Last updated by charlotte.lang@essex.gov.uk on Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Water beads are small, colourful and squishy. It’s easy to see why they’re so appealing to small children.

When dry, water beads are tiny and can easily be swallowed without detection. But as they bathe in stomach fluids, they expand to many times their original size, posing a serious risk of blockage in a child’s bowel.

Find out more from the Child Accident Prevention Trust and share the messages with families with young children.