Baby Swallowed a Button Battery
Medically reviewed by Dr. Michael Okonkwo, MD, FAAP · Board-Certified Neonatologist
Content reviewed against published AAP, NIH, NIH guidelines
Last reviewed:
If your baby has been diagnosed with or you suspect baby swallowed a button battery, here is what the evidence says.
The short answer
A swallowed button battery is a medical emergency. Button batteries can cause severe, life-threatening burns to the esophagus within as little as 2 hours. Do not wait for symptoms. Do not induce vomiting. Go to the nearest emergency room immediately. If your child is over 12 months old, give honey on the way to the hospital as it may help slow tissue damage. Time is critical - call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666.
Key takeaways
- A swallowed button battery is a medical emergency. Button batteries can cause severe, life-threatening burns to the esophagus within as little as 2 hours. Do not wait for symptoms. Do not induce vomiting. Go to the nearest emergency room immediately. If your child is over 12 months old, give honey on the way to the hospital as it may help slow tissue damage. Time is critical - call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666.
- Usually normal when: This concern does not have a "normal" scenario - any suspected button battery ingestion requires immediate medical evaluation
- Call your doctor if: You know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately
- Varies by age — see the age-by-age breakdown below
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Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
What Parents Should Know
According to AAP, NIH guidelines, a swallowed button battery is a medical emergency. Button batteries can cause severe, life-threatening burns to the esophagus within as little as 2 hours. Do not wait for symptoms. Do not induce vomiting. Go to the nearest emergency room immediately. If your child is over 12 months old, give honey on the way to the hospital as it may help slow tissue damage. Time is critical - call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666. At 0-6 months, while babies under 6 months are not yet picking up small objects on their own, button battery exposure can happen through older siblings or unsecured toys. At this age, a button battery lodged in the esophagus is especially dangerous because the esophagus is very small. Because young infants cannot tell you what happened, be alert for unexplained drooling, refusal to feed, crying during swallowing, or vomiting. If you suspect your baby may have come in contact with a button battery and one is missing, go to the emergency room immediately. It is generally considered normal when this concern does not have a "normal" scenario - any suspected button battery ingestion requires immediate medical evaluation. However, you should contact your pediatrician promptly if you know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Normal vs. Concerning
When to Seek Immediate Care
- You know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately
- Your child is drooling excessively, refusing to swallow, vomiting blood, or having difficulty breathing after a possible ingestion
- You find a product with a missing button battery and cannot account for it - assume ingestion and seek emergency care
By Age
What to expect by age
0-6 months
While babies under 6 months are not yet picking up small objects on their own, button battery exposure can happen through older siblings or unsecured toys. At this age, a button battery lodged in the esophagus is especially dangerous because the esophagus is very small. Because young infants cannot tell you what happened, be alert for unexplained drooling, refusal to feed, crying during swallowing, or vomiting. If you suspect your baby may have come in contact with a button battery and one is missing, go to the emergency room immediately.
6-12 months
This is a high-risk age because babies are actively exploring everything by mouth. The most dangerous scenario is when a button battery lodges in the esophagus, where the electrical current can burn through tissue within 2 hours. Do NOT induce vomiting. Do NOT let your baby eat or drink except honey (only for babies over 12 months). Go directly to the emergency room. An X-ray can quickly confirm whether a battery was swallowed and where it is located.
12-24 months
Toddlers are the age group most commonly involved in button battery ingestion. The largest button batteries (20mm lithium coin cells like CR2032) are the most dangerous. These are found in remote controls, key fobs, musical greeting cards, and flameless candles. If you know or suspect your toddler swallowed a battery, give 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes on the way to the ER (up to 6 doses). Honey has been shown to reduce the severity of esophageal injury.
24-36 months
Older toddlers may be able to tell you they swallowed something, but many ingestions are unwitnessed. Symptoms can mimic common illnesses - coughing, drooling, refusal to eat, vomiting, or chest pain - which can delay diagnosis. If a button battery passes through the esophagus into the stomach, it usually passes on its own, but this must be confirmed by X-ray. Even batteries in the stomach should be monitored.
What to Tell Your Pediatrician
- Describe when you first noticed baby swallowed a button battery and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if you find a product with an open or damaged battery compartment and are unsure if a battery is missing.
- Mention if your child has unexplained drooling, difficulty swallowing, or refusal to eat and you cannot rule out foreign body ingestion.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- This concern does not have a "normal" scenario - any suspected button battery ingestion requires immediate medical evaluation
- If an X-ray confirms the battery passed to the stomach and your child is asymptomatic, your doctor will guide monitoring
- If the battery passes in stool and your child has no symptoms, the danger has passed
- You find a product with an open or damaged battery compartment and are unsure if a battery is missing
- Your child has unexplained drooling, difficulty swallowing, or refusal to eat and you cannot rule out foreign body ingestion
- You know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately
- Your child is drooling excessively, refusing to swallow, vomiting blood, or having difficulty breathing after a possible ingestion
- You find a product with a missing button battery and cannot account for it - assume ingestion and seek emergency care
What You Can Do at Home
- Keep track of when you notice baby swallowed a button battery — noting the time of day, duration, and any triggers can help your pediatrician.
- Remember that this concern does not have a "normal" scenario - any suspected button battery ingestion requires immediate medical evaluation — this is generally within the range of normal.
- At 0-6 months, focus on observation rather than intervention unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
- Follow any care instructions from your pediatrician. Keep a written log of symptoms to bring to appointments.
- While monitoring at home, seek immediate care if you know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Related Conditions
Baby Poisoning Signs and What to Do
If you suspect your baby or toddler has ingested something poisonous, call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (available 24/7). Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically told to do so. Common household poisoning risks include medications, cleaning products, laundry pods, button batteries, plants, and personal care products. If your child is unconscious, having a seizure, or having difficulty breathing, call 911 first.
My Baby Is Vomiting Green or Yellow (Bile)
Bilious (green or bright yellow) vomiting in a baby is a medical emergency until proven otherwise. While older children and adults occasionally vomit bile with prolonged vomiting, in infants, green vomiting can be a sign of a bowel obstruction such as malrotation with volvulus, which requires emergency surgery. If your baby vomits green or bright yellow fluid, seek immediate medical attention.
Blood in Baby's Stool
Seeing blood in your baby's stool is understandably alarming, but the most common cause in young babies is a small anal fissure (a tiny tear from passing stool) or swallowed maternal blood from cracked nipples during breastfeeding. However, blood in stool always deserves medical evaluation to rule out less common but important causes like a cow's milk protein allergy or infection.
Related Resources
Milestone Checklists by Age
Track your baby's developmental milestones from birth to 5 years with age-specific checklists.
Month-by-Month Development
Detailed monthly development guides from birth through 24 months.
When to Call the Doctor
General guide on when to call the pediatrician, visit urgent care, or go to the ER.
Frequently asked questions
Is baby swallowed a button battery normal?
When should I call the doctor about baby swallowed a button battery?
When is baby swallowed a button battery normal?
What causes baby swallowed a button battery?
What should I mention to my pediatrician about baby swallowed a button battery?
Is baby swallowed a button battery normal at 0-6 months?
Is baby swallowed a button battery normal at 6-12 months?
Should I go to the ER for baby swallowed a button battery?
Does baby swallowed a button battery go away on its own?
References
Doctor Visit Checklist
Bring this checklist to your next pediatrician visit to discuss Baby Swallowed a Button Battery.
Things to mention
- Describe when you first noticed baby swallowed a button battery and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if you find a product with an open or damaged battery compartment and are unsure if a battery is missing.
- Mention if your child has unexplained drooling, difficulty swallowing, or refusal to eat and you cannot rule out foreign body ingestion.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
Observations to share
- You find a product with an open or damaged battery compartment and are unsure if a battery is missing
- Your child has unexplained drooling, difficulty swallowing, or refusal to eat and you cannot rule out foreign body ingestion
Urgent signs to report immediately
- You know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately
- Your child is drooling excessively, refusing to swallow, vomiting blood, or having difficulty breathing after a possible ingestion
- You find a product with a missing button battery and cannot account for it - assume ingestion and seek emergency care
My notes
From ismybabyalright.com — free, evidence-based baby health guides
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
2,705 evidence-based guides6 authoritative medical sources5 medical advisory board members
Related Resources
Bottom line
Most cases of baby swallowed a button battery are normal. Talk to your pediatrician if you know or suspect your baby swallowed a button battery - go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
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Related Medical Concerns
Baby Poisoning Signs and What to Do
If you suspect your baby or toddler has ingested something poisonous, call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222 (available 24/7). Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically told to do so. Common household poisoning risks include medications, cleaning products, laundry pods, button batteries, plants, and personal care products. If your child is unconscious, having a seizure, or having difficulty breathing, call 911 first.
My Baby Is Vomiting Green or Yellow (Bile)
Bilious (green or bright yellow) vomiting in a baby is a medical emergency until proven otherwise. While older children and adults occasionally vomit bile with prolonged vomiting, in infants, green vomiting can be a sign of a bowel obstruction such as malrotation with volvulus, which requires emergency surgery. If your baby vomits green or bright yellow fluid, seek immediate medical attention.
Blood in Baby's Stool
Seeing blood in your baby's stool is understandably alarming, but the most common cause in young babies is a small anal fissure (a tiny tear from passing stool) or swallowed maternal blood from cracked nipples during breastfeeding. However, blood in stool always deserves medical evaluation to rule out less common but important causes like a cow's milk protein allergy or infection.
My Baby's Head Shape Looks Abnormal
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Achondroplasia (Dwarfism) in Babies
Achondroplasia is the most common form of short-limbed dwarfism, affecting about 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 births. It is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene and is usually apparent at birth with characteristic features including short limbs, a larger head, and a prominent forehead. Intelligence is normal. With monitoring for specific complications and supportive care, children with achondroplasia lead full, active, and independent lives.
Adenoid Hypertrophy and Breathing
Adenoids are lymphoid tissue located behind the nose that help fight infection in young children. When adenoids become enlarged (adenoid hypertrophy), they can block the nasal airway, causing chronic mouth breathing, snoring, nasal speech, and sleep-disordered breathing. Enlarged adenoids are most common between ages 2-7 and are a leading cause of obstructive sleep apnea in young children. Treatment ranges from watchful waiting and nasal steroids to surgical removal (adenoidectomy) if breathing or sleep is significantly affected.