As parents, we are used to checking our homes for safety risks. Sharp corners are covered. Cleaning products are kept away. Stairs, plug points and small toys are watched closely.
Yet one hidden danger may already be sitting inside everyday household items: coin lithium batteries.
As everyday devices become smaller, many now rely on 20mm coin lithium batteries for power. These small, round batteries are commonly found in items such as TV remote controls, air-conditioner remotes, car keys, tracking tags, digital thermometers, bathroom scales, watches, toys and other small electronic devices. In a busy home, they can easily go unnoticed, especially when devices are left on coffee tables, bedside drawers, handbags or in the car.
For families with curious toddlers, this matters. Young children naturally explore by touching, opening and putting things into their mouths. A 20mm coin lithium battery may look small, but if swallowed by a child, it can be life-threatening.
Why 20mm Coin Lithium Batteries Are a Serious Concern
A 20mm coin lithium battery is similar in diameter to a child’s esophagus, which increases the possibility of it becoming lodged if swallowed and causing life-threatening esophageal burns.
In the U.S., more than 3,500 coin lithium battery ingestion incidents are reported each year, mainly involving young children aged 0 to 6*. Unfortunately, over the past decade, ingestion incidents have reportedly increased nine-fold as the use of 20mm lithium batteries in everyday devices has grown, making battery safety an issue parents cannot afford to overlook.
For families, the risk often begins with everyday access such as a loose battery in a drawer or a key fob left within a toddler’s reach. This makes it important for parents to look beyond storage and also consider how easily a child may come into contact with battery-powered items at home.
Energizer’s Ongoing Leadership in Battery Safety
For years, Energizer has placed child safety at the centre of its coin lithium battery innovation, recognising that safer homes require more than awareness alone.
This commitment led to the introduction of the Energizer 3-in-1 Child Shield™ in 2025, a world-first coin lithium battery safety innovation designed with three distinctive layers of child-protection technology, further reinforcing why Energizer was awarded the Parents’ Choice Award for Best Family-Friendly Battery Brand for two years in a row.
Rather than treating battery safety as an afterthought, Energizer 3-in-1 Child Shield™ was developed to help mitigate the risks coin lithium batteries may pose to children while supporting safer use and storage in everyday family homes.
Three Layers of Protection Parents Should Know
Energizer 3-in-1 Child Shield™ is designed around three child-safety features that work together to reduce risk and support faster caregiver action when it matters.
#1 Colour Alert Technology
Colour Alert Technology activates once saliva interacts with the battery. It visibly dyes the mouth blue within seconds, helping alert caregivers of a possible ingestion.
#2 Non-Toxic Bitter Coating
Energizer coin lithium batteries feature a non-toxic bitter coating that discourages swallowing and helps prevent ingestion.
This added safety feature is especially important for young children who may put small objects into their mouths before parents realise what has happened.
#3 Child-Resistant Packaging
Energizer was the first brand to launch child-resistant packaging for coin lithium batteries, which provides security to help prevent children from accessing the batteries in the package.
For parents, this is an important first layer of protection, especially when spare batteries are stored at home.
Often, there are no symptoms or the symptoms that do appear can be easily misdiagnosed. As an important safety reminder, if any ingestion of a coin lithium battery is suspected, parents should seek urgent medical attention immediately.
Energizer’s Revolutionary Breakthrough in Coin Lithium Battery
Energizer’s work in child safety continues to evolve. Building on the foundation of the 3-in-1 Child Shield™, Energizer Malaysia will showcase the new Ultimate Child Shield™ coin lithium batteries (sizes 2032, 2025, 2016) at a mall event in 1 Utama Mall on 5 August, and at selected baby expos later this year, including the TCE Baby Expo at MITEC (2–4 October 2026) and Mid Valley (3–6 December 2026).
This innovation is designed to go even further as the world’s only coin lithium battery that eliminates ingestion burns if swallowed, marking another major step in Energizer’s commitment to helping families create safer homes. This technology offers families a life-changing solution to a growing problem.
Energizer is committed to ensuring every caregiver is aware of the risk of ingestion burns and knows that a solution exists. Only Energizer® Ultimate Child Shield™ prevents the risk of life-threatening injuries associated with ingestion burns. To learn more about Energizer® Ultimate Child Shield™, visit https:/energizerultimatechildshield.com/malaysia/ .
