A seven-year-old girl was left with painful blisters after a NeeDoh squishy toy allegedly exploded in her hand, her mother has reported. The incident occurred on June 22 in Telford, Shropshire, when Livi Barnard was playing with the toy at home.
Incident Details
According to her mother, René Barnard, 46, Livi had just returned from school and was squeezing the NeeDoh toy at the kitchen table. The toy suddenly burst, releasing liquid onto her hand. René stated that the toy had not been heated in a microwave, a practice that has previously caused burns in other cases. The family purchased the toy for £12.99.
René said: “She came in from school on Monday and it was on the kitchen side. She loves this NeeDoh. We came in and I was cooking dinner in the kitchen and pottering around by the sink and she was at the kitchen table and she was like 'mum, the liquid’s come out and it’s burnt my hand'.”
Medical Response
After initially rinsing Livi's hand under cold water, blisters began to form. René called NHS 111 and was advised to go to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford. The hospital consulted with Birmingham Children's Hospital, as Telford lacks a burns unit. Livi's wounds were dressed, and she was sent home but returned the next day to have the blisters removed. She now requires daily visits to her doctor for dressing changes.
René added: “People were coming in, doctors with children, to the room to have a look and saying they will tell their wives to bin them [NeeDoh toys], that sort of thing. I’ll be keeping them separate in temperatures like we’ve had and keep them in the fridge.”
Distributor Response
Bigjigs Toys, the exclusive UK distributor for NeeDoh (manufactured by US firm Schylling), stated they are investigating the incident. A spokesperson said: “We take all issues like this very seriously but we are aware of a number of fake products on the market so we have to determine if this was a real NeeDoh.”
The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns with squishy toys, which have previously caused injuries when microwaved. René warned that the toy could be dangerous for younger children, stating: “If this was a toddler it could have been really serious - thankfully Livi’s nine-year-old brother is not interested in the toys.”
