Key takeaways: A swallowed button battery can burn through tissue within 2 hours. Two or more magnets can pinch through the intestines. Laundry pods can cause breathing and eye injuries. Water beads can block the intestines. Store them all out of reach and seek emergency care right away if swallowed.
Some of the most dangerous household items are small and easy to overlook. Here’s what to watch for.
Button Batteries
Where they hide: remote controls, key fobs, car keys, watches, hearing aids, scales, thermometers, toys, singing greeting cards, flameless candles, and holiday decorations.
Why they’re dangerous: if a button battery gets stuck in the esophagus, it can create an electrical current that causes severe burns in as little as 2 hours. Symptoms may be mild at first, or there may be none.
Prevention:
- Choose products with screw-secured battery compartments. Reese’s Law (2022) requires child-resistant battery compartments and warnings on new products.
- Store spare and used batteries locked up. Tape used batteries before disposing of them.
- Check devices regularly for loose battery covers.
If you suspect your child swallowed a button battery:
- Go to the emergency room right away. Don’t wait for symptoms.
- Don’t make your child vomit.
- If your child is over 12 months and it happened within the last 12 hours, the National Capital Poison Center advises giving 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes, up to 6 doses, on the way to the ER, if your child can swallow. Never give honey to babies under 12 months.
- Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) or the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) for guidance.
High-Powered Magnets
Where they hide: magnetic building toys, desk toys, jewelry, and games.
Why they’re dangerous: if two or more magnets (or a magnet and a metal object) are swallowed, they can attract each other through the walls of the intestines, causing holes, blockages, and infection.
What to do: seek emergency care right away if you think your child swallowed a magnet.
Laundry and Dishwasher Pods
Why they’re dangerous: pods look like candy. Swallowing them can cause severe vomiting, breathing problems, and drowsiness. Contact with the eyes can cause burns.
Prevention: keep pods in their original container, closed, up high, and locked. Consider using liquid or powder detergent while children are young.
What to do: call Poison Help. Rinse eyes or skin with water for 15 to 20 minutes if exposed. Call 911 for trouble breathing.
Water Beads
Why they’re dangerous: these small, expanding gel beads can grow many times their size after being swallowed, causing intestinal blockage. They’re hard to see on X-rays.
Prevention: keep them out of homes with young children.
Other Hidden Dangers
- Nicotine products: vape liquids and pouches can be fatal in small amounts.
- Cannabis edibles: look like candy and can cause severe sleepiness or breathing problems.
- Coins and small toy parts: choking hazards.
Call 911 if your child has trouble breathing, is drooling and can’t swallow, is vomiting blood, or is unresponsive. Go to the emergency room for any suspected button battery or magnet ingestion. Call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) for other possible poisonings.
The Bottom Line
Button batteries, magnets, pods, and water beads can cause serious harm quickly. Keep them locked away and act fast if you suspect your child swallowed one.
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Sources
- National Capital Poison Center. Button battery ingestion triage and treatment guideline. https://www.poison.org/battery
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Reese’s Law: button cell and coin battery safety. https://www.cpsc.gov
- Anfang RR, Jatana KR, Linn RL, Rhoades K, Fry J, Jacobs IN. pH-neutralizing esophageal irrigations as a novel mitigation strategy for button battery injury. Laryngoscope. 2019;129(1):49-57.
- US Consumer Product Safety Commission. High-powered magnets; water beads. https://www.cpsc.gov
- Valdez AL, Casavant MJ, Spiller HA, Chounthirath T, Xiang H, Smith GA. Pediatric exposure to laundry detergent pods. Pediatrics. 2014;134(6):1127-1135.
- Health Resources and Services Administration. Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222. https://poisonhelp.hrsa.gov
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
