Britt Jones
A doctor has warned of a present you shouldn’t consider giving to children at Christmas this year, which she dubbed a ‘nightmare’ toy.
'Tis the season of buying gifts for all the kids you know and splurging on the latest gadgets and bits and bobs that seem like fun activities.
However, there’s one that is very popular among the younger generation but can lead to ‘grim results’, according to a paediatrician.
Dr Laura Steelman, 48, of Bluebird Kids Health in Florida, has urged people to steer clear of buying this one thing, which can actually be incredibly dangerous.
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But not only does she say not to buy them, but also to keep your eyes peeled at gatherings where kids are present, and not to think that because ‘someone else is watching’ that nothing bad can happen.
And when it comes to choosing the perfect toy for your little one to unwrap on Christmas Day, Dr Steelman recommends avoiding any containing little magnets.
“I think the toy that gives most pediatricians nightmares are the small collections of magnets that they often market as fidget toys,” she said. "Aside from the choke hazard aspect, an even more serious likelihood is that the child will eat multiple small magnets, which can then attract and adhere to each other from different parts of the digestive tract.”
She explained that the tissue between the magnets can then be ‘crushed’, and the magnets won’t move, which can cause serious health complications.
In one instance, a little boy was rushed to the hospital a couple of years ago after it was found he had swallowed 52 tiny magnets, leading to him undergoing major surgery.
And just last year, another boy swallowed magnets, but sadly, he passed away 10 days later after it punctured his small intestine.
Similarly, button batteries are another item the doctor urges people to keep away from kids, which are common in toys and remote controls.
“Be especially careful of toys or remotes with button (small, flat or coin-shaped) batteries,” she said. “Pediatricians dread them, for your child's sake.
"They look shiny and inviting to toddlers, but are extremely dangerous if eaten: they react with the moisture in the digestive system and cause chemical burns that continue to spread even after the battery is removed.
"Every Christmas, there are more than three thousand swallowed button battery hospitalizations in our country."
She added: "Avoid toys with small parts. Anything small enough to fit through a toilet paper tube is a possible choke hazard."
It doesn't stop at presents, however, as Dr Steelman also urges parents to watch their kids while eating Christmas dinner, saying to 'eliminate choke hazard foods from the menu'.
This includes 'small, round, hard and/or sticky' foods, like whole grapes, popcorn, cherry tomatoes, and sweets.
However, the doctor says not to let this dampen the occasion, as she adds: "A toddler-safe holiday can still be beautiful and joyous with a little forethought.
"A safe, healthy child should be the centerpiece of your winter celebrations."