A soft, squeezable toy heats up in a microwave. Seconds later, it bursts, spraying hot gel onto a child's skin. The gel sticks, continuing to burn. This is not a freak accident—it's a social media trend that has left several children with severe burns, some requiring skin grafts. Over the past eight months, the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has treated six children with injuries from heated squishy toys. Among them is eight-year-old Joseph Erskine from Clackmannanshire, who needed a skin graft after a toy exploded across his chest and hand. His mother, Stephanie Ewing, said he had seen the trend online and simply pressed start on the microwave, which was already set for 40 seconds. Another patient, 11-year-old Scarlet Rowe from Irvine, suffered burns to her face and eyelid. Her mother, Gina, said: "The swelling was so bad that we weren’t sure what the outcome would be." Fortunately, Scarlet did not need a graft, but the burn was close to her eye.
Squishy toys are soft, pliable objects often filled with a gel-like substance. They are popular with children and widely available. The trend involves microwaving them for a short time to make them even softer—but this creates pressure inside the toy, which can cause it to explode. The hot gel inside can adhere to the skin and cause deep burns. Sharon Ramsay, a burns nurse at the RHC, explained that because the gel sticks and stays hot, it prolongs the burn injury. Joseph's wounds required a skin graft, where skin from his thigh was taken to cover his chest. He now must avoid direct sunlight on the grafted area for two years—a challenge during summer.
“Explains the dangerous trend of heating squishy toys in the microwave, which has caused severe burns and skin grafts in children.”
The trend has spread on social media through videos showing the heated toys being squeezed and manipulated. Children, often unaware of the risks, try to replicate what they see. The ease of using a microwave amplifies the danger: as Stephanie Ewing noted, Joseph had never used the microwave before, but it was as simple as hitting start. The RHC's six cases in eight months suggest the trend is not isolated. Medical professionals are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers and discourage them from attempting it.
Q: What are squishy toys? Squishy toys are soft, squeezable objects filled with a gel. They are often sold as stress relievers or fidget toys and are popular among children. The specific toys involved in this trend are typically small, colourful shapes that can be squashed and slowly return to their original form.
Q: Why is heating them in a microwave dangerous? Microwaving a squishy toy heats the gel inside, causing pressure to build up. This can cause the toy to burst, releasing scalding hot gel that sticks to the skin. The gel retains heat and can cause severe burns that may require surgery or skin grafts. The risk is heightened because children may not realise how quickly the toy can explode.
Q: What should parents do? Parents should talk to their children about the risks of putting squishy toys in the microwave. Warn them that videos online may show dangerous actions that can lead to serious injury. If a child is burned by a squishy toy, run the burn under cool water for at least 20 minutes and seek medical help immediately. The RHC advises against attempting to remove any gel that has stuck to the skin—let medical professionals handle it.
What happens next is uncertain. The trend could fade, but with continued circulation on social media, more children may be harmed. Medical professionals are likely to push for safety warnings on packaging or retailer awareness. Meanwhile, parents like Stephanie Ewing are speaking out to prevent further injuries—her son Joseph's recovery continues, and his outdoor activities remain on hold.