Children often put things in their mouths that they shouldn't: pennies, lint from the kitchen floor and marbles, to name a few. But magnets, when swallowed, can be quite harmful — even fatal — when more than one is ingested.

The topic has received national news attention recently in light of a 4-year-old boy who had to have two magnets surgically removed from his intestines. The magnets were part of a Magnetix building set belonging to the boy's older brother. (Magnetix' maker Mega Brands recalled and redesigned the toy set in 2006, however many parents aren't aware of the recall. Read more about the recall.)

While a small single magnet may pass through the digestive tract, two magnets can attract each other through the intestinal walls. This pinches the intestines and can cause perforations (holes), twisting, blockages, infection or death.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 33 cases of children being injured by ingesting magnets. To prevent accidental injury from magnets, the CPSC offers the following guidelines:

• Keep small magnets, or toys or objects that contain small magnets, away from young children.
• Make sure your children know about the dangers of swallowing magnets.
• Monitor your child's play area closely, and if a magnet is missing from a toy, stop using it immediately.
• Do not allow children to use magnets to emulate nose, lip or nose piercings.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect your child has swallowed a magnet.

Resources
Consumer Products Safety Commission