Some button battery toys sold in Australia found to be non-compliant with regulations. Be careful when purchasing toys for babies and children to make sure they are safe and comply with Australian standards.
Whether it is for birthdays or Christmas, or perhaps another type of festivity, many parents may buy and receive gifts for their babies or children. Despite good intentions, some of these items may in fact pose safety risks and be non-compliant with safety standards. This is a crucial consideration for all types of toys – particularly those containing potentially poisonous button or coin batteries and purchased via online marketplaces.
As the name suggests, button or coin batteries are small, flat and round. Toys that require them to produce effects such as light and sound are to be used with extreme caution. Tragically, three children in Australia have reportedly died after inserting or swallowing a button battery. Furthermore, according to Kidsafe, approximately 20 children nation-wide present to a hospital emergency department each week following suspected button battery insertion or ingestion.
Children aged between 0-5 years are considered the most vulnerable demographic to succumb to battery-related injuries.
Dangers of swallowing or inserting a button battery
Adequate measures must be undertaken to prevent infants from unsafe use of toys containing button batteries to avoid dangers associated with swallowing or inserting them.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) warn that children aged 5 years and under are at greater risk due to their narrower oesophagus and inclination to insert small objects into openings such as mouth, nose and ears.
Batteries that may be swallowed and become lodged in a child’s throat or inserted into body parts such as ears or nose can lead to serious lifelong injuries or death.
According to ACCC, swallowing a battery can result in saliva activating an electrical current. This causes a chemical reaction, which can lead to an infant’s oesophagus and vital organs sustaining severe internal burns. According to Kidsafe, a button battery can burn through soft tissue in as little as two hours, with symptoms associated with swallowing one including:
- gagging or choking
- chest pain and potentially subsequent grunting
- coughing or loud breathing
- abdominal pain
- drooling
- vomiting or food refusal
- black or red vomit or bowel motions
- spitting blood or blood-stained saliva
- nose bleeds
- fever
In some cases, a child may not display any symptoms. Prompt response, however, remains vital.
What to do if an infant swallows or inserts a button battery
It is important to understand that injuries may continue to worsen even following removal of the battery. Therefore, prompt response and treatment is crucial. Even if you are uncertain whether or not the battery has been swallowed or inserted or a child is not displaying any symptoms, spring into action immediately – do not wait for symptoms to appear.
Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you suspect your child has swallowed or inserted a battery and is bleeding or experiencing breathing difficulties.
If you suspect your child has ingested or inserted a battery but symptoms are not yet evident, contact the Poisons Information Centre for advice immediately on 13 11 26.
· In the meantime, do not permit the infant to eat or drink, and do not induce vomiting.
Mandatory safety standards for button batteries
Due to previous injuries and deaths resulting from button batteries among children in Australia, ACCC brought into effect four mandatory safety and information standards for products that contain them in 2022.
As per these safety standards, here are some key things to consider when ascertaining whether a toy with a button battery may or may not be safe for your baby or child:
- Must have secure battery compartments – no batteries able to come loose during use or misuse
- Any screws securing battery compartments must remain with the compartment’s door or cover and cannot fall out
- Adequate testing prior to selling
- Labelling containing clear warnings and safety information for consumers
Be cautious when online shopping
Australia’s leading advocacy group, CHOICE, recently warned consumers about many online marketplaces selling cheap toys that may not comply with safety standards. Concerningly, this is primarily because mandatory standards are currently not enforced upon online marketplaces selling products from a third party.
Recent findings from CHOICE (November 2025) revealed that online platforms, Shein, AliExpress, eBay and Amazon, sold non-compliant – and therefore potentially unsafe – children’s products. Out of 24 toys tested, 17 failed to meet mandatory safety standards.
- All tested Shein products had serious failures, such as insufficient warning labels and insecure compartments
- All tested eBay products had serious failures, including absence of warning labels
- All tested AliExpress products had serious failures, mostly regarding lack of labelling and captive screws
- Three out of five products purchased from Amazon had serious failures, primarily around lacking labelling
Such failed tests have resulted in numerous product recalls announced by ACCC. Particularly leading up to festive periods, such as Christmas, it is advisable to keep an eye on product recalls listed on ACCC’s website.
More than Safe Sleep
Did you know that Red Nose has information beyond Safe Sleep. Visit our Safer Pregnancy and Safe Sleep Hub for more advice or give our team a call during business hours on 1300 998 698.
Remember: trust your instinct. If you think a toy may be unsafe, remove it immediately.
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