A 12-year-old boy has undergone a skin graft after a popular squishy toy, known as NeeDoh, exploded and burned his foot during a heatwave. The incident occurred on July 17 at the family's home in Meyerside, UK, when Avyaan Narula was playing with the toy, which his mother had purchased from Lidl.
According to Aarti Narula, Avyaan's mother, the toy burst while it was reportedly left on a windowsill. The sudden explosion released a hot, gelatinous substance that scalded the top of the boy's left foot. Narula attempted to remove the sticky material with cold water, but it had adhered to his skin.
Within hours, Avyaan's foot began to blister and swell, and he reported a loss of sensation in the limb. He was taken to a hospital in Liverpool, where doctors diagnosed him with full dermal burns. On July 20, Avyaan underwent surgery to replace the damaged skin with a graft taken from his thigh.
Schylling Toys, the manufacturer of NeeDoh products, states on its website that users should not heat, freeze, or microwave the cubes, as doing so "may cause personal injury." Some retail websites also include warnings against leaving the toys in direct sunlight. A company representative noted that using NeeDoh products inconsistently with instructions and warnings could pose a safety risk and that they have reinforced safety warnings on packaging and e-commerce listings. They also advised parents and caregivers to supervise children during play and review all product instructions.
Despite these warnings, Avyaan's mother expressed concern that similar incidents could occur, given the toy's widespread availability. She urged parents to discard NeeDoh cubes and keep them away from children.
This incident follows reports of other children being injured by similar toys. Earlier in the summer, a teenager in West Virginia was hospitalized after a squishy toy left in a hot car scalded her thighs. Another incident involved a child who suffered facial burns after a sensory toy was mistakenly placed in a microwave.