UPDATE: PLEASE BEWARE!

WARNING: PLEASE READ THIS!!

I discovered a new product and told you about it HERE in June. I told you I would give you a review once I used it with my grands!

Turns out, I had a mixed opinion about the product when using it. I was planning the review when this Public Service Announcement cropped up on my feed!

They are talking about Reusable Water Balloons. I don’t think they’ve been on the market long, but I thought they were tested. They came without warnings.

Read for yourself…

PSA: BEWARE OF THE DANGER REUSABLE WATER BALLOONS CAN HAVE.

“Today, i get a phone call from Jenn that while swimming, something flew in Leah’s nose and it would not come out. Initially, I chuckled bc she’s 8, what could possibly get in her nose that she can’t get out. Leah got out of the pool, wiped her face with a towel, and immediately started screaming. I could hear Leah crying and freaking out that it burned and stung and I could hear the fear in Jenns voice that something was really wrong, so immediately made the choice to meet them and get her to Childrens. They triaged us and every nurse and PCA we encountered were completely baffled as to what was up her nose. The doctors came in and again, completely mind blown. Leah was freaking out so bad and screaming in pain so they had to sedate her. Once sedated, they removed not 1, not 2 but 6 MAGNETS that had bonded to her septum. The force of these tiny magnets was so strong it perforated her septum just in the time it happened to the time they were successfully removed. These magnets fell out of a reusable water balloon and must have been on the towel, unbeknownst to her, when she wiped her face and immediately went into her nose. We are super thankful this wasn’t worse than it could’ve been, but these are marketed to young kids, with no warning at all, and clearly could result in severe injury, especially if ingested. The research team at children’s actually came down to the ER and met with us so they could put out a publication warning parents of the blind danger these toys can have. We’re all still trying to wrap our head around it. We’re home now and she’s feeling good. (Video at the end if you want a chuckle) lastly we have a follow up with ENT to make sure there is no permanent damage to her septum. If you have these in your house, THROW THEM AWAY 🗑️”

Of course, this could be true of any toy with magnets! If you have them, check the magnets, at least! If you want to let your child experience them, be attentive during their play. Don’t leave them down when they are always available without your watchful eye.

That said, older teens/adults might enjoy them. I found if you squeeze them at all after they are filled; they collapse, releasing the water. There is a learning curve especially for my 3-year-old grands. They fill easily. I had to make sure they were closed properly to stay shut while throwing.

We had fun with them, but I cannot with good conscience recommend them for young children unless attentive adult supervision is given.

Have you tried any kid toys you would NOT recommend?

Inform us in the comments!

On a positive, I found this last week … if you have a “Playdoh kid” or a “Budding Vet”, this is the cutest set at a great price, $10.79 …