Energizer’s New Coin Battery Is Safer For Families With Small Children

Energizer has launched a new line of coin lithium batteries called Ultimate Child Shield, aimed at one of the most frightening risks for parents of babies and toddlers: battery ingestion. The company says the new batteries are designed so that, if swallowed, they won’t cause the same esophageal burns that can happen with standard coin lithium batteries.

What parents should know

Coin lithium batteries are used in a long list of everyday items, including remotes, key fobs, tracking tags, flameless candles and some toys. They’re especially dangerous because if one gets stuck in a child’s esophagus, it can start causing serious tissue damage quickly.

Energizer says its new battery is built differently, so it won’t create that same burn injury if swallowed. The new line also has a bitter coating intended to discourage swallowing, child-resistant packaging and a feature called Color Alert, which can turn a child’s mouth blue if the battery comes into contact with saliva.

For parents shopping for replacements, the thing to look for is the exact label: Energizer Ultimate Child Shield. The company says the safety technology is available in 2032, 2025 and 2016 coin lithium sizes. If you’re buying another type of coin battery, you should not assume it works the same way.

What this does not mean

This isn’t a solution for every swallowed-battery emergency. If a child swallows a different kind of coin or button battery, the usual risks still apply. And even if a parent thinks their child swallowed one of these newer Energizer batteries, the company still says to get immediate medical attention, as the batteries can cause choking.

So the clearest way to think about this is: it doesn’t prevent ingestion—it’s designed to reduce the harm if this specific battery is swallowed.

Questions parents may have

Does this make button batteries safe around babies and toddlers? No. Batteries should still be kept out of reach, and battery compartments should still be secured.

Should parents swap these in where they can? If a device uses one of the compatible coin lithium sizes, some parents may feel better choosing this version. But it’s still important to store both new and used batteries safely.

Do I still need to get help right away if I think my child swallowed one? Yes. Energizer says caregivers should seek immediate medical attention in any suspected battery-ingestion case.

This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI language model. The final content was reviewed and edited by a human and reflects the editorial judgment and expertise of Today's Parent.