Baby first aid experts are urging parents to stop giving their infants and toddlers car keys to play with, warning that these everyday items can pose serious health risks. Tiny Hearts Education, a company offering first aid courses, has highlighted the hidden dangers of letting young children handle keys and key fobs.
Why Car Keys Are Dangerous for Babies
Car keys may seem like a handy distraction for soothing a crying baby or keeping a toddler occupied in public. Their shiny surfaces and rattling sounds can quickly capture a little one's attention. However, Tiny Hearts Education warns that keys and their fobs can expose children to button batteries, sharp edges, possible lead exposure, and germs.
In an Instagram post, Tiny Hearts Education said: "Car keys feel like the perfect distraction toy for little ones. They're shiny, they're noisy and they're always within reach. But most car keys carry things that should stay away from little hands and mouths."
The post detailed specific risks: "Button batteries, behind one small screw in the car key or garage remote that wears down over time. If swallowed these can cause severe internal burns in just 2 hours." It also mentioned "sharp edges on keys; these sharp edges are dangerous enough to cut a gum," "possible lead exposure, most modern brass keys are made with lead in the metal," and "the germs, keys go everywhere your hands go, rarely being cleaned and then into your little one's mouth."
Button Battery Risks and What to Do
Button batteries pose a particularly serious risk to children and can be found in numerous household items including watches, remote controls, electronic toys, and LED lights. They come in different sizes but most measure 1 to 2cm across — roughly the same size as sweets, which means they can easily be swallowed.
If you think your child has swallowed a button battery, you must get them to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department as quickly as possible. Don't give them anything to eat or drink, and don't try to make them sick, as this could cause further damage both when the battery is brought back up and from the initial swallowing.
If you can, try to work out what type of battery your child has swallowed, but don't let that delay getting them to hospital if you can't immediately identify what they've ingested. Sometimes, the symptoms of swallowing a button battery aren't immediately apparent. Children may struggle to breathe or simply seem generally unwell. Should an ingested button battery begin to cause complications, children may cough up or vomit blood.
Batteries inserted into the nose or ear can also trigger issues, such as nosebleeds or bleeding from the ear.
