Parent advocates, consumer groups, and lawmakers have sounded the alarm over the risks associated with water beads. Now, some major retailers have announced that they will prohibit the sale of water beads for children.  Specifically, Amazon introduced a new policy that will stop the sale of water beads marketed to children later this month.  Walmart will prohibt the sale of water beads marketed for children under the age of 9, and Target will stop selling water beads marketed to children 12 and younger.

Water beads are super-absorbent polymer chemical spheres sometimes marketed as toys or for “sensory” play. According to That Water Bead Lady, a nonprofit raising awareness about water bead dangers and providing guidance to impacted families, water beads can grow 1,500 times their size when placed in liquid. Unfortunately, children have been known to ingest water beads, which have led to multiple life-threatening obstructions and even death.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 7,800 emergency room visits from 2016 to 2022 were associated with water beads. Even when medical treatment is sought, parents have shared heartbreaking stories about incorrect diagnoses and the inability of X-rays to observe water beads.

Despite “non-toxic” labels, recent research demonstrates that water beads can be toxic due to bead-to-bead inconsistencies. CPSC staff tested water beads for acrylamide and detected levels of the known carcinogen and neurotoxin. The test results confirmed the experiences and worst fears of Ashley Haugen, founder of That Water Bead Lady. Haugen’s one-year-old daughter, Kipley, somehow swallowed a water bead, even though the baby had never been allowed to play with the beads and the family never witnessed her swallow one. As a result, Kipley was rushed into emergency exploratory surgery, during which doctors found water bead material blocking the baby’s small intestine. The family’s horrific ordeal didn’t end there. Kipley began to experience development delays. She was ultimately diagnosed with toxic brain encephalopathy, a brain injury resulting from chemical exposure.

Haugen’s story demonstrates one of the more horrifying features shared by affected families: how easily water beads scatter and roll. Even when parents provide adult supervision during an older child’s play and store water beads out of the reach of younger children, the beads roll, hide, and can be undetectable on flooring.  Injuries from water beads have occurred in cases where the beads have not been used by older children in the home for over two years.

“Water beads represent a massive threat, one that’s invisible until it’s too late. I know this firsthand because the beads left my daughter with life altering injuries and a scar on her stomach she will carry for the rest of the life,” said Ashley Haugen, founder of That Water Bead Lady. “As parents we aim to ensure our homes are safe havens, not places where danger lurks in disguise. Watching companies take a proactive stance sets a precedent for corporate responsibility in child safety. It’s a move that not only saves lives but also builds trust among consumers. When parents and corporations work together, we can create a safer world for our children. Action sends the message that child safety is a priority for us all.”

“There are too many heartbreaking stories about children ingesting water beads and suffering life-altering injuries or death,” said Courtney Griffin, Director of Consumer Product Safety at Consumer Federation of America. “We support commitment from companies to stop the sale of these incredibly dangerous products to children. We also urge continued and robust action from companies and policymakers to ensure no other children are put at risk.”

Last month, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) announced legislation to ban water beads marketed for children.  Representative Robin Kelly (D-Ill) and Representative Britney Pettersen (D-Colo.) co-sponsored the legislation.  The Ban Water Beads Act would direct the CPSC to enforce such a ban.  This week, the New Jersey Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee advanced legislation that would prohibit the sale of water beads in New Jersey.  In September, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called on the CPSC to remove water beads from the market, especially water beads sold as toys for children.

No warning can ever make water beads safe for children.  We appreciate steps taken by some major retailers to prohibit the sale of water beads for children, but more must be done to ensure no other child suffers grave injury or death because of a toy.

What can you do?

• Throw away any water beads in your home and do not purchase water beads!
• Contact your daycares, schools, or therapy providers to share the dangers of water beads.
• Visit That Water Bead Lady to read more about Ashley Haugen’s advocacy and Kipley’s journey.
• Use That Water Bead Lady’s educational materials, which include a letter template requesting your school/therapy stop water bead use, a social media messaging guide, and information to share with your health care provider.
• Follow That Water Bead Lady on social media platforms.
• Contact your elected officials. Let them know you support a ban on water beads.
• Read about Consumer Reports’ investigations into the dangers of water beads.  Learn more about Consumer Report’s advocacy efforts and support their petition to ban the product.
• Share Kids In Danger’s infographic about the perils of water beads.
• Read Kids In Danger’s two-part interview with Ashley Haugen of That Water Bead Lady.
• Read CPSC’s safety materials on water beads.
• Report any incidents to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.