Over 9,500 calls were received last year by the National Poisons Information Centre at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
New figures suggest that 46% of calls concerned children under-five years of age.
Medicines and household products were the main items involved in queries about children.
Common products such as fabric-cleaners, bleach and dishwasher products were the reasons for some calls.
The most common drug inquired about was paracetamol.
The National Poisons Information Centre director Dr Edel Duggan says that very often a child will not need to visit a hospital or doctor if a parent rings the poisons centre for advice.
The figures were released to mark the first national poisons awareness day.
A new book, ''Say No to poisons'' is being circulated to day-care centres and preschools to raise awareness.
