Peninsula Pediatrics

Category: Product Safety

Keeping Kids Safe from Small Batteries, High-Powered Magnetic Toys, and Water Beads

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December is National Toy Safety Month and it is also the holiday season when children often receive toys as gifts. Toys are very beneficial for children’s growth and development and they also make exciting items to receive as holiday presents. However, many toys contain small batteries and high-powered magnets, which can pose significant dangers to children if ingested or mishandled. It’s important to be aware of the safety risks and take preventative measures to protect your kids from potential harm. 

Small batteries, such as button batteries and lithium coin batteries, are tiny, round, and shiny, which makes them particularly appealing to young children. In addition to toys, these batteries are found in remote controls, flashing shoes, and even jewelry. If swallowed, they can cause severe internal injuries. When these batteries come into contact with bodily fluids, they create an electrical current that produces sodium hydroxide. This substance can cause a burn, which is extremely harmful and can even lead to death. 

Symptoms of ingestion are often subtle and mimic common illnesses, such as a sore throat or infection, which can lead to delays in treatment. Additionally, if batteries get placed in a child’s nose or ear, they can cause infections or significant tissue damage. To protect children, parents should ensure that battery compartments on toys and household devices are tightly secured and taped shut. Old batteries should be immediately wrapped in tape and disposed of properly in an outdoor trash can or recycling center, as even “dead” batteries retain enough charge to cause harm. If a child swallows a button battery, it is critical to act immediately and take them to the emergency room. While en route, it is recommended to give your child two teaspoons of honey every ten minutes and up to six doses, if they are over the age of one.

High-powered magnets can also cause catastrophic injuries if swallowed. They can also get stuck in the nose and cause serious injuries to your child’s nasal respiratory tract. Products such as magnetic sculpture sets or reusable water balloons with magnetic seals are particularly risky. Symptoms of ingestion may include abdominal pain, vomiting, or a fever. Parents can reduce the risk of ingestion by avoiding magnetic toy sets altogether or storing them in locked or out-of-reach containers when not in use. It is also important to regularly inspect toys for loose magnets or cracks. 

If your child swallows a magnet, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. Delays can lead to severe injuries, infections, or potentially death. In some cases, children may require surgery. If a child is injured by a magnetic toy or small battery, report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov. Doing so helps identify hazardous products and prevent future injuries.

In addition to small batteries and high-powered magnets, water beads, which are sold as sensory toys, can also be dangerous to children. These are sometimes used as play tools for children with autism and other developmental conditions. However, they are sometimes mistaken as candy by young children and can be accidentally swallowed or inhaled as a result. Once inside the body, they can absorb fluids and grow, which can lead to blockages and life-threatening damage. Water beads are also choking hazards, particularly for children under the age of three. Symptoms of ingestion may include loss of appetite, lethargy, drooling, vomiting, wheezing, abdominal pain, or constipation. If you suspect that your child has swallowed water beads, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 immediately. It is recommended not to have water beads in households with young children. 

By staying informed, inspecting toys and household items, and taking proactive measures, you can ensure a safe environment for your children to play in. If you have any questions or concerns about toy safety, please call our office.




Car Seat Safety

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Using car seats properly is extremely important for protecting children while riding in a vehicle. Car seats can protect children from being injured or killed during a car crash. But finding the best car seat to use and learning how to install it properly can be overwhelming as a parent. In this blog, we break it down to make it easier and to ensure that you have all of the information you need for car seat safety.

 When it comes to choosing the right car seat, you’ll want to take into account your child’s age, size, and developmental needs. Car seat manuals will provide recommendations based on these factors so it’s important to read them thoroughly. The manuals will also provide step-by-step guidelines on how to install the car seat. But if you have any trouble or doubts, it’s best to work with a professional who can install the seat for you. For a list of car seat products based on your child’s height and weight, click here. 

Car seats should be installed in the back of the vehicle. Older children should also sit in the back until they’re 13 years of age. When you install the seat, you can use the vehicle’s seat belt or its LATCH (attachment system for car safety seats). Forward-facing car seats will have a top tether which should be securely attached to the top anchor. The lower anchor connectors should be fastened to the lower anchors. If you’re using the seat belt instead of the LATCH system, it’s important to make sure that the seat belt is locked securely to hold the seat tightly. If you’re able to move the seat at the belt path more than an inch in either direction, the seat is not tight enough. When using a rear-facing car seat, place the harnesses in slots that are at or below your child’s shoulders. 

Many rear-facing car seats will also have load legs and anti-rebound bars to help absorb the energy of a crash and protect your child from being injured. For children with disabilities who are not able to keep their head and neck straight, they will benefit from the recline feature on forward-facing convertible, all-in-one, and combination seats. The feature can keep your child’s head from drooping forward.

When newborn babies first arrive home from the hospital, it is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to use a rear-facing car seat and to continue using one until your child reaches the highest weight and height permitted by their car safety seat manufacturer. After that, children should continue to ride rear facing in a convertible or all-in-one seat until they outgrow rear-facing seats but no earlier than 2 years of age. They can then start to use forward-facing seats until they’re ready to use booster seats, typically after 7 years of age. Older children should remain in the booster seat until they’re big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, usually after 12 years of age.  

Before installing a booster seat, read through the instructions and the safety manual. The lap belt should lie low and snug across children’s upper thighs and the shoulder belt should cross over the middle of children’s chests and the shoulders.  

When using car or booster seats during the winter, it’s important to remove any coat or jacket off your child. Children should be tightly strapped in and bulky coats create space between the child and the belt. If an accident occurs, the child will be in danger of slipping out of their car or booster seat. To keep your child warm, you can put a blanket over them and use your car’s heating system. When you’re cleaning the car or booster seat, read the manufacturer’s guidelines first and avoid using disinfectants as they can decrease the protection of the seat. 

As a reminder, if you have any trouble installing a car or booster seat or doubts about their security, seek guidance from a certified child passenger safety technician. You can find one on this website. 



Winter Car Seat Safety

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It’s winter and keeping your child safe is important during the cold season. Dressing your child with thick puffy coats may keep your child warm, but it can be unsafe if worn in a car seat. Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 12 years in the US, but car or booster seats can provide protection. It’s important to use the right car seat correctly whenever your child is in the car.  

In order for car and booster seats to function properly, your child needs to remain tightly strapped, with the straps against the child’s chest. Snowsuits and puffy coats may loosen the way your child fits into the car or booster seat, making your child more susceptible to slipping out during an accident. They will be more likely to hit hard parts of the car, like the front seat, window, or door, which may cause significant injury. This is why it is extremely important that the car seat’s strap and belt stays close to the child’s body at all times. If your child is wearing a thick winter coat, you will end up tightening the straps to the size of the coat, not the size of your child. In case of an accident, this can cause the coat to compress and create space between your child and the belt. As a result, your child might slip out. 

The following is a safe car seat product list for different age groups provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It is important to note weight restrictions:

  • Infants/Toddlers: Rear-facing car seats used until at least one year of age and weight is 22 lb (10 kg). 
  • Toddlers/Preschoolers: Front-facing car seats used until weight is 40-65 lb (18-30 kg). 
  • School-aged children: Booster seats used when children are at least 40 lb (18 kg). 
  • Older children: Seat belts should be used when your child is at least 80 lb (36 kg) and 145 cm (4 feet and 9 inches) tall. All children younger than 13 years of age should ride in the back seat.

Always keep a copy of the car seat manufacturer’s instructions in your car and follow them carefully. Make sure the car seat is right for your child’s weight and height. It’s recommended to place the car seat in the middle of the back seat. After installation, the car seat should move no more than an inch in forward or side to side.

While protecting your child’s safety inside a car is crucial, keeping your child warm is also important. There are different ways you can keep your child warm without having them wear a thick winter coat while in their car seat. Below are some recommendations:

  • Store the carrier portion of the car seat inside the house at room temperature when not in use.
  • When ready to travel, make sure the car seat is ready before bringing your child out into the cold. You can bring your child out in a winter coat but remove the coat when placing them in the car seat. Hats, mittens, socks, and boots can stay on, as these do not interfere with car seat safety. It’s best to dress your child in thin, but insulated layers, so the child stays warm but the clothes do not impact the safety of the car seat.
  • Warming up your vehicle with the car heating system before placing the child in the car seat will prevent your child from feeling cold. Placing a blanket over the child after they are strapped in the car seat may also be beneficial in keeping your child warm throughout the trip.

Regardless of the weather, parents should never leave their child alone in the car at any time. If you have any questions about your car seat and how to properly use it safely, contact our office.