Warning as Scots children burned by exploding ‘squishy’ toys due to trend

Medical experts are warning of the dangers of a trend for heating “squishy” toys in the microwave after several children suffered serious burns.

Videos circulating online show the toys, which are soft and easy to squeeze, being heated to make them even softer.

However experts warn this causes pressure to build inside the squishy, increasing the risk it may explode and release the hot gel inside that can stick to the skin and cause severe burns.

The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has treated six children with injuries linked to the trend in the past eight months, with some needing surgery including skin grafts.

One of those injured was eight-year-old Joseph Erskine, from Clackmannanshire, who needed weeks of treatment and a skin graft after a toy burst 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.

“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.”

She said Joseph had seen the trend online and she urged parents to chat about it with their children and discourage them from doing something similar.

She added: “Joseph’s burn wouldn’t heal on its own and required a graft, where skin was taken from his thigh and applied to his chest.

“He is normally such an active and sporty child with six clubs per week, but all of that is on hold until he heals.”

Her son must now avoid direct sunlight to the graft area for two years, which she said will be “tricky over the summer months”.

Another young patient, 11-year-old Scarlet Rowe from Irvine in North Ayrshire, was treated for burns to her face and eyelid after a similar incident in May soon after she received a squishy toy.

Her mother Gina said: “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.

“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.”

Burns specialists said injuries caused by heated squishy toys can be particularly severe because the gel inside can remain extremely hot and get stuck to the skin, prolonging the burn.

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.”

Healing and recovery from burns can take weeks or months and children who suffer them often need ongoing care including dressings, physiotherapy and scar management.

The Scottish National Burns Centre is hosted within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.