​​​What are button batteries?

Button batteries are small, shiny coin-shaped batteries that come in different sizes. Some are even smaller than a blueberry or a piece of cereal. They are sometimes called lithium batteries.

Button batteries can be found in lots of small electronic devices and common household objects such as:

• Toys, handheld games, and musical greeting cards or books
• Hearing aids, watches and digital thermometers
• Remote controls and key fobs
• Light up clothing, jewelry and shoes
• Flashing decorations and flameless candles

Tiny batteries, big risk

Button batteries are so small, children may think they are food, candy or pills. This can be a big risk because young children can put button batteries into their mouths, noses and ears. The battery acid can cause damage to a child’s body. A young child might swallow a button battery. This can cause choking or make them very sick.

If a child swallows a button battery it can get stuck in their throat or esophagus. Saliva can mix with the battery to make an electrical current and cause serious burns inside the child’s body. A button battery can also cause poisoning. If it isn’t treated quickly, it can even lead to death.

Your child may show the following symptoms if they swallow a button battery:

• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing
• Wheezing and drooling
• Coughing and gagging while eating
• Chest pain
• Belly pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• No appetite
• Fever

Your child may have no symptoms. Do not wait to get medical help if you think your child swallowed a button battery.

Watch as one family shares their powerful story about how button batteries can be a danger to your child.

How to prevent your child from swallowing a button battery

The best way to keep your child safe is to store button batteries in a locked place and out of reach. Follow these important tips:

• Keep all new and used button batteries locked up, out of reach and out of sight of children.
• Be careful when you store, throw away or recycle batteries. Even dead batteries can hurt your child if swallowed.
• Never store button batteries near food or medicine.

• Only use products with battery compartments that your child can’t open.
• Use the screws that come with the product to lock the battery compartments.
• Check these compartments often to make sure they stay tight and can’t be opened by your child.

• Look for loose batteries on floors, tables or counters and remove them right away.
• Check other homes your child visits for button batteries left out or not stored safely, such as a grandparent’s house.
• Talk with your childcare provider and other family members about the risks of button batteries. You can ask them to check their spaces for button batteries too.

• Sometimes no one sees the child put the battery in their mouth or swallow it, so harm can happen before you know it.
• Always watch your child when they play with toys that use button batteries.

What to do if your child swallows a button battery

Remember these important steps if your child swallows a button battery:

• Do not try to remove the battery by getting your child to vomit (throw up)
• Go to the Emergency Department or call 911 immediately.
• If your child can swallow liquids, give them 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes, up to 6 times. Do this even if they are under the age of one.
• Get medical help right away. Do not stop to find or buy honey.
• Do not give your child any other foods or liquids.​