Everyone should declutter their medicine cabinet from time to time (every three months is a safe bet), however, if you have a little one in the house, you need to use extra care when tossing old medicine out.

Rules to follow: 

Do this task without interruptions. If the phone rings, let it go unanswered. If you leave meds on the counter, and leave the room, a newly walking baby may get curious and grabby.

Go through your medicine cabinet; look for expired medications and medications that are discolored, separated, or that smell funny.

Leave the expired meds in the original child-proof container.

If you’ve got expired liquid medications, add some flour, salt, sand, what have you. This makes the medicine all sludge like, and it will stop leaks. A leaky bottle could be licked by your babe.

Put all the medications into one of two places until trash day - one, the garbage can IF you have a properly concealed trash bin, behind a child safety-locked door. Two, place all the meds into a container, up out of reach of your baby, and toss out on trash day.

Always remember many medicines look and smell like candy pieces or a really great fruit drink. Your baby won’t know the difference, so always take the extra precautions above to keep your child safe.