Button Batteries & Magnets: Swallowing Dangers

Small children put things in their mouths. A swallowed button battery can burn through the throat in as little as two hours. Swallowing more than one strong magnet can pinch the intestines and cause fatal damage. Both are emergencies, even when the child looks fine.

• Parents
• Caregivers
• Child Care

Button batteries

• Where they are: remote controls, key fobs, watches, hearing aids, toys, greeting cards, thermometers, flameless candles, bathroom scales, flashing jewelry and many small electronics.
• Why they are dangerous: when a battery gets stuck in the throat, saliva triggers an electrical current that causes a chemical burn. Damage can occur within 2 hours and may cause bleeding, a hole in the esophagus or airway, and death.
• Symptoms can look like a cold or stomach flu: coughing, drooling, vomiting, chest pain, trouble swallowing, fever or refusing to eat. A child may show no symptoms at first.

Magnets

• Small, powerful magnets (rare earth/neodymium) are found in magnetic building sets, desk toys, jewelry and some fidget toys.
• If a child swallows two or more, or a magnet and a metal object, they can attract each other across intestinal walls and cut off blood flow, causing holes and infection. Surgery is often needed.

If a child swallowed one

1. Go to the emergency room right away. Do not wait for symptoms. Call 911 if the child has trouble breathing.
2. Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 (or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222) on the way.
3. For a button battery, if the child is older than 12 months and swallowed it within the last 12 hours, give honey (2 teaspoons every 10 minutes, up to 6 doses) while heading to care, unless they have a honey allergy or they cannot swallow safely; do not delay going to the hospital. Do not give honey to infants under 12 months.
4. Do not make the child vomit. Do not let them eat or drink (other than honey as above) until X-rays are done.
5. Bring the battery or package to show the doctors. Identify the battery type if possible.

Prevention

• Keep devices with button batteries out of reach, with battery compartments secured by screws or tape
• Store spare batteries in a locked place; do not leave them on tables or in drawers
• Recycle used batteries at once; tape them with clear tape
• Do not buy magnet sets for children, and keep them out of homes with young children and teens who might swallow them as "piercings"
• Check toys and gifts for loose batteries and magnets. See Childproofing
• Teach older children never to put these items in their mouths or noses

Last updated: October 8, 2026