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Just wanted to say thank you for posting this. I have three small children and had no idea of the dangers these batteries pose. We seem to be changing button ba

Just wanted to say thank you for posting this. I have three small children and had no idea of the dangers these batteries pose. We seem to be changing button batteries every couple of weeks or so, they are in a number of sound books and toys we have around the house. I will be sure to take extra care with them after reading that article. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.

tekknik 5y ago
I’m sorry, you have a child and didn’t know button batteries (or batteries in general) were dangerous? Is there not a clear choking hazard and the knowledge it’s filled with toxic/hazardous chemicals? This should be common sense.
- leokennis 5y ago
  Nice way to shame someone brave enough to admit they were lacking in knowledge and announcing action to improve their live.
  - tekknik 5y ago
    Yea it’s called being concerned for their kid.
  - tekknik 5y ago
    Notice how you’re not explaining why I look ridiculous? Please, tell me how an infant is smarter than you
    - leokennis 5y ago
      I’m sorry...what are you on about? If your goal is to have heated discussions with strangers on the net, there are better platforms out there for that than HN. Your comment style makes you look really insecure. Be aware of that. The fact is, kids face many dangers and as a parent you cannot be aware of all of them. So if you’re introduced to a new danger and your reaction is “I didn’t know this, but now that I do I’m immediately making changes to prevent impact of this danger on my kid” that deserves praise. Not cheeky low effort guilt tripping.
- calsy 5y ago
  People might not even realise a toy or electronic device has a button battery in them. There are no warnings on packaging. Kids can swallow them without an immediate reaction like choking. An hour or 2 later the child becomes sick and the parent doesn't understand why. They don't know they swallowed a battery, they didn't even know it existed. Medical professionals just assume its a fever. You cant see the button unless X-rays are taken and by that time that the injuries can be severe.
  - tekknik 5y ago
    It’s not about realizing if a toy has a battery or not, the choking hazard alone is enough. There’s also no electronic devices a child should swallow. Kids are swallowing these because parents like this aren’t thinking.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - wizzwizz4 5y ago
      I see you do not have a child. I hate the trite “oh, you'll know when you're a parent!” stuff as much as the next person, but… have you met a one-year-old? So curious, and so quick to eat new things: a bad combo if I've ever seen one.
      - tekknik 5y ago
        Hmm, so I have no child and no experience huh? What happened to baby proofing houses? Keeping items they shouldn’t eat out of reach? As a parent it is your job to keep that child safe until they can do the same, and leaving dangerous items around is failing that one task. You don’t leave things around that hurts your child, be it guns or batteries.
        calsy 5y ago
        You clearly don't have children, so stop pretending that being a parent is as easy as writing some sentences describing what needs to be done. It's like someone pretending to be a doctor explaining how easy it is to work in medicine to a group of actual trained professionals, it looks silly. If you were a parent you would know that time is not available to you, that you cant sit and stare at the kids from morning to night. Rent/mortgages need to be paid, cleaning done, food prepared all the things that any person who is a parent is already well aware of. You do your best to protect them, but you are not innately gifted with the ability to see every perceived threat like some robot on the day a child is born. The fact that it's a recurring problem should be clearly evident that it is not common knowledge, that the warnings are not there to inform parents. People on this thread who I can assume are reasonably smart and don't neglect their children didn't know the danger. So enough already, you're out of your depth on this topic.
calsy 5y ago
Parent of 2 young girls myself and I happened to find this information out by chance when shopping online for batteries. The stories from these parents shocked me. I'm really glad this info helped you, hopefully more and more parents spread the word.
geoduck14 5y ago
Serious question: what is the risk, aside from any other "foreign object"? Does the battery leak?
- fma 5y ago
  Chemical reaction can burn a hole in your esophagus.
- cnlevy 5y ago
  According to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_cell#Accidental_ingestion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_cell#Accidental_ingesti... the battery's anode creates an electric current with the digestive tract's fluids that produces caustic soda which can burn through the oesophagus in as little as 2 hours.
  - somedude895 5y ago
    Wow, that's crazy unsafe! Can't believe I haven't heard about this until now.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

tekknik 5y ago

I’m sorry, you have a child and didn’t know button batteries (or batteries in general) were dangerous? Is there not a clear choking hazard and the knowledge it’s filled with toxic/hazardous chemicals? This should be common sense.

leokennis 5y ago
Nice way to shame someone brave enough to admit they were lacking in knowledge and announcing action to improve their live.
- tekknik 5y ago
  Yea it’s called being concerned for their kid.
- tekknik 5y ago
  Notice how you’re not explaining why I look ridiculous? Please, tell me how an infant is smarter than you
  - leokennis 5y ago
    I’m sorry...what are you on about? If your goal is to have heated discussions with strangers on the net, there are better platforms out there for that than HN. Your comment style makes you look really insecure. Be aware of that. The fact is, kids face many dangers and as a parent you cannot be aware of all of them. So if you’re introduced to a new danger and your reaction is “I didn’t know this, but now that I do I’m immediately making changes to prevent impact of this danger on my kid” that deserves praise. Not cheeky low effort guilt tripping.
calsy 5y ago
People might not even realise a toy or electronic device has a button battery in them. There are no warnings on packaging. Kids can swallow them without an immediate reaction like choking. An hour or 2 later the child becomes sick and the parent doesn't understand why. They don't know they swallowed a battery, they didn't even know it existed. Medical professionals just assume its a fever. You cant see the button unless X-rays are taken and by that time that the injuries can be severe.
- tekknik 5y ago
  It’s not about realizing if a toy has a battery or not, the choking hazard alone is enough. There’s also no electronic devices a child should swallow. Kids are swallowing these because parents like this aren’t thinking.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - wizzwizz4 5y ago
    I see you do not have a child. I hate the trite “oh, you'll know when you're a parent!” stuff as much as the next person, but… have you met a one-year-old? So curious, and so quick to eat new things: a bad combo if I've ever seen one.
    - tekknik 5y ago
      Hmm, so I have no child and no experience huh? What happened to baby proofing houses? Keeping items they shouldn’t eat out of reach? As a parent it is your job to keep that child safe until they can do the same, and leaving dangerous items around is failing that one task. You don’t leave things around that hurts your child, be it guns or batteries.
      - calsy 5y ago
        You clearly don't have children, so stop pretending that being a parent is as easy as writing some sentences describing what needs to be done. It's like someone pretending to be a doctor explaining how easy it is to work in medicine to a group of actual trained professionals, it looks silly. If you were a parent you would know that time is not available to you, that you cant sit and stare at the kids from morning to night. Rent/mortgages need to be paid, cleaning done, food prepared all the things that any person who is a parent is already well aware of. You do your best to protect them, but you are not innately gifted with the ability to see every perceived threat like some robot on the day a child is born. The fact that it's a recurring problem should be clearly evident that it is not common knowledge, that the warnings are not there to inform parents. People on this thread who I can assume are reasonably smart and don't neglect their children didn't know the danger. So enough already, you're out of your depth on this topic.

calsy 5y ago

Parent of 2 young girls myself and I happened to find this information out by chance when shopping online for batteries. The stories from these parents shocked me. I'm really glad this info helped you, hopefully more and more parents spread the word.

geoduck14 5y ago

Serious question: what is the risk, aside from any other "foreign object"? Does the battery leak?

fma 5y ago
Chemical reaction can burn a hole in your esophagus.
cnlevy 5y ago
According to Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_cell#Accidental_ingestion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_cell#Accidental_ingesti... the battery's anode creates an electric current with the digestive tract's fluids that produces caustic soda which can burn through the oesophagus in as little as 2 hours.
- somedude895 5y ago
  Wow, that's crazy unsafe! Can't believe I haven't heard about this until now.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]