In many family homes, the winter holidays bring extra cheer but also some extra hazards for young children. An important one to keep in mind is button batteries and lithium coin batteries, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries if swallowed. These small batteries are found in items throughout many homes any time of the year, but especially during the holidays. Think twinkling holiday decorations, for example, or newly opened gifts of electronic toys and gadgets.
Use this room-by-room winter holiday walkthrough to help locate items that may contain small batteries. Then, you can take steps to ensure your child can’t access them. For more information on how to safely use and store lithium coin and button batteries—and what to do without delay if your child ingests one—see “What Parents Need to Know About Button Batteries & Lithium Coin Batteries.”)
