What do I do if my child swallows a button battery?

Call 000 or go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department, and do not wait for symptoms. The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne has the full steps. The Poisons Information Centre is on 13 11 26 at any hour.

What counts as a small part on a toy in Australia?

Under the mandatory standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months, a small part is one that fits inside a cylinder 31 mm wide and 57 mm deep.

Are button batteries regulated in Australia?

Yes. Four mandatory safety and information standards have applied to button and coin batteries and products that use them since 22 June 2022.

Where can I check product recalls in Australia?

Product Safety Australia, run by the ACCC, publishes current recalls.

Buying toys in Australia: small parts and button batteries

Reviewed 3 November 2026 by Yiwu Market Australia

If a child may have swallowed a button battery, call 000 or go straight to a hospital emergency department, and do not wait for symptoms. When buying, check the age advice on a toy, keep anything with parts that could come loose away from children under three, and make sure any battery compartment cannot be opened by a child. Australia has mandatory safety standards covering both.

In an emergency

The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne says to call 000 for an ambulance or go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department if a child has swallowed a button battery, and not to wait for symptoms. It advises giving a child two teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes on the way, or jam if there is no honey or the child is under 12 months. Honey should not be given to children under 12 months.

The Poisons Information Centre gives advice around the clock on 13 11 26. That is as well as getting to hospital, not instead of it.

Toys for children under three

Australia has a mandatory safety standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months. Under it, those toys must not have a small part that is removable or could come loose in normal use. A small part is one that fits inside a cylinder 31 mm wide and 57 mm deep, which is about the size of a young child's throat opening.

An older child's toy can legally have small parts, so a toy that is fine for a seven-year-old can be dangerous in a house with a baby. Check what younger brothers and sisters can reach.

Button batteries

Four mandatory standards for button and coin batteries, and the products that use them, have applied since 22 June 2022. They cover child-resistant packaging for the batteries, secure battery compartments on products, and warnings.

The Royal Children's Hospital lists toys, car keys, remote controls, calculators, musical greeting cards, watches and kitchen scales as common places to find them, and says toys that light up, move or make sounds are likely to contain them. If you cannot confirm a battery is secure, it advises throwing the toy away. Keep spare batteries locked away, and treat flat ones as just as dangerous.

What to check before you buy, here or anywhere

Look for age advice on the listing or the packaging. If there is none, do not assume it suits a young child. Check for parts that could come off, long cords, loose magnets and battery covers that open without a tool. Look at Product Safety Australia's recall list if you have any doubt.

At Yiwu Market Australia, listings show a certification only where the supplier has given us one. If a listing does not tell you what you need to know about a toy for a young child, ask us at sales@yiwumarket.com.au before you buy. A faulty item can always be reported, with no time limit.

Common questions

What do I do if my child swallows a button battery?: Call 000 or go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department, and do not wait for symptoms. The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne has the full steps. The Poisons Information Centre is on 13 11 26 at any hour.
What counts as a small part on a toy in Australia?: Under the mandatory standard for toys for children up to and including 36 months, a small part is one that fits inside a cylinder 31 mm wide and 57 mm deep.
Are button batteries regulated in Australia?: Yes. Four mandatory safety and information standards have applied to button and coin batteries and products that use them since 22 June 2022.
Where can I check product recalls in Australia?: Product Safety Australia, run by the ACCC, publishes current recalls.