A warning has been issued about the dangers of young children playing with water beads.
Product safety experts at the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have stated to parents and caregivers that the tiny products should never be within reach of small children.
Water beads, which are also known as gel beads or sensory beads, are made of a superabsorbent polymer and can become heavy when soaked in water.
The product has become an increasing hit amongst children, and their popularity has grown through viral videos on social media platforms. Water beads are typically sold as tiny pellets, which are then used as either sensory toys or as part of water guns.
Although they can provide endless amounts of fun for children over the age of five, the CCPC is urging those who care for babies and toddlers to avoid letting them play with water beads.
As these tiny beads are small and colourful, young children will naturally be drawn to them, and this could lead to babies and toddlers putting them in their mouths and accidentally choking on them.
If the beads are swallowed, they can continue to expand within a child’s body and can cause intestinal blockages. There have also been reports of water beads becoming stuck in a child’s ears and nose. These dangerous hazards can cause serious medical accidents, resulting in hearing loss or bowel obstruction.
As a result of worrying accident reports, the CCPC is advising all parents and caregivers to keep young children away from water beads.
If older children in your home are using water beads, make sure they are being stored away from reach. If you think that your child might have lodged or swallowed a water bead, visit your GP or nearest hospital immediately and seek medical attention.
