By Sunayana Prabhu
NEPTUNE CITY – It might be time to cross water beads off the holiday toy list.
The unassuming water-absorbing gel beads have led to serious injuries in children and even death. A group of moms whose children were impacted when they accidentally ingested the beads spoke at a press conference backed by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6), who announced proposed legislation for a nationwide ban. Also present at the press conference were medical professionals and child safety advocates.
Water beads are marketed as sensory play for children and come in a variety of bright rainbow colors that look like candy. They are often labeled nontoxic.
“A toy is meant to bring joy, not tragedy,” said Ashley Haugen, founder and president of the nonprofit That Water Bead Lady, at the press conference held at Jersey Shore University Medical Center Nov. 13.
In 2017, Haugen said her youngest daughter was “poisoned and critically injured” when she swallowed a water bead that was purchased for her oldest daughter. Haugen was accompanied by Folichia Mitchell, a parent whose toddler suffered intestinal injuries after swallowing a water bead, and Taylor Bethard, whose daughter tragically passed away after ingesting a water bead. The group urged retailers to proactively remove these beads from their online platforms and store shelves.
“They look and sound fun, but the reality is these colorful products can become deadly or cause serious injuries when swallowed by children,” Pallone said at the conference announcing the introduction of the Ban Water Beads Act.
Pallone’s message comes close on the heels of the start of the holiday shopping season and intends to raise more awareness about the potential dangers of a toy that could be sitting in many holiday shopping carts.
Water beads are made from superabsorbent polymer and can grow to 1,000 times their original size when exposed to water. In dry form, they are the size of a pinhead, not easily visible if dropped on the floor or spilled in a playroom. If ingested they continue to grow inside the body, causing severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockages and life-threatening injuries. Surgery may be required to remove the water beads.
Many times they are not even visible on an X-ray because they’re transparent, said Harpreet Pall, M.D., MBA, CPE, chair of Pediatrics at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
“If ingested, inhaled or inserted in ear canals, water beads absorb bodily fluids and can lead to potentially life-threatening injuries, such as intestinal or bowel obstruction, lung or ear damage,” said Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids In Danger (KID), a nonprofit that advocates for child safety. “No amount of supervision can keep children safe from these tiny beads. KID strongly supports legislation to protect children from water beads and thanks Representative Pallone for taking action.”
“All small children who have access to water beads are at risk,” said Alex Hoehn-Saric, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC ) chair. “The beads can have lifelong health impacts if ingested. The Ban Water Beads Act would direct the CPSC to enforce a ban on all water beads marketed for use by kids,” Hoehn-Saric said.
CPSC has received heartbreaking stories from parents whose children ingested water beads and suffered severe consequences, including grave internal injuries, lifelong health impacts and death. According to estimates, children ingesting water beads resulted in 7,800 emergency room visits between 2016 and 2022.
This article originally appeared in the November 16 – 22, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
