The incident involving a young girl burning herself after microwaving a NeeDoh toy has highlighted the dangers associated with these gel-filled sensory toys. Whitney Hand of Atlanta recounted hearing her daughter scream in pain after the toy exploded in the microwave, sending hot liquid onto her face and arm, reports BritPanorama.
Hand’s daughter, a fifth-grader, was following a trend she had seen on social media, where children have been microwaving these toys. The resulting injuries have led to serious burns across the country. “It’s so viscous, it’s like glue, and so for it to be boiling hot and on her skin, I started to try to wipe it off, but it was pulling her skin off with it,” Hand described. Since then, stories similar to hers have emerged, revealing that the misuse of such toys has led to severe burns.
Dr. Emily Werthman, a manager at the Johns Hopkins Burn Center in Baltimore, noted that her facility has seen a noticeable increase in such cases. “We’ve seen a handful of these cases just in our burn center alone, and if you ask burn centers throughout the country, they will tell you the same thing,” she remarked, emphasizing the growing trend among kids resulting in injury. She advises that caution is necessary to prevent further incidents.
Importantly, the toymaker Schylling has issued warnings about the misuse of their products. Their website states: “NeeDoh products are designed to stay sealed and should not be cut open, eaten, heated, frozen, or microwaved, as misuse can damage the toy and create safety risks.” Despite these warnings, many children continue to microwave the toys, leading to unfortunate outcomes.
Hand expressed surprise at the trend, stating she had not previously encountered the practice. She later learned from her daughter that she had seen videos online demonstrating the act. This revelation has drawn attention to the role social media plays in such dangerous behaviors, prompting warnings from experts about potential injuries from gel-filled sensory toys, not just those branded as NeeDoh.
Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, stated that these types of injuries can result from several factors beyond microwaving. “The gel-filled toys can also pop and cause burns inadvertently after being left in hot cars or sitting out in the sun,” she explained. Efforts to educate children about the risks associated with such toys are ongoing.
In 2024, the nonprofit organization Consumer Reports urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the safety of gel-filled sensory toys, indicating a growing concern among parents and watchdog organizations alike. In their statement, Schylling acknowledged the emerging trend, indicating they are working to mitigate such incidents by collaborating with social media platforms to remove related content.
As the trend persists, experts recommend clear communication between parents and children regarding safe toy usage and social media influences. Dr. Agarwal emphasized, “Parents need to know what their kids are looking at on social media and talk to their kids about not everything on social media is a good idea to copy or do.” The ongoing challenges highlight the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures in the face of rapidly spreading social media trends.
Ultimately, ensuring safety and awareness around product use is crucial to prevent further accidents. The conversation regarding the influence of social media on children’s behavior continues to ripple through households, leaving many to question how to effectively navigate such modern challenges.
