Doctors Warn Popular Squishy Toys Cause Severe Burns Amid Viral Social Media Challenge
Squishy toys, popular among children and teens for their soft, flexible texture, have become the focus of serious medical warnings in the United States due to a dangerous social media trend. Children are heating, freezing, or microwaving these toys, which can cause them to explode and release hot, sticky gel that adheres to the skin, resulting in severe burns. Medical experts report a recent surge in emergency room visits involving children with serious burns on their faces, hands, and bodies caused by these exploding toys.
The toys contain a flexible gel filling, sometimes made from natural sugars that expand rapidly when heated. When exposed to extreme heat, especially in microwaves, internal pressure builds until the toy bursts, ejecting a thick, hot substance that sticks to the skin and is difficult to remove. Despite clear warnings on packaging against heating or freezing, viral videos show children performing these risky actions as part of online challenges.
Several severe injury cases have been documented: a 7-year-old girl in Missouri was placed in a medically induced coma after hot gel from a microwaved toy burned her face and airways, requiring skin grafts. In the UK, a 10-year-old girl suffered serious facial burns after a friend combined freezing and heating the toy, potentially forcing her to avoid sun exposure for two years. In Chicago, a 9-year-old boy sustained second-degree burns on his face and hands from a similar incident. Even without microwaving, dangers exist; a 13-year-old girl in New Mexico suffered third-degree burns after a toy left in a hot car exploded when squeezed.
Israel has also seen injuries linked to these toys, including an 8-year-old girl needing surgery after a toy bead exploded in her ear, another with chemical burns to her eyes from the toy’s liquid, and a third who was burned after microwaving a squishy. Pediatric emergency specialist Dr. Alicia Webb explains that children's thinner skin allows heat to penetrate deeper, and the sticky gel prolongs heat contact, worsening burns and complicating treatment.
Doctors warn these injuries can cause permanent scarring, vision damage, aesthetic deformities, and may require reconstructive surgeries. Immediate first aid involves cooling the burn with running cool water for about 20 minutes and avoiding forcibly removing the sticky substance. Burns on sensitive areas or extensive injuries require urgent medical care. Experts emphasize that parental supervision, awareness, and education are crucial to preventing these serious injuries caused by a moment of curiosity.
