They might look innocent enough, but experts have issued stark warnings against water beads amid reports of serious harm and fatalities.While the bouncy, colourful beads are popular among children for the unique sensory experience, adults have utilised them as home decor or to release moisture into soil to water plants.But it's their attractive appearance that makes them so harmful - a child or vulnerable adult could, very realistically, mistake them for a sweet.And if ingested, the small beads can balloon up to 400 times their original size, which can block the gastrointestinal passage, cause choking and result in death.In February last year, then-eight-year-old Kipley Haugen, from Texas, suffered brain damage after swallowing water beads, which got stuck in her intestines, shutting off blood supply to her brain.Doctors believe that the 'toxic' materials used to make the beads, polyacrylamide and acrylamide, are 'known neurotoxins' and may have disrupted her normal cognitive function and caused permanent damage. Kipley now battles with speech delays, muscle weakness and has trouble walking.One month later, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and toy company Buffalo Games recalled more than 50,000 'Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits' after a different infant was injured and another died.Speaking to the Daily Mail, NHS GP Dr Ross Perry explained that the beads can be a silent killer: they're difficult to detect on X-ray because their composition matches body tissue, which can delay diagnosis as the condition worsens. They might look innocent, but water beads can have fatal consequences if ingested (stock image)The doctor explained: 'Water beads may look harmless, colourful and decorative, but they pose a very real and potentially life-threatening risk, particularly in homes with babies, toddlers and young children. 'Their appearance can easily be mistaken for sweets or small toys, making them incredibly appealing for children to pick up and swallow. 'The danger is that these tiny beads can absorb large amounts of liquid and expand many times their original size once inside the body. 'If swallowed, they may grow within the digestive tract and cause a blockage, which can lead to severe pain, vomiting, dehydration, bowel damage and, in some cases, require emergency surgery. 'Because the beads are often transparent and don't always show up clearly on standard X-rays, diagnosis can also be delayed, increasing the risk of serious complications. 'The risks don't stop there. Water beads can also be inserted into the nose or ears, where they continue to expand, potentially causing tissue damage, infection or hearing problems. 'There have also been reports of eye injuries caused by high-speed water bead projectiles from toy guns.'Many people also purchase them for plant hydration, sensory play or decorative purposes without realising the significant hazard they can present. A single dropped bead on the floor may be enough for a curious child to find. One popular water beads item is the Orbeez Foot Spa (pictured)'If you have young children or vulnerable individuals in your home, it is safest not to keep water beads at all.'There are plenty of safer alternatives for sensory activities and plant care that don't carry the same potentially devastating consequences. Prevention is always far better than dealing with a medical emergency that could have been avoided.'If you suspect a child has swallowed a water bead or inserted one into their nose or ear, seek urgent medical attention immediately, even if they appear well.'Symptoms may not develop straight away, and early assessment can be critical in preventing serious complication.'Superintendent Pharmacist, Ana Carolina Goncalve explained additional warning signs: 'The key risk is that the beads can prevent the normal passage of food and fluid through the gut, leading to persistent or repeated vomiting, abdominal pain or swelling, refusal of food or fluids, constipation and dehydration.'In more severe cases, the pressure of the trapped bead can reduce the blood supply to the wall of the bowel, which can lead to damage or perforation. This is a life-threatening situation that requires urgent treatment.'And according to Craig Delahaye, Associate Director, Legal Operations, National Accident Helpline, water beads sold for adult use are no better. He told the Daily Mail: 'Beads not designed as toys are no safer; they are simply non-coloured versions sold in different packaging.'Any parent buying them for flower arranging must realise that it is very easy to drop one of the tiny pellets on the floor whilst doing their craft, where it will sit undetected and may eventually be hoovered up by a child or even a pet.'The dangers are no tall tale; the Office for Product Safety Standards has recently issued a serious product safety alert warning consumers, childcare settings, and businesses against the harms which can arise from water beads.'They advise that any household with children under five should avoid them altogether, even if they are only intended to be used by adults.'And according to Blanca Sanchez, Director at Halo Design Interiors, water beads aren't recommended as decor either, because they can create damp conditions.'Leaving water beads sitting in open containers around the home can create a consistently damp environment which, over time, could cause unpleasant smells and a build-up of bacteria or mould growth, especially if they're in warm areas or aren't cleaned regularly.'They can also collect dust and debris, which is harder to remove once it becomes trapped between the beads.'I'd go for a similar decorative effect with glass beads, polished stones, dried botanicals, or artificial decorative fillers. All much safer alternatives because they create visual interest without introducing the same moisture risks.'It comes after a Wisconsin mother called for water beads to be banned as bath toys following the tragic death of her ten-month-old daughter, who accidentally ate one without her parents' knowledge.Esther Jo Bethard, the youngest of five children, died on July 7, 2023, after being taken ill the day before - just seven weeks before her first birthday.Without her family's knowledge, Esther swallowed a water bead during her bath time.Esther's bereaved mother said symptoms of swallowing a water bead are very similar to having a stomach bug - such as a baby refusing to eat, vomiting or constipation.Despite assuming the product was a safe bath toy, the mother said she 'never would've allowed my older kids to play with them' and they wouldn't have ever been allowed in the house.She said that if the bath toys cannot be taken off shelves, consumers must be aware of the severe life-threatening dangers they pose.