Parents and carers are being encouraged to take a closer look at toys and household items young children can access, in a new episode of Wiggle Talk – A Podcast for Parents.
In the episode, What Every Parent Should Know About Toy Safety, Wiggle Talk hosts Simon Pryce and Lachlan Gillespie are joined by Rod Balding from Standards Australia and Sarah Hunstead from CPR Kids to discuss button battery safety, children’s toy safety, and what parents and carers need to know.
The episode outlines how button batteries are commonly found in toys and household items and can cause catastrophic injuries or even death if ingested by a child. It also highlights how Australia’s product safety standards, which businesses must comply with, are designed to reduce risk, the importance of warning labels and secure battery compartments and information for parents.
We thank The Wiggles for stepping up and using their platform to help keep children safe, and thank the ACCC for working constructively to secure this educational commitment as part of the undertaking. It’s a good reminder that when regulators and industry pull in the same direction, families benefit.
For more information on toy safety and product recalls, parents and carers can visit the ACCC Product Safety website.
If you suspect your child has swallowed or inserted a button battery:
- call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your child is bleeding or having any difficulty breathing
- call 13 11 26 immediately for 24/7 fast and expert advice from the Poisons Information Centre.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh MP
“The Wiggles are best known for their creativity, colour and musical entertainment loved by parents and children alike. We welcome their latest efforts to inform consumers of the potential dangers associated with button batteries.
“Toy safety isn’t a niche concern, it’s a life‑saving one. And an important opportunity to help amplify that message to make a real difference for the safety of Australian families.”