Parents Advised To Stop Letting Kids Play With Some Magnetic Toys For Safety Reasons

When I was younger, a lot younger, I enjoyed collecting refrigerator magnets and sticking them on the fridge.

I’m sure many of our houses have at least one or two magnets stuck on the door of our refrigerator even till this day.

I mean, it’s such a great way to communicate with your partner when you guys quarrel, isn’t it? Write a note and stick it on the fridge with a magnet – there you go, message conveyed.

However, Enterprise Singapore has recently warned parents against certain magnetic toys as it may endanger their kids!

Surgeries Needed After Kid Swallowed Magnetic Toys

Back in May 2018, a 14-month-old Chinese toddler was taken to the hospital after he developed a fever and started vomiting.

It was later found that the boy had swallowed 21 magnetic beads from his brother’s toy which had formed a ring in his body.

Fortunately, the boy had undergone surgery to have all the beads removed and was able to return home a week later.

A Spike In Such Cases

Liu, the surgeon of the Chinese toddler, expressed her concerns as she noticed an increase in such cases.

In December 2018, a similar case had happened in the United States where a 4-year-old child broke open a magnetic toy and swallowed 13 magnets.

The child’s mum had described his puke as “dark color that looks like coffee grounds”, which was a warning sign for her to send her kid to the hospital.

Danger Of Magnets

As tiny and harmless they may seem, magnetic beads can pose a serious threat when being swallowed.

These magnets, when swallowed, can be stuck at different parts of the body.

However, the magnetic force of these beads will pull them towards one another, and may pierce through one’s intestines and organs.

Safety Tips From Enterprise SG

Enterprise Singapore has also included a few tips for parents to look out for when purchasing toys for their children.

The tips are as follows:

• Buy from reputable brands and sellers
• Check the age recommendations and instructions on the labels
• Check if a safety alert has been issued from Enterprise Singapore or other international sites
• Supervise your child when they are playing with magnetic toys and ensure that they do not ingest any parts of the toy
• Inspect toys for any broken or unsafe parts
• Seek medical attention immediately should your child feel unwell during or after playing
• After playing, store the magnetic toy out of your child’s sight and reach

Or maybe, throw all the magnetic toys away.

On a serious note, regardless of the toys – magnetic or not – do keep a lookout for your kids whenever they are having their playtime as we all know how kids tend to just put every single thing in their mouth.