A squishy toy erupts in the microwave

Katie Zerbst's ten-year-old daughter Violet microwaved a glittery squishy cube for thirty seconds to make it more malleable. When she pulled it out, it erupted like a volcano, covering her face in steaming hot, sparkly goo and causing severe burns.

“It was the sound that makes you just drop everything and run”

Violet ends up in the emergency room

Violet's burns were severe enough to require emergency care. Her mother rushed her into the shower, letting cold water run over her face and body for forty minutes while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Squishies are the toy craze of 2026

Squishies, slime-filled toys shaped like dumplings, fruit, ice cubes, and cute characters, have become hugely popular. Five Below CEO Winnie Park told investors in June they have gone from zero to hero, helping the retailer become America's greatest little toy store.

“from zero to hero”

Poison centers see a spike in reports

America's Poison Centers received more than eleven thousand five hundred reports about squishies since two thousand twenty-four. More than half of those reports happened in the first six months of twenty twenty-six, though only a small portion of ruptures caused severe injury.

Schylling faces lawsuits over explosions

Schylling, which manufactures NeeDoh, the most popular squishy brand, was hit with two lawsuits in July over squishy explosions. One complaint said a NeeDoh Nice Cube left on a TV stand near a window erupted with scalding gel that left blisters on the person's leg.

CPSC sees dozens of incident reports

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has seen a spike in squishy-related incident reports this year. A Business Insider review found about two dozen consumers describing how ruptures due to microwaves, hot cars, and squeezing have burned kids, and roughly twenty more reported strong chemical smells.

Hospital reports document explosion cases

Hospital reports collected by CPSC showed about a dozen explosion cases in twenty twenty-five. One parent reported their daughter's toy did not just pop but exploded in February twenty twenty-four after she squeezed it on her tenth birthday.

“did not "just pop"; it "exploded"”

Chemical odors trigger complaints

A February report to CPSC described a squishy that emitted an extremely powerful and persistent chemical odor, resembling acetone or nail polish remover, which gave its owner a headache. This complaint reflects a common concern about the toys.

“emitted an extremely powerful and persistent chemical odor, resembling acetone or nail polish remover”

CPSC issues heat hazard warning

In response to growing public concern, the CPSC issued guidance in August warning shoppers of serious burn hazards from intentionally or unintentionally exposing squishies to heat. The agency said microwaving them is considered improper use and does not typically punish companies when consumers do not follow safety warnings.

Ingredients are often not disclosed

Squishy ingredients vary widely and often are not listed on the packaging. NeeDoh discloses ingredients such as maltose sugar, cornstarch, and polyvinyl alcohol, which the brand says is non-toxic and also found in white glue. Many other brands do not provide this information.

Thermal properties can hide heat

A California lawsuit cites academic research arguing that some squishy ingredients have thermal properties that, along with a soft polymer casing, can make scalding hot gel feel deceptively cool to the touch until the toy pops, creating a hidden burn hazard.

Regulatory rules are patchy and unclear

US regulations do not require independent testing and certification of toys unless they are marketed to children under thirteen. Squishies can plausibly be sold as children's toys, adult stress balls, desk accessories, or collectibles, creating ambiguity about which safety rules apply.

Hudson's eyes swell shut after exposure

Jodanna Bevan's four-year-old son Hudson was squeezing a dumpling-shaped squishy from Shein when it suddenly popped, spraying a thick white sandy substance into his face. His eyes swelled so badly the next morning he could not open them and had to be sedated at hospital for repeated eye rinsing.

“He was screaming and so scared”

Shein pulls product and offers refund

After the BBC covered Hudson's story, Shein emailed Bevan an apology and offered her a full refund for the squishy toys, ten pounds twelve pence for four two-piece sets, plus twenty pounds in Shein store credit. Shein said it requires third-party sellers to comply with local laws and safety standards.

Customs intercepts hundreds of thousands

The CPSC told Business Insider that the commission and US Customs have intercepted ninety-six shipments of squishy toys so far this year, preventing more than six hundred forty thousand items from entering the country because they violated various safety regulations.

Online marketplaces complicate enforcement

The rise of online marketplaces where international third parties sell directly to customers has further complicated regulators' and consumers' ability to know exactly what is in the products. Courtney Griffin, director of consumer product safety at the Consumer Federation of America, said catching risky products is like playing whack-a-mole.

“like playing whack-a-mole”

CPSC recalls dangerous squishy products

In early September, CPSC recalled a brand of squishy dumplings that contained water beads and posed a choking hazard if the toy ruptured. In May, the agency recalled a squishy monkey called Orb Funkee after tests revealed it may contain asbestos.

Burn injuries can have lasting effects

Kelly McElligott, a burn outreach coordinator at Loyola Medical Center in Illinois, has seen around six squishy-related cases this year. She monitors patients for up to two years to ensure they heal properly, as scar tissue can form beneath the surface or cause functional issues if scarring tightens over joints.

Most injuries are mild, but parents worry

America's Poison Centers said eighty-five percent of exposure cases had no documented signs or symptoms, and ninety-four percent were managed at home or outside a healthcare facility. Yet parents of injured children are taking precautions, keeping squishies out of hot cars and away from younger siblings.

Injured families warn others about dangers

Jodanna Bevan has purged all squishies from her house and is trying to spread the word about their potential dangers. She said all her friends have them for their children but they need to be aware there could actually be some dangerous chemicals inside.

“You've got to be aware that there could actually be some dangerous chemicals in there”