Hospital warns parents about liquitabs after children burned

[Saffron]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19499887

One of Britain's biggest children's hospitals is warning parents of the dangers of liquid tablets used in dishwashers and washing machines after treating some children for near fatal injuries.

Doctors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow say a number of children have suffered serious injury after mistaking them for jelly sweets. The hospital has admitted five children this year, all under two, who had either bitten into or squeezed the tabs.

[Mum2be]

Where are the parents while the children are going through the detergent cupboard that should have a lock on it ? Under 2's should not be left unattended let alone in the kitchen nor should they no what a jelly sweet is to be confused

Just my opinion

[Saffron]

I totally agree, but accidents do happen. Possibly some people hadn't realized that detergents should be in a locked cupboard b/c they are dangerous, and I think under-2s would put them in their mouths just out of curiosity w/o knowing what a jelly sweet is.

[Mum2be]

Your right accidents do happen when I had my baby in hospital because he was poorly a lady brought a 2 yr old in who had eaten a toilet block ! These little ones have no idea how much worry they are

[Convex]

Yes I'm sure I read that in one case, the kids got into the shopping that had just been delivered and not put away yet.

Our stuff is all up high but that's coincidence as we've always kept it there.

It's a good reminder to finish the child proofing, as we still haven't put locks on cupboard doors!!!

[Ruth_Baldock]

Mum2be; some children can outsmart child locks. My 2y/o can, he also undoes the stairgate, and window locks. A few weeks ago I found him spraying his little sister with antibacterial spray. And stainless steel cleaner.

Perhaps loosen your judgy pants?

[Saffron]

...and then there are the absent minded partners: DH keeps opening the sharps drawer then forgetting to put the child lock back on it. Arrrghh!!

[Convex]

Kids are so quick as well. Sometimes you have to take your eyes off them for a second eg if you have another child who falls over or whatever and they are incredibly good at taking those opportunities.

Mine can get the keys off the laptop keyboard, it goes straight in his mouth. Weird, as I tried and I can't get them off. So I now know to keep it closed but I would never have guessed he would have been able to do that.... Hence the incident in the first place. Luckily I saw him put something in his mouth out of the corner of my eye but could easily have been a choking incident.

I'm rambling, but basically I agree with Ruth. And the phrase judgey pants makes me laugh.

[Knomester]

Cupboard locks didn't last 5 minutes in our kitchen... How they do it amazes me. We gave up on stairgates for the same reason. Thankfully he can't open our windows (yet) but I did notice the other day that with the aid of one of his many climbing tools (basically anything he can manoeuvre to stand on) he could be out of the front door in a flash. Time to keep the front door deadlocked during the day.

Thankfully he doesn't try to play with (or eat) things like dishwasher tablets. Perhaps because he helps with everything around the house so knows what they're really for? Who knows, but it reminds me I must move the bleach out of the bathroom as that's only a matter of time (childproof lids are not so childproof...).

[edstar]

are there any cupboard/drawer locks which truly are childproof? i saw some that had some kind of magnet that only lets go with a key but not sure im reliable enough to remember where i put the key.

[Knomester]

We have the ones with the magnetic keys, but when the cupboard doors are open when we're all in the kitchen, Baby Knomester goes around switching them to the 'unlocked' setting..! Also because we've stuck them (rather than screw them into the wood), he has pulled all of the doors so hard that most of the locks (or parts of them) have fallen off.

I have to smile - I do love the way they work these things out...

[ladywotlunches]

Liquitabs are no good for your washing machine/dishwasher anyway. Powder is way more effective. If you've got under two's, switch to the powder, get better washing AND peace of mind! :)

[Saffron]

That's interesting. I hadn't heard that. Why is powder more effective in the machine?

I have heard that laundry powders are more cost effective and tend to leave less residue on clothing, which is better if you have skin problems maybe. However, I tend to avoid powders b/c DH gets them everywhere (on the rare occsions when he runs a load of laundry, bless 'im). I use laundry liquid, but I buy bottles generally, not liquid tabs, as I sometimes run only 1/2 loads.

[HOMum]

When my daughter was 9 months old she got hold of and bit in to a liqui-tab for the washing machine. It happened in the space of maybe 20 seconds and almost immediately she was gagging. She was not left on her own, we were both in the kitchen and we were putting away the shopping. The cupboard (they all had locks on) was open whilst I was putting away items from the shopping bags. In the time to put something in the fridge and turning around again her mouth was around a liqui-tab. I am not a bad parent. I have/had taken every precaution in my house to prevent such a scenario buy it still happened. My daughter was being violently sick, and I rushed her to hospital. She was very listless and sleepy and sick. We stayed late in to the night, didnt actually receive any medication but she was tested and x-rayed around the throat area as they feared the liquid may have burned her. She was lucky, only a tiny bit of the liquid actually made it in to her mouth. She went on to be very hoarse for a few days but had no long term injuries at all.

However, the experience I had at the hospital was absolutely horrific. The doctor (a woman - I dont know if that makes a difference?!) actually told me that I have to be more aware of my surroundings and was I aware that having a child meant having responsibilities...

I was already heartbroken that this had happened and to be spoken to like that just left me speechless and even more upset. When my fiance arrived he couldnt believe the state I was in, and was just very angry about the whole situation!

Anyway, the moral of my story is accidents happen. Never be so quick to judge.

And I certianly have never bought a liqui-tab again!

[Saffron]

Yes, accidents do totally happen, even to the best parents in the world! What an awful doctor. I hope you reported her behaviour. I'm glad your daughter was ok.

So, indeed, maybe we're all best to avoid liquid tabs if we have young children? It isn't something I ever gave much thought to until I saw the article, which is why I wanted to share it. xx

[trinity]

Dishwasher powder is as bad.

The problem is that the powder and the tabs are not just soap. They are highly caustic chemicals that cause burns. There are lots of cases of burns to children through ingesting dishwasher powder and I seem to remember a horrible accident where a baby pulled the powder container onto themselves, some powder got into his damp nappy and causes serious injuries to the little chap.

[Saffron]

Agreed, powder would also cause a burn b/c it contains similar detergents. However, I think the solid tablets of powder would be much more difficult for a baby to swallow rapidly in great quantity compared to liquid (although I'm sure there's some adventurous little poppet out there willing to prove me wrong!).

Of course there isn't anything that is 100% safe, unless we soak our dished in cold filtered water maybe! Even 'natural' and organic cleaners still contain surfactants and other active degreasing molecules.

For children that are particularly good at opening childlocks, what about a double system? Put your chemicals in a keyed lockbox inside the childlocked cupboard? Or for that hightech edge to wow your friends, how about a thumbprint lock?

[ladywotlunches]

Yes, powder would be as bad if swallowed, but I think perhaps it doesn't look so attractive as the bright coloured gels, and is less concentrated if a little one were to taste it (they would get less in their mouth before realising it tasted nasty).

As to the effectiveness of powder, I think there was something on the family room about it last year. Liquids aren't as good as removing body fats etc (sorry for the 'yewwww' factor) from the sides of the machine, and therefore it can lead to more bacteria. People who have been using liquids and notice a funny smell from their machine find it goes if they start using powder. Which? did a survey showing powder is slightly more effective too: http://conversation.which.co.uk/energy-home/liquid-gel-powder-laundry-detergents-tested/

I keep my detergent in the laundry cupboard, on a worktop height shelf above the machine. Too high for my 2 year old to reach for the moment (Even my 6 year old would have trouble))

[oimissus]

I know powder is better for keeping your washing machine clean, bio for preference, apparently you should do a boil wash every week with bio powder to stop all that grim black gunk getting on the seal bit.

jayd5 - how horrid for you at the hospital - do they really think that kind of thing needs to be said? Jeez. Hope your daughter is OK.

[JessM]

Just a comment with regards laundry:

Try an EcoEgg. God only knows how it works, I was sceptical but gave it a try and has been fine for the last 6 months or so. It's not detergent, it's got these odd pellets inside. You can get them at karavan on Lordship Lane and possibly at Jojos too.

I'm a rubbish mum too. My 11 month old fell down the stairs yesterday. As far as I knew he couldn't climb up them, but off he went and down he came! (luckily just lots of crying and a bump on his nose) He hasn't even learned from his mistake, he had another go today! I'm going to have to take the bannister off to fit a stairgate though. Aaargh. When i was a kid my sister went in a playpen. It seems they are totally out of fashion now but I might get one anyway!

[Saffron]

JessM Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Just a comment with regards laundry:

> Try an EcoEgg. God only knows how it works, I was

> sceptical but gave it a try and has been fine for

> the last 6 months or so. It's not detergent, it's

> got these odd pellets inside. You can get them at

> karavan on Lordship Lane and possibly at Jojos

> too.

>

Hey I'm not god, but I had a look online... ECO egg looks like a laudry ball. They purport to "wash" clothes by increasing the aggitation in the water. Basically, they churn the water up a bit more. Clothes that are very soiled or greasy will still need to be treated with detergent/stain remover.

> I'm a rubbish mum too. My 11 month old fell down

> the stairs yesterday. As far as I knew he

> couldn't climb up them, but off he went and down

> he came! (luckily just lots of crying and a bump

> on his nose) He hasn't even learned from his

> mistake, he had another go today! I'm going to

> have to take the bannister off to fit a stairgate

> though. Aaargh. When i was a kid my sister went

> in a playpen. It seems they are totally out of

> fashion now but I might get one anyway!

They had a playpen at baby swim class. My daughter could climb in/out of it around 14 mo!

[Saffron]

ladywotlunches Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> As to the effectiveness of powder, I think there

> was something on the family room about it last

> year. Liquids aren't as good as removing body fats

> etc (sorry for the 'yewwww' factor) from the sides

> of the machine, and therefore it can lead to more

> bacteria. People who have been using liquids and

> notice a funny smell from their machine find it

> goes if they start using powder. Which? did a

> survey showing powder is slightly more effective

> too:

> http://conversation.which.co.uk/energy-home/liquid

> -gel-powder-laundry-detergents-tested/

>

>

Hmm, I'm going to give powder (tablets) a try. We've been using liquids for a while, and sometimes our machine does have an odd smell! I'll report back how it works out. :)

[Convex]

We use Eco balls and they do work. I don't know how.

With very dirty laundry I use liquid, and for my nappies I use sanitizer. So that's quite a full cupboard!

Jess why do you have to take the bannister off? Have you seen the retractable stair gates?

Edited as it looked like I was swearing instead of saying 'jess' stupid autocorrect