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Essential oils, household cleaners, medications, and lawn care chemicals. We have so many things around our homes that could be dangerous if ingested by children. What should we and should not be worried about? Today Dr. Daria Falkowitz and I are reviewing the most common household substances that children are exposed to, what to do if your child eats or drinks a medication or household product, and much more. 

Daria Falkowitz DO is a full time board certified emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist who specializes in poisonings, overdoses, and environmental/occupational toxins. She is the Director of the Division of Medical Toxicology in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ and is also a mother of two young daughters.

In this episode we discuss:

• Common household substances that children are exposed to and more likely to ingest
• Unexpected causes of children being admitted to the ER
• How extensively you should babyproof your home
• The first steps to take if your child has an exposure to something dangerous
• Whether or not there is a danger in using common things such as fluoride toothpaste, stain removers on clothing, essential oils, etc.

Resources mentioned:

• Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222
• Dr. Daria’s Instagram: @dm.tox.mom

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• Join the Motherhood Meets Medicine community at patreon.com/motherhoodmeetsmedicine
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Questions answered in today’s episode:

• What is the most common household substance that children are exposed to and more likely to ingest at home?
• How extensively should you babyproof your house?
• When should someone bring their child to the emergency room after an exposure?
• At what point would you have concerns with how much toothpaste your child ingests?
• Are there long-term effects from diffusing essential oils?
• When should you be concerned about household toxins like lead and asbestos?
• What are your thoughts on flame retardant clothing?
• Are there any houseplants toxic to children?
• Are stain removers safe to use on my child’s clothing?
• Are there any dangers to using harsh cleaners in the bathtub?
• Should parents be concerned about pesticides?
• Should I be concerned about mold on furnace vents?
• Are there any toys that are unsafe to keep in the house?
• What do you do if you know your child ingested a button battery?