Study: Water Bead Injuries On The Rise

An Ohio study found that child hospitalizations related to water beads are up 130%. Water beads are colorful toys that expand when soaked in water, and while they were intended to be used for plants, they’ve become popular children’s toys. Unfortunately, small children could mistake these colorful toys for candy. In 2022, there were 3,300 water bead-related emergency room visits involving kids and teens. Major retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Target will stop selling water beads marketed to kids. “If children younger than six years or with developmental delays live in or visit your home, keep water beads out of your home,” Dr. Marcel Casavant said. (Study Finds)