A girl just 10-months-old has died after swallowing a water bead - and her mum is calling for national changes.
After the death of her daughter, a mum began speaking out about a common kid's toy that is commonly marketed towards babies and autistic children that has no warnings.
When Esther Jo Bethard died in July choking on a water bead, just months short of her first birthday, her family had no idea what had happened. She became ill the day before, with her parents rushing her to medical care.
It turned out that water beads, marketed as a colourful sensory toy, swell to many times their size when they come in contact with liquid, and when they are dry, they're about the size of a pinhead.
Water beads were used as "agricultural products intended to maintain soil moisture," according to Poison.org, a website that tracks hazardous products. They've been utilised by florists to keep their arrangements hydrated and are contained within products like diapers for their fluid absorbency.
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When a water bead is swallowed, it begins to grow larger as it travels through your body, eventually causing an intestinal blockage. The symptoms this causes "are the same as having a stomach bug," said Taylor Bethard. Children who have come into contact with this item and suddenly begin experiencing vomiting, abdominal pain and constipation, among other things, should immediately seek medical care, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Since her child's death, mum Taylor Bethard has been speaking out publicly against having water beads as toys and has found some local success. "Water beads should be banned/recalled and no longer allowed to be marketed as a children's toy," Bethard said.
Berthard is a teacher and was not aware of the risks, as the toys don't come with any hazard notices or other warnings. Had there been, she would have "never would've allowed my older kids to play with them," she told Fox News Digital. "They would've never been in my house."
These colourful beads are sold to children all over the world but are turning out to be a deadly hazard, as swallowing them can cause extensive damage (Getty Images)She added, "At the minimum, water beads need to have the appropriate warnings about the life-threatening dangers, which is not limited to choking." In December of last year, a few stores began removing them from shelves. Target stopped selling water beads after a California infant accidentally swallowed one and died. Other large chains like Amazon are still selling them.
Medical professionals began warning parents about water beads years ago, but it hasn't gained national attention, which is what Berthard is looking for. “We have seen children in our emergency room who have swallowed water beads, which can lead to intestinal blockages and can be life-threatening,” said UC Davis pediatric trauma surgeon Minna Minsing Wieck. “We want to urge the public not to purchase these products, particularly for small children who may accidentally swallow them.”
Healthychildren.org also suggests there have been cases where children have shoved water beads into their ears, not knowing the dangers. "Two CPSC reports, children were treated for ear infections when doctors couldn't spot clear beads in their ears during an exam."
"The delay in finding the beads allowed them to grow until the kids, who were 5 and 7 years old, needed surgery. Both have ear drum damage and one hearing loss," says the site.
They also say that while water beads are recommended for children over three years old, younger siblings often find them before their parents notice. The Consumer Public Safety Commission says they are aware of Esther Jo Bethard's tragic death and are looking into the incident.
They further state: "We have been working with industry to improve the relevant standards for these products and are considering additional rulemaking options should they not do so in a timely manner. We strongly encourage parents and caregivers to report any incidents with this product to us at SaferProducts.gov."
"After hearing about Esther, many of our local teachers, principals and therapists got rid of them," said mom Bethard. "I then chose to reach out to the superintendent because I wanted them to be gone in all of our schools. I wanted it to be a rule that they weren't allowed." She added, "Thankfully, our school district has decided that water beads will not be allowed."
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Berhard also said, "We are blessed by wonderful friends, family and support from our church. Suddenly losing your child is every parent's worst nightmare. We have four other kids. Without support from people around us, there's no way my husband and I could support our four other kids through this loss."
The mum says that her daughter Esther was a bright and mischievous child who loved smiling and dancing. "She was absolutely adored by every single one of her big siblings," Taylor Bethard told Fox News Digital in an interview. "She had a big smile that brightened up the whole room, beautiful blue eyes and curly red hair."
Mum recalls that Esther learned to pull herself up and climb on the couches and the stairs much easier than any of her siblings. "She knew she wasn’t supposed to climb the stairs. So she would start to climb them, stop to look at you, smile and scurry away as fast as she could when you went to get her."
Berhard concluded with advice to other parents on water beads: "They bounce, they roll, they get lost in carpets and corners of the house," she said. "The risk is not worth it. If you want your kids to enjoy the sensory aspect — there are alternatives."
If you discover that your child has swallowed water beads, call poison control immediately at 800-222-1222 and take the child to the emergency room right away.
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