Every year, thousands of children end up in emergency rooms because they got into medications they weren’t supposed to. And a shocking number of those cases involve expired pediatric medications-drugs that parents thought were still okay to use, or just didn’t know how to get rid of properly.

If you’ve ever looked at a bottle of children’s Tylenol, checked the date, and thought, "It’s only a few months past expiration, it should be fine," you’re not alone. But here’s the hard truth: expired children’s medicine isn’t just weaker. It can be dangerous.

Why Expired Pediatric Medications Are Riskier Than Adult Ones

Children aren’t small adults. Their bodies process drugs differently. Their livers and kidneys are still developing. That means even small changes in a medication’s chemical makeup can have big consequences.

Take liquid antibiotics. Research from the University of Michigan shows that 87% lose effectiveness within 14 days after expiration. But it’s not just about the medicine not working. In some cases, degraded antibiotics can grow bacteria. A 2021 Johns Hopkins study found that one-third of expired liquid antibiotics developed harmful contamination after just two weeks.

Other medications become actively harmful. Expired tetracycline antibiotics can cause permanent tooth staining and stunt bone growth in kids-up to 3.7 times more likely than when the drug is fresh. Benzocaine teething gels, once common in homes, have been linked to 127 cases of methemoglobinemia-a rare but life-threatening blood condition-in children between 2018 and 2022. That’s why the FDA pulled its recommendation for these gels in 2022.

Even something as simple as children’s antihistamines can flip behavior. Expired versions can cause hyperactivity instead of drowsiness, leading to accidents or dangerous situations. And epinephrine auto-injectors? Six months past expiration, they’re only 65% effective. That’s not a gamble you want to take with a child having an allergic reaction.

How Storage Makes Things Worse

It’s not just the expiration date on the label. Where you store the medicine matters just as much.

Most parents keep medications in the bathroom cabinet-warm, humid, and easily accessible. Bad idea. Acetaminophen suspensions lose 22% of their potency after 30 days stored above 86°F. Liquid medications that need refrigeration? They’re only good for 7 to 14 days after opening-even if the bottle says it expires in two years.

And child-resistant caps? They’re not as reliable as you think. Consumer Product Safety Commission tests show 62% of kids aged 4 to 5 can open them in under a minute. That’s why 78% of pediatric poisoning cases happen with medicines stored below 5 feet. Locked cabinets aren’t optional. They’re essential.

Even the way you measure doses adds risk. Nearly half of parents use kitchen spoons instead of the dosing cup or syringe that comes with the medicine. That leads to 38% dosage errors. When you combine that with a medication that’s already lost potency? You’re not helping your child-you’re putting them at risk.

What You Should Never Do

There are three common but dangerous ways people dispose of expired meds-and none of them are safe for children’s medicines.

• Flushing: Only 15 specific drugs on the FDA’s flush list are safe to flush. Most pediatric meds aren’t on that list. Flushing them pollutes waterways. The USGS found 82 different pharmaceutical compounds in 80% of U.S. water samples.
• Throwing in the trash: Unsecured trash is still accessible to kids, pets, or curious teens. And if the bottle isn’t properly destroyed, someone could fish it out and misuse it.
• Keeping "just in case": That extra bottle of cough syrup? That old epi-pen? That leftover antibiotic? They’re not insurance. They’re liabilities.

And please, don’t scrape off the label and assume you’re safe. CDC data shows 97% of parents don’t properly remove personal info from prescription bottles. That’s a privacy risk-and it doesn’t stop a child from finding the pills.

The Right Way to Dispose of Expired Pediatric Medications

The safest, most responsible way to get rid of expired children’s medicine is through a drug take-back program.

The DEA runs over 16,700 permanent disposal sites at pharmacies and hospitals across the U.S. Most Walgreens, CVS, and major hospital pharmacies have drop-off kiosks. You don’t need to be a patient. Just bring the meds-no questions asked.

If a take-back site isn’t nearby, here’s what to do:

1. Take the medicine out of its original bottle.
2. Mix it with something unappealing-used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or dirt. Use a 2:1 ratio (two parts grounds, one part medicine).
3. Put the mixture in a sealed plastic bag or container.
4. Place it in your household trash.
5. Scratch out your name and prescription info on the empty bottle before recycling it.

For liquid medications, pour them into absorbent material like cat litter before sealing. This prevents spills and makes them harder to ingest.

Never mix different medications together. Keep each one separate to avoid dangerous chemical reactions.

How to Prevent Accidents Before They Happen

Disposal is important, but prevention is better.

• Store everything locked and up high: Medications, vitamins, topical creams-even the ones you think are harmless. Use a lockbox or cabinet at least 5 feet off the ground.
• Check expiration dates monthly: Liquid meds, syrups, and eye drops should be checked every month. Solid pills can be checked quarterly.
• Use the original packaging: Only 58% of parents do this. But the original bottle has the right dosage instructions, warnings, and expiration date. If you transfer it to a pill organizer, you lose that info.
• Use the right dosing tool: Always use the syringe, cup, or dropper that came with the medicine. No spoons. No shots. No guessing.
• Clear out your medicine cabinet twice a year: Spring and fall are good times. Get rid of anything expired, discontinued, or no longer needed.

Grandparents’ homes are a major source of accidental poisonings. If you’re caring for a child at someone else’s house, ask: "Do you have any old medicines lying around?" Then help them clean it out.

What’s Changing in 2025

There’s new momentum to fix this problem. The FDA and CDC are pushing hard for better education and access.

As of 2024, over 12,400 pharmacies now have permanent disposal kiosks. That’s up from just 7,000 in 2021. The CDC’s MedEd program has trained over 18,500 pediatric providers to talk to parents about safe disposal-and those families are 38% more likely to do it right.

Some new prescriptions now come with QR codes that link to disposal instructions. Smart cabinets that remind you when meds are expiring are hitting the market. And by 2026, the pediatric medication safety market is expected to hit $4.7 billion.

But the biggest change? More doctors are talking about it. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that every pediatrician discuss medication disposal at every well-child visit. Right now, only 31% do. But that number is rising.

What to Do If Your Child Gets Into Expired Medicine

If your child swallows an expired pill or liquid, don’t wait. Don’t try to make them throw up. Don’t Google it.

Call Poison Control immediately: 1-800-222-1222. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. They’ll tell you exactly what to do based on the medicine, the amount, and your child’s age and weight.

Keep that number saved in your phone. And make sure every caregiver has it too.

Safe medication handling isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. A few small changes-locking up meds, checking dates, using take-back programs-can keep your child out of the ER and protect the environment too.