For safety, avoid toys with high-powered magnets

When shopping for toys and gifts this holiday season, don’t overlook the dangers that hide in magnetic toys. These include toys like small magnetic balls or cubes that can be arranged intro different shapes or reusable water balloons that rely on high-powered magnets to close.

Parents and caregivers should watch closely and stay vigilant for symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain, and act swiftly if you suspect your child has ingested magnets.

Quick medical attention can make all the difference and potentially avoid the need for surgery.

Why should I beware of magnets and magnet toys?

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 2,500 magnet ingestions treated in emergency departments in 2021 caused by these types of magnets. Dayton Children’s emergency department saw 38 children in 2023 after they swallowed magnets.

From the popular rare earth magnet sets to fidget toys, seemingly innocent gifts and stocking stuffers can lead to serious risks. The small size and large number of high-powered magnets in certain toy sets can make it nearly impossible to tell whether any magnets are missing.

Pay particular attention to items bought from: Internet ads Third-party sellers Other online retailers

These items may have magnets that aren’t listed on the packaging and are very dangerous if swallowed. This warning is for kids of all ages, not just little ones, as teens and older kids have been found to use them as tongue piercings.

What happens if my child swallows a magnet?

Some symptoms of a swallowed magnet may not be apparent at first, but it’s important to pay close attention to:

Vomiting

Abdominal pain

Fever

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if you think your child has swallowed or been injured by a magnet, contact your pediatrician or the closest emergency department right away. Your child may need surgery.

There are two main reasons why ingested magnets could be dangerous:

If two high-powered magnets (or a magnet and a metal object) are swallowed, the magnets will pull toward each other inside the body, which can eventually causes holes in the tissue caught between them. These holes can be life-threatening and require emergency surgery to fix.

Magnets can get stuck in the nose and cause serious injuries to the nasal respiratory tract.

What should I keep in mind when buying toys?

According to the AAP, when purchasing toys for your children, consider the following:

How safe the toy is (if there are any possible choking hazards, for example).

Whether your child will be able to understand how to play with the toy.

Whether the toy will match their needs and interest at their stage of development.

Keep a close eye on your child when they are playing with a new toy to make sure they aren’t tempted to put the toy in their mouth, nose or ears.