It's always hard to not hurt your families' feelings, but if you're concerned, I would certainly approach them about it. A few hurt feelings are better than something happening to your beautiful son.

[o2b30again]

I am a childcare provider and was curious about how safe these "child proof" bottles really were. I mentioned it to my daughter. She ended up doing it for her science fair project. She had each of the children in my daycare try. All different sizes etc. What she found was astonishing...All the children over the age of 18 months could open all of the bottles. I am with you on not letting them play with the bottles. It also encourages them to think that these bottles are play items. Maybe you could supply the grandparents with toys that stay at their house etc.

[ourdreamcametru]

Nope, I never let any of our kids play with empty medicine bottles. I was always afraid that they would get a hold of one that was full of medicine and eat it.

[mom2justynsarah]

Same here..I agree with you 100%!

Originally Posted by ourdreamcametru

Nope, I never let any of our kids play with empty medicine bottles. I was always afraid that they would get a hold of one that was full of medicine and eat it.

[Linny]

You know....I"ve known of several folks who've let their children (babies) play with empty medicine bottles........and nothing's happened.
HOWEVER....I know (just as one poster already said) just how easily those bottles CAN be opened....and I don't advocate it. I've been amazed at the way some toys are continued to be made, let alone bottles. I know it's fun and re-cycling....and I've personally been tempted to do the same practice....I don't let my babies/children play with them.

Sincerely,

Linny

[Cjmeck]

When it come to IL matters, I defer to my husband. I learned early in our marriage, that all matters like the one you described, need to be handled by my husband. I don't think it needs to be a sitdown hard-core discussion; that would only make them defensive. But I think your husband should just remove the medicine bottle from Joshie hands and replace with a more acceptable toy. I totally get why you don't like it; I wouldn't either. Why get a baby in the habit of thinking that medicine bottles of any kind should be a toy? And, sometimes, those child-proof lids fail; if you don't screw it back on just the right way.

[Stormster]

CJmeck wrote my thoughts exactly. E loves to hold medicine bottles when I change him. It's the one thing that keeps him on the changing table. One day I reached over to give him a bottle of Tylenol (only for the time I was changing him, closely supervised) You have to understand what he puts us through on that changing table, always has. Toys won't work anymore, songs dont' work anymore....what works? Small tubes and small bottles. So I gave him this tylenol not realizing that the dropper screws on but isn't childproof. Why the heck to they give you a top that isn't childproof? Why can't they just give you a separate dropper like all other meds? Anyway I reach down to get his diaper or his wipe or something out of the drawer below, hand still on him but eyes away for a second and when I look again the dropper is in his mouth! He didn't get any of the med, it spilled but since that very close call i will never ever ever let him near any medicine bottles empty or full. He has to know it's not ok.

I still feel sick when I think about this incident. I'm so ashamed of it I didnt' even write it on here (I usually vomit out my every thought and experience with DS on here!). I did call poison control just in case btw but it was not a toxic amount. Even if he had what was in the bottle (which we had to go on since it's hard to know if the entire amount spilled, they ask the size, strength, name of the medicine, how many times you used it and his weight....All in all whatever he may have ingested was probably less than a dose. BUT UGH STILL....

Now I have to try to get him out of the meltdown emergency on the changing table BLACKBERRY as a toy habit. I get so tired and it works so well! I'd rather he destroy my blackberry though than ever have another medicine bottle in his hand. I'm writing this because maybe it will prevent someone else having an issue and also please if Tylenol or other meds come with a separate screw on dropper top they may not be childproof. I never ever should have assumed and should have looked much more closely!!! You can bet I will now.

[bromanchik]

No. Why would anyone ever want their kids to think a medicine bottle is a toy?

[Jo Ellen]

My suggestion for the medicine bottles is to not let your child play with them for fear of finding one that has meds in them and thinking they are okay to play with...better safe than sorry. As far as your in - laws explain this to them and see that your child has other things to play with while you are there. We found the pots and pans are great at Grandma and Grandpa's. We even let them play with the plastic bowls and lids. For a preschooler it is great practice finding the lids to match the bowls. Just my opinion and suggestions.

[devildogwife]

No, I definitely would not. Cameron will be on a lot of meds for a while. When he's older, I definitely don't want him thinking that's a toy and getting into one and swallowing a whole bottle of lasix or captopril! Dangerous, imo.

[SchmennaLeigh]

I use the bottles that you can flip the lid either way to make the childproof or not never just a childs tylenol bottle.

Nick was shaking an empty one of mine like this one time in the car and bit the top off. So, no, I would not be letting my child play with any bottles with anything inside. Kids are too darn smart for "childproof" bottles.

[EZ2Luv]

Medicine bottles? Marbles? Heavens NO! Why on earth would they choose to have a baby play with such items? I think sometimes older folks need a refresher course in what baby's should be allowed to play with. Without hurting their feelings I would let it be known that you would rather not have those items used as toys. There are plenty of other household items that would certainly make a safer choice.

Maybe you could bring a small toy box over with toys that you feel are appropriate for him while visiting. I have never been one to encourage smaller babies to play with anything other than their toys. When they got old enough sure I would let them play with out household items to promote creativity, but while they are at the "put everything in the mouth stage" marbles even if in a sealed container would be a definite no no and a medicine container is not a good habit to have a child consider a toy.

EZ

[Tigger2]

I agree with you completely!