If you’ve ever added a $3 toy to your cart at 11pm thinking “It’s fine, it’s just a toy”: this one’s for you.
Consumer group CHOICE recently tested 24 toys bought from major online marketplaces like Shein, Amazon, eBay and AliExpress. Seventeen of the toys failed Australia’s button battery safety standards. Not because they were obscure or obviously dodgy, but because they were the exact kinds of things parents buy every day for their little ones.
Here’s what showed up again and again, and why some of these products deserve a closer look. Number 5 might shock you (it sure surprised us!)
1. Writing pads and light-up drawing boards
These feel like one of the safer bets: reusable, quiet, and marketed as “educational”. But several of the writing pads CHOICE tested had button batteries that were far too easy to access.
The issue isn’t the toy itself: it’s what’s inside. If a battery compartment can be opened without proper tools, it creates a real risk for young children. Button batteries are especially dangerous if swallowed, which is why they’re meant to be sealed behind child-resistant screws.
2. Toy watches and mini digital gadgets
Toy watches are a classic “fun but harmless” purchase. Kids feel grown-up, parents feel generous.
Unfortunately, some of the toy watches tested failed because the battery backing wasn’t secure. If a curious child can twist, pry, or fiddle their way into the compartment, the battery becomes accessible, and that’s where things get risky.
3. Cheap handheld video games
These are often bought for long car trips or rainy afternoons, especially when they’re inexpensive and promise to keep little hands busy.
CHOICE found that some of these games didn’t meet safety standards because of poorly secured button batteries or missing warning labels. They looked fine on the outside, but didn’t hold up where it mattered most.
4. Light-up bath toys
Bath toys already live in a high-risk environment: water, slippery hands, and lots of curiosity.
Some of the light-up bath toys tested contained button batteries that weren’t properly sealed. When water and loose battery compartments mix, it creates an added layer of concern that’s easy to miss when you’re just trying to make bath time more fun.
5. Keychains and novelty trinkets
This category surprised a lot of people.
Keychains, light-up trinkets, and novelty accessories aren’t always marketed as toys, which means they don’t always get treated like toys. But kids still play with them, chew them, and pull them apart.
CHOICE found several of these items had easily accessible button batteries and no clear safety warnings, making them especially risky because parents may not realise they need checking in the first place.
6. Fidget toys and sensory gadgets
Fidget toys are everywhere, and for good reason. They’re small, engaging, and often marketed as calming or helpful for focus.
Some of the fidget toys tested, however, contained button batteries that weren’t secured to Australian standards. Anything small enough to spin, click, or snap is something a young child is likely to explore thoroughly, including trying to open it.
7. Toy torches and mini flashlights
Toy torches feel fairly innocent, right? They’re often bought for imaginative play, cubby houses, or camping weekends.
But CHOICE found some toy torches failed safety requirements because the batteries could be removed too easily. If a child can access the battery without a screwdriver, it doesn’t meet the standard (and that’s the point of the regulation).
8. Light-up shoes and accessories
Light-up shoes are a hit with kids, and it’s easy to see why. They’re fun, flashy, and feel like a treat.
The concern is where the battery sits. In some cases, CHOICE found the button batteries were accessible through parts of the shoe or accessory without proper child-resistant design. If something lights up and your child wears it, it’s worth knowing exactly how the battery is secured.
9. Novelty glasses, jelly rings and costume accessories
Dress-ups and party accessories are often bought quickly and without much thought, especially when they’re cheap.
But several novelty accessories tested failed safety standards because button batteries could be removed easily. Items worn on the face or hands naturally end up in mouths, especially with younger kids, which makes secure battery housing essential.
10. Small plastic toys, spin tops and launcher sets
These are the classic impulse buys. They’re cheap, colourful, and easy to say yes to.
Unfortunately, many of these smaller toys were among the worst performers in CHOICE’s testing, failing both battery security and labelling requirements. When toys are cheaply made, safety features are often the first thing to go.
11. Everyday household items with button batteries (that aren’t sold as toys)
One of the biggest issues CHOICE highlighted is that risk doesn’t stop at the toy aisle.
Remote controls, LED candles, digital thermometers, bathroom scales, greeting cards that sing, and novelty lights: all of these commonly use button batteries, and not all of them are designed with curious little hands in mind.
Because they’re sold as household items rather than children’s products, they’re often kept within reach and handled without much thought. If the battery compartment isn’t secured properly, a child can access it just as easily as they would a toy.
Why this matters
Button batteries are one of the most dangerous household items for young children. If swallowed, they can cause serious internal injuries in a short amount of time, and often before anyone realises what’s happened.
Australia has strict safety standards for products containing them. The problem is that many products sold through online marketplaces simply don’t comply, even when they’re clearly aimed at kids.
So, what does this mean for parents?
If this article made you pause and rethink a few everyday items, you’re not alone. Staying informed is one of the simplest ways to keep kids safer, and it’s something we can all do. So, share this post with friends and family, and especially anyone who regularly buys toys or gadgets online.
