How to Involve Grandparents and Caregivers in Pediatric Medication Safety

Every year, over 58,000 children under five end up in the emergency room because they got into medicine they weren’t supposed to. And in nearly 4 out of 10 of those cases, the medicine came from a grandparent’s purse, nightstand, or kitchen counter. This isn’t about bad parenting or careless grandparents. It’s about a system that hasn’t caught up with how families really live today.

More than 7 million grandparents in the U.S. live with their grandchildren. One in three grandparents provides regular childcare. And most of them are taking multiple prescriptions-on average, 4.7 daily. That’s more than double what parents their age take. With pills scattered across bathrooms, purses, and bedside tables, it’s no surprise kids find them. A 3-year-old doesn’t know the difference between a vitamin and a blood pressure pill. They see a colorful tablet, pop it in their mouth, and it’s too late before anyone notices.

Why Grandparents Are the Missing Piece in Pediatric Safety

Parents know to lock up medicine. Studies show 68% of parents store medications safely. But only 52% of caregiving grandparents do. Why the gap?

Many grandparents believe child-resistant caps are enough. They’re not. Research shows 30% of 4-year-olds can open them in under five minutes. Others think their meds are fine where they are-on the dresser, in the purse, next to the coffee maker. One grandma told researchers, “I keep them where I can find them.” That makes sense-until a grandkid finds them first.

And it’s not just about storage. A quarter of grandparents transfer pills into weekly pill organizers, which are never childproof. Nearly one in three keep meds in non-original containers. That means no labels, no dosing info, no warnings. One little blue pill could be anything: a heart med, a painkiller, a sedative. Kids don’t know, and neither do most grandparents.

Even worse, 12% of grandparents keep meds on their nightstands. That’s where kids climb, crawl, and grab. The CDC says medicine should be stored at eye level or higher-above 4 feet-and locked. But how many grandparents have childproof locks? Only 22% do. Compare that to 58% of parents.

What Actually Works: The PROTECT Campaign That Saved Lives

In 2010, the CDC and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association launched the “Up & Away and Out of Sight” campaign. It wasn’t a poster. It wasn’t a pamphlet. It was a 15-minute conversation-with real tools.

A 2017 NIH study followed 223 grandparents who cared for kids under five. After one short session, safe storage jumped from 39% to 78%. That’s not a small change. That’s life-saving.

What did they do?

• They showed grandparents how to lock medicine in a high cabinet-not the bathroom, not the kitchen, not the bedroom.
• They taught them to keep meds in original bottles with child-resistant caps-even if the caps are hard to open.
• They gave them free lockboxes (cost: $15-$20 each).
• They didn’t say, “You’re doing this wrong.” They said, “Let’s keep our grandkids safe.”

The results? Safe storage improved in both the grandparents’ homes and the grandchildren’s homes. But the biggest change happened where the meds were stored-grandma’s house. That’s where the risk is highest.

How to Talk to Grandparents Without Making Them Feel Guilty

Here’s the truth: Grandparents don’t want to hurt their grandkids. They want to protect them. But they’ve been told for decades that medicine is “just pills.” They’ve never been taught how dangerous they can be to small children.

Start with empathy. Say: “I know you take good care of the kids. I just want to make sure we’re both doing everything we can to keep them safe.”

Don’t say: “You shouldn’t leave your pills out.”

Do say: “I heard a story about a little boy who found his grandma’s heart medicine. He’s fine now, but it was scary. Can we put yours in a locked box so no one else gets hurt?”

Use the CDC’s simple 3-step talk:

1. “Medicine is not candy.” Even if it looks like Skittles, it’s not for kids.
2. “Only adults give medicine.” Not even aunts, uncles, or babysitters-only the people who are supposed to.
3. “If you find medicine, tell an adult immediately.” Teach kids to say, “I found something I shouldn’t touch.”

Make it fun. Let the grandkids draw a poster: “Medicine is for grown-ups.” Hang it on the fridge. Let them help pick out a lockbox. When kids feel involved, they remember.

Practical Steps Every Grandparent Can Take Today

You don’t need a fancy system. You don’t need to buy expensive gear. Here’s what works, right now:

• Put all meds in original bottles. No pill organizers unless they’re locked. And even then, keep them locked.
• Store them up high and locked. A cabinet above the fridge, a locked closet, a medicine box on a top shelf. Anything above 4 feet and out of reach.
• Keep purses and bags off the floor. If you carry meds in your purse, hang it up when you visit. Don’t let it sit on the couch or the floor.
• Check your meds every few months. Toss expired or unused pills. Many pharmacies offer free take-back bins. Ask your pharmacist.
• Use a lockbox. You can get one for under $20 at any drugstore. Or ask your pharmacist-they often give them out for free.

And if you have trouble opening child-resistant caps? That’s okay. Ask your pharmacist for an easy-open cap. Or ask a family member to help you refill your pills in a daily dispenser you can lock.

What Parents Can Do to Help

Parents, you can’t control what happens at grandma’s house. But you can make it easier.

• Bring a lockbox when you drop off the kids. Say, “I brought this for your meds-it’s easy to use.”
• Ask, “Where do you keep your medicines?” Don’t wait for a crisis.
• Send a quick text: “Just a reminder-please keep meds locked. We appreciate you.”
• Share the CDC’s “Up & Away” video (available in 12 languages) on your phone. Show it to them. It’s only 2 minutes long.

One dad sent his mom a link to a video of a toddler opening a child-resistant cap. She watched it. Then she bought a lockbox the next day.

What’s Being Done-and What’s Still Missing

Pharmacies are starting to help. Major chains like CVS and Walgreens now offer free lockboxes to seniors. AARP runs “Safety at 65+” workshops. The CDC has a free digital toolkit with videos and printable guides.

But only 12% of Medicare Part D plans give grandparents safety info when they pick up prescriptions. Only 1 in 3 grandparents has ever been told by a doctor or pharmacist how to keep meds away from kids.

California passed a law in 2023 requiring pharmacists to counsel patients over 60 who have visiting grandchildren. Other states are watching. But until this becomes standard care, families have to step in.

There’s also a new app in testing called GRAND SAFE. It sends reminders to grandparents before holidays or visits-when the risk spikes. Early results show it works.

Final Thought: This Isn’t About Blame. It’s About Care.

Grandparents love their grandchildren more than anything. They’re not careless. They’re just unaware. And they’re not getting the information they need.

Medicine safety isn’t just for parents. It’s for everyone who holds a child. A grandparent’s purse, a kitchen counter, a nightstand-these aren’t just places. They’re potential hazards.

One conversation. One lockbox. One moment of clarity. That’s all it takes to stop a tragedy before it starts.

Keep medicine up. Keep it locked. Keep it away. And keep talking.