The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has treated six youngsters with injuries related to the trend during the last eight months, with some requiring surgical procedures including skin grafts. Amongst those injured was eight-year-old Joseph Erskine, from Clackmannanshire, who required weeks of medical care and a skin graft after a toy exploded across his chest and hand in May.
His mother Stephanie Ewing said: "My husband and I were home. We were sitting in the living room next door when Joseph came in holding a towel to his face. He had already wiped off the burning gel which had also taken off his skin. He was saying that his squishy burnt him and we initially thought he meant a chemical burn. Then he told us that he had put it in the microwave." She added: "We were shocked as it had never crossed our minds that he would do that with a toy. He has never used the microwave before. One of us had heated something earlier and so the clock was already set at 40 seconds. Joseph just hit start. It was that quick and easy for him."
Trend Spreads on Social Media
Videos circulating on social media platforms demonstrate these soft, pliable toys being heated to make them even more flexible. However, specialists warn that this process causes pressure to accumulate within the toy, increasing the likelihood of it bursting and releasing boiling hot gel that can stick to the skin and cause severe harm.
Another young patient, 11-year-old Scarlet Rowe from Irvine in North Ayrshire, received treatment for burns to her face and eyelid following a comparable incident in May, shortly after receiving a squishy toy. Her mother Gina stated: "We didn't realise what had happened at first, it just looked like slime on her face. It was only after a few minutes we realised it had been heated and was burning her skin." She added: "The swelling was so bad that we weren't sure what the outcome would be. Thankfully, no graft was required but it is so close to her eye that this could have been a lot worse. These toys are very popular and easy to buy, but we had no idea about the risks. We had only bought them that day. I'd strongly advise parents to be vigilant and check what children are watching and trying online."
Long-Term Consequences
Burns specialists caution that injuries from heated squishy toys can prove particularly severe, as the gel contained within maintains extreme temperatures and clings to the skin, intensifying the burn. Sharon Ramsay, a burns nurse at the RHC, explained: "Unfortunately, we are seeing a growing number of children with preventable injuries linked to this trend. When these toys are heated, the contents can explode and stick to the skin, causing deep burns. These injuries can be very serious and may require long-term treatment, including surgery and rehabilitation. In some cases, children are left with permanent scarring. We strongly urge parents and carers to speak to their children about the risks."
Healing from burns can span weeks or even months, with injured children often needing continued treatment encompassing dressings, physiotherapy and scar management. Joseph's mother noted that her son must now avoid direct sunlight on the grafted section for two years, which she observed will be "tricky over the summer months." The Scottish National Burns Centre functions within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
