Urgent warning over online ‘squishy’ trend leaving children with skin grafts
Doctors are issuing urgent warnings about a dangerous online trend involving microwaving "squishy" toys, after several children sustained severe burns.
Videos circulating widely online depict these soft, squeezable toys being heated to enhance their pliability. However, experts warn that this causes internal pressure to build within the squishy, significantly increasing the risk of it exploding. The hot gel released can then stick to skin, leading to serious injuries.
The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has treated six children for injuries related to this trend over the past eight months, with some requiring surgery, including skin grafts. Eight-year-old Joseph Erskine, from Clackmannanshire, was among those injured, needing weeks of treatment and a skin graft after a toy burst across his chest and hand in May.
Sharon Ramsay, a burns nurse at the RHC, said: “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.”
Source: The Independent, 28 June 2026