Why are water beads so dangerous?

Do super absorbent polymer crystals sound like a child’s toy?

They probably shouldn’t be after a recent study published in “The American Journal of Emergency Medicine” reported a staggering increase in the number of pediatric emergency room visits related to the toy more commonly known as “water beads.”

Between 2007 and 2022, there were more than 8,000 water bead-related emergency room visits in the U.S. If that statistic isn’t alarming enough, the number of water bead-related visits increased 131% from 2021 to 2022. Among those cases, nearly half of visits involved a child ingesting water beads. Water beads can expand between 100 and 1,500 times their original size when they come in contact with water, making them extremely likely to cause intestinal blockage when swallowed.

“Water beads can be difficult to detect on imaging,” explains Dr. Anna G. Smith, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Advocate Children’s Hospital. “Frequently, abdominal x-rays are ordered but can visualize the beads less than 10% of the time. Ultrasound can be more successful at detecting swallowed water beads, with one systematic review estimating 86% visualization rate.”

In the study, all children under the age of 5 who were taken to the emergency room for a water bead-related injury had swallowed them. Among the older children reported, the injuries also included eye injury or insertion in other places on the body, including the nose and ears.

“In my experience with treating children with water bead ingestion, the predominant symptoms are vomiting and abdominal distension with pain, raising concern for intestinal obstruction,” Dr. Smith says.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urges parents and caregivers to remove water beads from any environment with children, including childcare centers, camps and schools.

Dr. Smith suggests keeping water beads out of the home to keep everyone safe.

“Often families are interested in water beads for their sensory qualities, which many children enjoy. However, there are safer options for sensory products available, including fidget toys and sensory mats,” she says.

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