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‘I DO NOT want to see you at Christmas’

241 replies

SelotapeChicken · 17/12/2025 06:12

Yes I got your attention. I’m not being unreasonable I could save your kids life. Also I am the op of the previous aibu post but I binned my account in a social media cleanse and then realised I needed to try and reshare tbe post. Finally I started a new thread because im
afraid people will see 2024 and think
’zombie thread and disregard my post’

It’s Christmas I am a colorectal surgeon and we have had to perform 5 emergency operations in 2 weeks related to button batteries but this is so far from the normal, it is increasing exponentially
If you suspect your child or elderly person with dementia or anyone with SEND and who has difficulty communicating has swallowed a button battery and I mean if you even notice the compartment on a battery operated toy or tea light is open and missing and you didn't see you child swallow it. GO IMMEDIATELY TO A&E! Button batteries and shiny, easy to grab for
Toddler and easy to confuse for tablets for elderly patients

If your child is over the age of 12 months old give 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 mins until you reach hospital. This is crucial and will coat the battery so it doesn't burn the oesophagus or intestines.
Yes it's not ideal if the child needs surgery but there are emergency procedures we can do to minimise risk of aspiration and the risk of aspiration of honey is less than the risk posed of the battery.

I can’t tell you to give honey to an under 12 month old baby because it’s against nhs guidelines but I would have no issue giving it to my child if I knew they’d eaten a button battery.

In the US, all energiser branded button batteries are coated to taste bitter and covered in a safe dye that dyes the tongue and mouth blue. This is being rolled out the Uk slowly but surely.
There are photos online portraying the damage that honey does to the battery on the slice of ham but it's not to be looked at because the whole point of the honey is to coat the battery and help it not stay too long in one place and move through the digestive tract.

I will also add these absolutely horrific orbeez things to this thread but really they need banning from the world.
If your nursery or child care provider uses them in sensory play, please tell them to stop or move child care providers (hard I know) but orbeez feel brilliant to children and when they have no taste so when they're exploring orally it's very very easy to eat them. And you can't see them on xray until they're a certain size and even then they look like built up gas in the bowel. Obviously if the child has ingested loads then they you see them. However if it's one or 2 they can be tiny when swallowed but they continue to expand and expand, they can case major bowel obstructions.
Please do this. No orbeez and keep and eye out for button batteries (god why are they in so many toys??!)
First photo is a button battery on ham for 30
Mins, second photos is an orbeez removed from
A child and the 3rd shows you how many much they can expand from
The original.
Don't let it impact your life but just keep it at the forefront
If this stops 1 more family from meeting me for surgery on their child then good!

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‘I DO NOT want to see you at Christmas’
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‘I DO NOT want to see you at Christmas’
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‘I DO NOT want to see you at Christmas’
OP posts:
FlibbertyGibbitt · 17/12/2025 08:24

Thanks OP, one of my worries with little ones 🙏

caringcarer · 17/12/2025 08:23

Excellent post. Have a silent and peaceful Xmas.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 17/12/2025 08:21

Thank you for posting this. My kids are way beyond toddlerhood now but I confess whilst I was vaguely aware of the risk of button batteries being swallowed when they were younger, I don’t think I’d appreciated just how awful they could be or how imperative it is to act so quickly

TheMorgenmuffel · 17/12/2025 08:21

Hope it is as quiet as possible and mumsnet is an excellent place for this information.

NoExchangeBeforeChristmasThen · 17/12/2025 08:19

I count doctors (& also nurses & paramedics & hospital pharmacists) in my family & they always say if anyone wishes them a quiet shift it goes the other way & they are run off their feet.

Over the years we’ve developed a code where I say the opposite to try & glean the opposite effect. A bit like telling an actor to “break a leg” just as they go on stage.

So I’ll thank you for this important info @SelotapeChicken bump your wonderful thread & wish you an insanely busy Christmas & new year, work-wise 😉 😀

DierdreDaphne · 17/12/2025 08:18

Mismatchedshoes · 17/12/2025 08:10

Thank you for this, it is such important information and every parent and every carer (I care for my mum with advanced dementia who is now like a toddler) needs to know.

Just last night I was watching a Tik Tok clip from a mother who has recently lost her 2 year old daughter to these damn batteries. It was heartbreaking.

Jesus @Mismatchedshoes that's horrifying

I hope someone starts a prosecution. Strikes me that this is exactly why we sometimes need "red tape".

Thank you OP, may a quiet Christmas await you.

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 17/12/2025 08:17

Bump.

Thank you, OP.

CurbsideProphet · 17/12/2025 08:14

I remember your thread from last year.
Thank you for the reminder about honey every 10mins if you suspect a button battery has been swallowed.

We have avoided buying anything that has button batteries since I saw your first thread.

ChocolateCroissantCafe · 17/12/2025 08:12

Excellent post, OP, thank you. Battery safety isn't mentioned as much as it used to be, I think.

Mismatchedshoes · 17/12/2025 08:10

Thank you for this, it is such important information and every parent and every carer (I care for my mum with advanced dementia who is now like a toddler) needs to know.

Just last night I was watching a Tik Tok clip from a mother who has recently lost her 2 year old daughter to these damn batteries. It was heartbreaking.

Playdy · 17/12/2025 08:06

Thanks OP a helpful reminder to us all

Justputsomeyoghurtonit · 17/12/2025 08:05

Commenting to keep the thread active.

napody · 17/12/2025 08:03

LovingLimePeer · 17/12/2025 06:45

Really hope this is picked up as a daily mail article. Not that I like the paper but it has a large distribution online.

We should all know this and it's pretty shameful we haven't rolled out the dye/bitter taste changes.

Yes this is the first I'm hearing about this simple safety measure - doesn't solve the problem but a no brainer to roll it out ASAP.

Sirzy · 17/12/2025 08:00

The other one that scares me is little magnets especially the balls that stick to each other. They are another one which needs immediate attention

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 17/12/2025 07:59

Thank you for posting, OP. I remember your thread from last year.

I haven’t read anything about batteries or honey since you posted then. Or indeed the swelling beads.

I very much pray you don’t meet any new families this season!

Sirzy · 17/12/2025 07:59

fantastic thread.

when ds was little and spent a lot of time there our local A and E had a display about the dangers of button batteries (and another for trampolines!) and that was 16 years ago so it’s a shame that the message still needs spreading but if your post saves one child it’s worth it!

SpanThatWorld · 17/12/2025 07:58

Also be very aware of any visiting relatives who use hearing aids.

At least most toys have lockable battery drawers but hearing aids often just open the door to switch off leaving the battery accessible and easy to accidentally lose. Roll on the day when they're all rechargeable.

Princessdebthe1st · 17/12/2025 07:55

One other thing, if you think your child /vulnerable person has swallowed one of the batteries, as the OP said time is of the essence. Go straight to A&E but don't wait in a long queue to be triaged. Go to the front and tell them you think they have swallowed a button battery and it is a time critical emergency.

LassoOfTruth · 17/12/2025 07:54

Bump
Thanks OP

Cursula · 17/12/2025 07:51

Thanks OP

Princessdebthe1st · 17/12/2025 07:51

Can I also add these tiny magnets to the watch list. They are often very colourful and a perfect size for a child to swallow. The magnets are INCREDIBLY strong and if more than one is swallowed they can pull loops of bowel inside the body and compress them potentially causing damage to the bowel. I think they should be banned as toys altogether.

Mooninjune · 17/12/2025 07:49

Many thanks OP.

Newsenmum · 17/12/2025 07:44

Thank you. Does anyone know of any popular children’s items that have them?

SelotapeChicken · 17/12/2025 07:42

JustMerelyHere · 17/12/2025 07:33

Thank you OP for this important and timely reminder. I hope you havea QUIET Christmas.

NOOOO I DO NOT CLAIM THIS 🤣

OP posts:
JustMerelyHere · 17/12/2025 07:40

SockQueen · 17/12/2025 07:38

NHS superstition - you've just cursed her!Confused We never say the Q word!

Thank you, @SelotapeChicken from an emergency anaesthetist, thankfully not on call this Christmas. Recently had to have stern words with DH for buying a load of flashy LED balloons for a party, which all contained, if popped, a very edible-sized button battery light.

Also, please everyone make sure that guests/people you are visiting, store their own medication safely out of your children's way - that's from personal as well as professional experience.

Edited

Oh no, it was a typo. I meant Quality Street!

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