Button Battery Safety: 5 Quick Checks for Light-Up Halloween Costumes

By Janice Robinson-Celeste

On October 22, 2026, the CPSC recalled CIYTI Light-Up Princess Costumes sold on Amazon because the button batteries inside the crown, wand and remote are easy for kids to reach. About 94 were sold, but the problem is common: anything that glows, flashes or plays music on a costume probably runs on a button battery. Here is a quick button battery safety check you can do in five minutes before trick-or-treat. (Source: CPSC recall notice)

What Was Recalled?

The recalled costume is a blue princess dress sold with a light-up crown, a light-up wand and a remote control. The box says “CIYTI” on the front. It sold on Amazon from February through June 2025 for $21 to $35. The CPSC says the button batteries are easy for children to get to, which violates the federal toy safety standard.

If you have one, take it away from your child, write “RECALLED” in permanent marker on the dress, crown, wand and remote, throw it all away, and email a photo to Norakid2026@outlook.com for a full refund. Take the batteries to your local hazardous waste drop-off.

Why Button Battery Safety Matters So Much

A swallowed button battery can start burning a child’s throat within about two hours. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that a child went to a U.S. emergency room for a battery-related injury every 75 minutes, and 84% of those children were 5 or younger.

Anything on a costume that lights up is probably running on a battery your toddler can swallow.

That is why Reese’s Law now requires products with button batteries to have compartments that need a tool or two separate motions to open.

Button Battery Safety: The 5-Minute Costume Check

1. Find every light. Crowns, wands, shoes, masks, glow necklaces and light-up treat buckets all count.
2. Test the battery door. It should need a screwdriver or a coin, or two moves at once (push and turn). If it pops open with a fingernail, it fails.
3. Tape it shut. Strong tape over a weak door is a good backup for one night, but not a permanent fix.
4. Count the batteries. Know how many should be in each piece, and check again after the night is over.
5. Store spare batteries up high. Loose batteries in a kitchen drawer are a common source of swallowing injuries. Good button battery safety covers the junk drawer, not just the costume.

Planning a sensory-friendly night? Read our tips for a safe Halloween for every child and how to make a superhero costume feel extra special.

If You Think Your Child Swallowed a Battery

Go to the emergency room right away, even if your child seems fine, and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666. Do not make your child throw up. The National Capital Poison Center says children 12 months and older may be given 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes on the way, up to six doses, if the battery was swallowed within 12 hours. Honey never replaces getting to the hospital.

Save this checklist and send it to the other parents in your group chat before Halloween.

Button batteries hide in more than costumes, so it helps to do a wider sweep of your house too. Our guide to maintaining a safe home environment for your children walks through the rooms where small hazards collect.

Medical disclaimer: Successful Black Parenting is not a medical provider, and this article is not medical advice. Always talk with your child’s doctor or your own health care provider about your family’s situation.

Photos and some content may be AI generated.