An alert has been issued warning parents and childcare settings to keep water beads away from children under 5 years old.
The warning comes following action by the Office of Product Safety and Standards to remove unsafe water beads from the market.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust said: "With their bright colours and squishy feel, water beads are especially appealing to young children. When dry, water beads are tiny and can easily be swallowed without detection.
"As they bathe in stomach fluids, some can expand to 400 times their original size, posing a serious risk of blockage in a child’s bowel.
"There is also a risk of inhalation causing coughing or choking."
Video credit: Child Accident Prevention Trust
The warning comes following action by the Office of Product Safety and Standards to remove unsafe water beads from the market.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust said: "With their bright colours and squishy feel, water beads are especially appealing to young children. When dry, water beads are tiny and can easily be swallowed without detection.
"As they bathe in stomach fluids, some can expand to 400 times their original size, posing a serious risk of blockage in a child’s bowel.
"There is also a risk of inhalation causing coughing or choking."
Video credit: Child Accident Prevention Trust
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NewsTranscript
00:00Please keep water beads away from young children. If swallowed they can expand in the belly and
00:05block the bowel. Some grow as big as golf balls and your child may need major surgery to remove them.