The Toy Association Statement on Water Beads

Among reports of injury from the unintended/ misuse of water beads, a number of retailers, including Amazon, Walmart and Target will stop the sale of water bead products intended for children. Safety is the number one priority for The Toy Association and its members. Safety standards for these products exist and continue to be evaluated as to whether enhanced protections are needed. We recognize and support certain retailers’ business decisions to take steps in the interim.

It is important for toy shoppers to follow the age grading information on the packaging and keep products not intended for young children out of reach. 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 2024.