Why is grandma’s handbag dangerous for young children?
During school holidays, many parents leave their children with grandparents. A practical, reassuring solution, often awaited by the whole family. The little ones spend a few days with grandpa and grandma or, conversely, the grandparents come to help out at home. These moments of complicity seem harmless. However, for the youngest, this change of environment can expose them to a very real risk, sometimes underestimated by adults.
For several years, pediatricians have been warning about what they call “grandma’s handbag syndrome“. The scene is banal: a bag placed on a corner of the sofa, a chair, a coffee table, within reach of a curious child. Toddlers explore, open, rummage, spontaneously put the objects in their mouths. So, why does grandma’s handbag represent a particular risk?
The answer lies in its content. Elderly people frequently carry their daily treatments with them: tablets for hypertension, antidiabetics, anxiolytics, anticoagulants or simple painkillers. According to a study published in July 2006 in the journal Pediatrics, grandparents’ medications are among the frequent causes of accidental poisonings in young children. In a video posted on her Tiktok account, Dr Meghan Martin, aka @beachgem10 explains that “As the body size of a child is very small compared to that of an adult, even a single pill can be toxic for these children“, who do not perceive the danger.
Prevention is based on simple but essential actions. It is recommended to never leave a handbag containing medication within reach of a child, even for a few minutes. Treatments should be stored high up, in a closed cabinet, ideally outside the living room. Before taking your children to grandma and grandpa’s house, do not hesitate to check this detail and systematically check the environment when a toddler stays with them or they come to their home. Discreet but constant vigilance helps prevent a simple moment with the family from turning into an accident.
