Water beads may pose life-threatening risks to young children

Summary

What to do: Water beads and products containing them should be kept out of sight and reach of children; if you suspect that your child has ingested a water bead, call the Canadian Poison Centre hotline at 1-844-POISON-X

Issue

Health Canada is warning parents and caregivers about the risks of water beads. These tiny beads, also known as jelly beads, hydro orbs, crystal soil, sensory beads or orb beads, are water-absorbing gel beads that can grow up to 1,500 times their size when placed in water. Water beads can be very harmful if swallowed or put in the ears or nose. If ingested, water beads can continue to grow inside the body leading to potentially life-threatening injuries, such as intestinal or bowel obstruction.

Water beads can be found in a wide range of products that may be accessible to children, such as toys, art kits, stress balls, foot baths, vase fillers, and gardening products. They are also sold in their dehydrated form in individual containers. They may be promoted to parents and caregivers of young children, specifically for use in sensory bins.

Water beads are typically brightly coloured. This may lead young children or adults with cognitive impairment to mistake them for candy. These beads are also small, slippery, and bouncy, allowing them to roll away from their initial location. In several incidents, children gained access to beads that had rolled to another area of the home and were overlooked during clean-up. In some reported cases, the beads had been purchased for, and used by, an older sibling, but a younger child was able to gain access to them. In other reported cases, young children gained access to water beads while at school or in childcare.

“Water beads can be found in a wide range of products that may be accessible to children, such as toys, art kits, stress balls, foot baths, vase fillers, and gardening products.”

What parents and caregivers should do

If you suspect that your child has ingested a water bead, call the Canadian Poison Centre hot line at 1-844-POISON-X
Monitor for symptoms, such as:
- vomiting,
- abdominal or chest pain,
- abdominal swelling or soreness,
- constipation,
- lethargy,
- drooling,
- difficulty breathing or swallowing, and
- loss of appetite.
If water beads are placed in the nose or ear, seek medical intervention.
Water beads should always be stored in an airtight container out of sight and reach of children, especially those under the age of five.
It is recommended that caregivers of children under five avoid having water beads in their household or classroom, even if intended for an older child or adult use.
If using water beads with children five and up, closely supervise their play.
After using water beads, thoroughly clean the surrounding area and clean up any beads that may have rolled away. Check under furniture, toys and in adjoining rooms for water beads that may have rolled away from their initial location.

What Health Canada is doing

Health Canada is committed to helping protect people living in Canada from potentially dangerous consumer products. The Department is continuing its examination of the risks associated with water beads specifically to help protect young children. Health Canada regularly monitors consumer products on the Canadian market and will continue to investigate reports related to water beads to help keep consumers safe. The Department will also take enforcement actions at any time if there is reason to believe a consumer product poses a danger to human health or safety.