How to Involve Grandparents and Caregivers in Pediatric Medication Safety

Every year, more than 58,000 children under five end up in the emergency room because they got into medicine they weren’t supposed to. And in nearly four out of ten cases, the medicine came from a grandparent’s purse, nightstand, or kitchen counter. This isn’t about carelessness-it’s about misunderstanding. Most grandparents love their grandchildren deeply and want nothing more than to keep them safe. But they don’t always know how.

Why Grandparents Are at the Center of This Problem

Grandparents are more likely than anyone else to be taking multiple medications every day. On average, they juggle 4.7 prescriptions, compared to just 2.1 for parents in their 30s and 40s. Many of these are blood pressure pills, pain relievers, diabetes meds, or antidepressants-medicines that can be deadly if a child gets into them. And because they’re used to managing their own meds for decades, they often don’t see the risk.

One study found that 36% of grandparents believe child-resistant caps are enough to keep kids safe. But here’s the truth: 30% of 4-year-olds can open those caps in under five minutes. That’s not a flaw in the cap-it’s normal child development. Kids are curious, strong for their size, and great at figuring things out. If medicine is within reach, they’ll find it.

And where do they usually find it? In purses left on the couch. On the nightstand beside the bed. In the bathroom cabinet where shampoo and toothpaste sit side by side. In the kitchen drawer next to the cookies. These aren’t dangerous habits-they’re habits formed out of convenience. Grandparents don’t think of their meds as hazards. They think of them as part of their routine.

What Works: The PROTECT Campaign and Real Results

In 2010, the CDC and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association launched the Up & Away and Out of Sight campaign. It wasn’t about scaring people. It was about giving clear, simple steps that fit into real life.

A 2017 study tracked 223 grandparents who got a 15-minute education session based on this campaign. Before the talk, only 39% stored their meds safely. Three months later? That jumped to 78%. The changes were simple:

• Move meds out of the bathroom-humidity ruins pills and kids love the sink.
• Don’t leave them on the nightstand-even if you take them right before bed.
• Keep them off the kitchen counter, even if it’s just for a minute while you make coffee.
• Never put meds in a purse or bag when grandchildren are around.

The biggest win? They didn’t need fancy tech. No apps. No smart locks. Just a locked cabinet-preferably above 4 feet high, where kids can’t reach it. And if the cabinet doesn’t lock? A simple latch that takes 15 pounds of force to open works. That’s more than most toddlers can manage.

Why Grandparents Resist-and How to Get Past It

Some grandparents feel blamed. They hear “You’re putting your grandchild at risk” and shut down. That’s why the best programs avoid language like “you should” or “you’re wrong.” Instead, they say: “Let’s make sure our grandkids stay safe.”

One grandmother on Reddit shared how she changed after a close call: her 3-year-old grabbed her blood pressure pills from her purse. She didn’t yell. She didn’t feel guilty. She just got a small lockbox, put it in the closet, and started telling her grandson, “These are Grandma’s special vitamins-only grown-ups touch them.” That’s the tone that works.

Another common barrier? Arthritis. Many grandparents can’t twist child-resistant caps. That’s why pharmacists now offer easy-open caps as a free service. Ask for them. Some pharmacies even give away free lockboxes to seniors during medication pickups. In fact, 78% of grandparents who got a personalized safety check from a pharmacist changed their habits.

What Grandparents Should Do Right Now

Here’s what you can do today, no matter where you live or how tech-savvy you are:

1. Find every medicine. Go through your medicine cabinet, purse, nightstand, and drawers. Include vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter stuff like cough syrup or ibuprofen.
2. Put them back in original bottles. Never transfer pills to pill organizers unless you’re using them for yourself. Kids can mistake those for candy.
3. Lock them up. Use a cabinet with a latch, a lockbox, or even a high shelf with a childproof door. Don’t overthink it-just make it out of reach.
4. Have the talk. When kids visit, say: “Medicine is not candy. Only adults give medicine. If you find medicine, tell an adult right away.” Say it calmly. Repeat it. Kids remember.
5. Check expiration dates. Throw out anything old. Expired meds can still be dangerous. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of them safely.

What Parents Should Do to Help

Parents can’t fix this alone. Grandparents need support, not pressure. Here’s how to help without sounding critical:

• Offer to buy a lockbox as a gift. Say, “I got this for Grandma-she’ll love it.”
• Send a printed checklist with pictures. Some grandparents don’t use smartphones.
• Ask your pediatrician to mention medicine safety during checkups. Only 12% of Medicare plans offer this counseling-but doctors can still bring it up.
• Keep a list of your child’s meds and dosing schedule. Give a copy to grandparents so they know what to watch for.
• Make safety a family habit. Let kids draw a poster: “Medicine is for grown-ups.” Hang it on the fridge.

One family did this after their 2-year-old found an asthma inhaler. Now, every time the grandparents come over, the kids help put the lockbox away. It’s not about control. It’s about teamwork.

What’s Changing in 2026

New tools are coming. In January 2024, the CDC launched a free digital toolkit with videos showing exactly how to store medicine safely. The videos are in Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic-and they’re designed for people who don’t use tech often.

There’s also a new NIH trial testing a simple app that sends a reminder to grandparents before holidays or visits: “Your grandkids are coming. Double-check your meds.” Early results show 85% of users follow through.

And in 2023, the American Geriatrics Society added pediatric medicine safety to its official guidelines for older adults. That means doctors will start asking: “Do you care for young children? Are your meds locked away?”

It’s not about fear. It’s about awareness. And it’s working.

Final Thought: This Isn’t a Grandparent Problem. It’s a Family Problem.

Medicine safety isn’t about who’s right or wrong. It’s about making sure no child ever has to go to the ER because they swallowed something they didn’t understand. Grandparents aren’t the enemy. They’re the solution.

They’re the ones who bake cookies, read bedtime stories, and hold hands during thunderstorms. They’re also the ones who hold the pills. Let’s help them keep both safe.