It’s All About Control.
Poison Control, that is.
Parents, write this number down! 1.800.222.1222
First of all, the National Poison Control Center is a great service. It’s free, it’s fast, they are full of useful information.
I have called Poison Control twice now.
The first was when my oldest daughter decided that she wanted to drink a bottle of rubbing alcohol; she was about 18 months old. God only knows where she found it. And Chris was in Germany. I was frantic. I found the empty bottle in her room and it smelled of alcohol everywhere. I suspected that most of it had found its way to the floor by the smell, but I couldn’t be sure. Katie was flying down the hallway as Poison Control said, much to my relief, to watch for signs of lethargy. She was okay.
The second was about ten minutes ago when my youngest daughter decided to eat her sister’s craft glitter glue; she is about 18 months old (sensing a pattern here?). She was making gagging noises and crying. Of course, I was sure that she was dying. Turns out, the glue is not toxic but the glitter apparently feels funny in your throat and makes you gag. Peggy, from Poison Control, stayed on the phone while I rinsed Amy’s mouth out and gave her some water to drink. All is now well. Except for my frazzled nerves.
These darn kids!