The Toy Association Statement on Gel/Water Beads

Safety is the number one priority for The Toy Association and its members. Injuries have been associated with water beads, especially for very young children who have ingested water beads from products intended for older children. Safety standards for expanding material products already exist and continue to be evaluated to determine appropriate requirements specific to water beads.

It is important for shoppers to follow the age grading information on toy packaging and ensure products not intended for young children are kept out of their reach.

Additionally, shoppers need to be aware that non-compliant and counterfeit products do exist and are a safety threat, making it imperative to shop only at legitimate retailers they know and trust. For more toy safety information, visit Playsafe.org.

This statement was reaffirmed by The Toy Association in October 2025.