Doctors are issuing warnings about the popular NeeDoh squishy toys, which have been linked to severe burn injuries in children and teenagers participating in viral social media challenges. These challenges often involve heating, freezing, or microwaving the toys, despite clear manufacturer instructions prohibiting such actions.
The toys, designed to be squeezed and stretched, contain a filling that can become a thick, glue-like substance when exposed to heat. A specific model, the Nice Cube, contains a sugar-based filling that can expand rapidly when heated, increasing internal pressure and potentially causing the toy to burst. Medical professionals note that children's thinner skin is particularly vulnerable to heat, allowing for deeper tissue damage from even brief contact.
Cases reported by medical facilities illustrate the severity of these injuries. In Missouri, a 7-year-old girl required a medically induced coma after a microwaved NeeDoh toy exploded, coating her in a molten substance and causing severe burns near her mouth and airway. In the UK, a 10-year-old suffered facial burns and blistering from a similar toy challenge. Another incident in Chicago involved a 9-year-old who sustained second-degree burns to his face when a microwaved toy burst.
One child in New Mexico experienced third-degree burns on her arms and legs when a toy left in a hot car for hours exploded upon being squeezed. Doctors emphasize that these injuries are not only physically damaging, requiring treatments like skin grafts and multiple procedures, but can also lead to lifelong complications including scarring, disfigurement, impaired mobility, and psychological effects.
Physicians stress the importance of parental awareness regarding dangerous social media trends and challenges. They advise parents to discuss these risks with their children, explaining that online videos may not accurately represent the potential consequences. It is also recommended that children avoid heating or microwaving these toys, that toys are not left in extreme temperatures like hot cars, and that they are inspected regularly for damage. Parents are urged to seek immediate medical attention if a child sustains a significant burn.
The manufacturer, Schylling, has not yet commented on the reported incidents.