Safety & First Aid Balloon Safety Warnings for Children By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD Facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 06, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Cara Lustik Fact checked by Cara Lustik LinkedIn Cara Lustik is a fact-checker and copywriter. She has more than 15 years of experience crafting stories in the branding, licensing, and entertainment industries. Learn about our editorial process Print left of centre photography / Getty Images When parents think about toy safety and young children, they mostly think about choking hazards from balls, marbles, and small toy parts. Balloons Are Hazards Too Surprisingly, latex balloons cause more choking deaths than balls, marbles, or toy parts. In addition to choking or aspirating on broken balloon pieces, some children actually suck in uninflated balloons while trying to blow them up. Part of the reason that so many children choke on balloons may be that parents underestimate the choking hazard from latex balloons, especially to older children. Of course, that doesn't mean that kids can't play with balloons anymore. Just be safe and recognize that they can be a hidden danger if your kids aren't supervised. Balloon Warnings Although most toys with small parts are labeled as being a choking hazard to children under age 3 if they have small parts, it is important to remember the warning label that should be present on balloon packages: Choking Hazard: Children under 8 yrs can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once. To be safe, parents should: Supervise children under age 8 years if they play with uninflated balloonsCollect and discard all pieces of a broken balloon as soon as it breaks You can also simply get Mylar balloons for your kids next party. These aren't considered to be as big a choking hazard, especially since they don't break into smaller pieces as easy as latex balloons. While Mylar balloons can be a safer choice, adult supervision is recommended with any type of balloon. Hidden Dangers and Child Safety 3 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Choking Hazard Safety. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Child Safety Protection Act Fact Sheet. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC Safety Alert: CPSC Warns Consumers of Suffocation Danger Associated with Children's Balloons. By Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit