Nursery World - Parents and childcare settings warned to keep waterbeads away from young children

Parents and early years settings are being warned to keep water beads out of sight and reach of young children as their pose a ‘serious’ choking risk and can cause intestinal blockages.

Parents are being warned to keep waterbeads away from very young children, PHOTO: CCPC

Water beads are sold as tiny pellets which gradually expand when soaked in water. They are often used as sensory toys and more recently in pellet or water guns. They are small and colourful, making them attractive to toddlers and babies, who may instinctively put them in their mouth, says the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), which has put out the warning.

According to Ireland’s statutory body responsible for enforcing consumer protection, if swallowed, water beads can continue to expand, growing considerably larger than their original size, causing intestinal blockages that require medical intervention. The beads can also become lodged in a child’s ears or nose.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included