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 of those cases, the medicine came from a grandparent’s purse, nightstand, or kitchen counter. It’s not because grandparents are careless. It’s because most of them don’t realize how easily a curious toddler can find and open a pill bottle-even one with a child-resistant cap.

Grandparents are more involved in childcare than ever. One in seven U.S. children lives with a grandparent, and over seven million live with them full-time. At the same time, 34% of grandparents take daily prescription meds. That’s an average of 4.7 medications each. Many keep them in places that feel convenient: the bathroom cabinet, the bedside table, the handbag. To them, it’s just life as usual. But to a 2-year-old, those bottles look like candy.

Why Grandparents Are at the Center of This Problem

Parents are usually careful. Studies show 68% of parents store medications safely-locked up, out of reach, in original containers. Grandparents? Only 52% do. That gap isn’t about neglect. It’s about different habits, different knowledge, and different assumptions.

Many grandparents believe child-resistant caps are enough. They’re not. CDC testing shows 30% of 4-year-olds can open them in under five minutes. Others transfer pills into weekly pill organizers because they forget what’s in each bottle. That’s a big risk-those containers aren’t child-resistant at all. And 29% of caregiving grandparents admit they’ve done this.

Memory issues, arthritis, and complex medication schedules make it harder to stay consistent. Some grandparents don’t know how to use child-resistant caps properly. One study found only 54% could open their own bottles correctly. Others keep meds in purses because they’re used to carrying them around. A third of grandparents admit to keeping medicine in their handbags-right where a grandchild can grab it.

And here’s the quiet truth: many grandparents feel defensive when someone tells them to “be safer.” They’ve raised kids, cared for families, and don’t want to feel like they’re being accused of being irresponsible. That’s why the message matters as much as the method.

What Works: The PROTECT Campaign and Real-World Fixes

The CDC and Consumer Healthcare Products Association launched the “Up & Away and Out of Sight” campaign over a decade ago. It’s simple, direct, and backed by data. And it works.

A 15-minute educational session with grandparents-focused on safe storage, not blame-boosted safe medication habits from 39% to 78% within two months. That’s not a small change. That’s life-saving.

Here’s what they taught:

• Keep all medicine-prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, patches-up high, out of sight. Think above 4 feet, locked in a cabinet or box.
• Never leave medicine on counters, nightstands, or in purses.
• Always keep pills in their original bottles with child-resistant caps.
• Dispose of expired or unused meds safely. Many pharmacies take them back for free.

Visuals help. A picture of a locked cabinet labeled “Grandma’s Special Vitamins” sticks in a child’s mind better than a lecture. Some families even make a game of it: “Where do we keep medicine?” and let the grandchild point to the right spot.

One grandmother in Ohio started keeping her meds in a locked box in her closet after her grandson nearly swallowed her blood pressure pills. She told her grandkids, “These are Grandma’s special vitamins. Only grown-ups touch them.” She didn’t say, “You’re dangerous.” She didn’t shame them. She turned safety into a routine.

How to Talk to Grandparents Without Making Them Feel Judged

Start with care, not correction.

Instead of saying, “You need to lock up your pills,” try: “I know you want to keep our grandkids safe. Let’s make sure no one finds your medicine by accident.”

Use phrases like:

• “Let’s make sure our grandkids stay safe.”
• “I know you’ve always been careful-this is just one more way to help.”
• “We’re all learning. Can I show you this simple trick?”

Offer to help. Bring a lockbox. Show them how to use it. Walk them through checking expiration dates. Make it a visit activity, not a chore.

Many grandparents feel more comfortable learning from someone they trust-like a pharmacist or a grandchild’s pediatrician. Ask the doctor to mention medication safety during checkups. Pharmacists can hand out free lockboxes and explain safe storage during prescription pickups. In fact, 78% of grandparents who got personalized advice from a pharmacist changed their habits.

What to Do When Grandparents Live With Your Child

If your child lives with grandparents full-time, safety needs to be a team effort.

Start with a quick conversation: “We want to make sure everyone’s safe. Can we go over where your medicines are kept?”

Then, take action:

1. Ask to see all meds-prescription, OTC, supplements, patches.
2. Move everything to one locked container. A simple lockbox from the hardware store works.
3. Keep it high, like on a top shelf or inside a closet.
4. Use a label: “Grandma’s Special Vitamins” or “Grandpa’s Medicine-Do Not Touch.”
5. Keep the key or combination with you or another trusted adult.

Set up a monthly check-in. Go through the meds together. Throw out what’s expired. Make sure nothing new has been added. Kids grow fast. Their needs change. So do their risks.

Also, teach your child: “Medicine is not candy. Only grown-ups give medicine. If you find medicine, tell an adult right away.” Repeat it often. Say it during playtime. Sing it. Make it part of their routine.

What Grandparents Can Do Right Now

You don’t need to overhaul your life. Just make three small changes today:

1. Find all your meds-prescriptions, painkillers, vitamins, sleep aids, patches-and put them in one place. A locked box, a high cabinet, a drawer with a child lock.
2. Put them back in their original bottles. No more pill organizers for meds you keep around kids.
3. Check expiration dates. Toss what’s old. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of them safely.

And if you’re unsure about how to open a child-resistant cap? Practice with a family member. Ask your pharmacist to show you. It’s not about being “old.” It’s about being safe.

Many pharmacies now offer free lockboxes to seniors. Ask at your local CVS, Walgreens, or independent pharmacy. Some even give them out during flu shots or wellness visits.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

The number of seniors living with grandchildren is growing fast. By 2040, one in five Americans will be over 65. And more of them are taking more meds than ever. That means more opportunities for accidents.

But here’s the good news: when grandparents get the right info, they change. In one study, 87% of grandparents said they were very worried about their grandkids’ safety. That’s more than parents. They just needed to know how to act on it.

The tools are there. The campaigns work. The science is clear. What’s missing is the conversation.

Don’t wait for a near-miss. Don’t assume someone else will handle it. Talk to your grandparents. Help them. Make it easy. Make it normal.

Because the best way to keep kids safe isn’t to lock them away from medicine. It’s to lock the medicine away from them.