Kids Are Microwaving Squishy Toys And It’s Very Dangerous

Parents are being urged to talk to their children about the dangers of microwaving popular squishy toys.

It comes after a 10-year-old girl suffered severe burns from microwaving a squishy toy as part of a trend, which has been doing the rounds on social media since last year.

Bella, from Bristol, was left with serious facial injuries, according to the BBC’s reporting on the incident.

Her mum, Charlotte, is now urging school leaders and parents to be aware of the trend – and to talk to children about it.

Why are kids microwaving squishies?

It’s thought children are microwaving the toys to make them more pliable or extra stretchy.

However, these toys are not designed to be microwaved, and can therefore cause horrendous burns when the materials they’re made from heat up. In some cases, it can cause chemical burns.

The toys might not seem hot when taken out of the microwave, but can then explode when they are squeezed.

Such was the case for Bella. “Because of the silicone outer layer, they couldn’t feel how hot it was inside, so her friend squeezed it, which is when it burst on to both of them,” her mum said.

Earlier this year, another nine-year-old boy from the US suffered severe burns across the side of his face after microwaving a similar toy, which then exploded.

His mum said he got the idea from a friend. “I just heard him screaming and yelling, ‘It burns. It burns’,” she told ABC News.

“He stopped in front of me, and I saw the right side of his face was just covered in this clear, kind of really thick gel.”

In April, a Facebook post from the NHS-run Growing Healthy Team in Gateshead warned that “squishies should NEVER be heated in a microwave”.

The health and wellbeing hub urged parents and carers to talk to their children about the dangers of microwaving toys, and to supervise younger children around kitchen appliances.

“When microwaved, these toys can become extremely hot, burst, or melt, causing serious burns to hands, faces, and skin,” they added.

“Hospitals are seeing an increase in children attending with burns after putting ‘squishy’ toys (stress toys/foam toys) in the microwave.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it’s aware of a “small but growing number” of incidents involving children being injured after heating squishy or novelty toys in microwaves.

Rebecca Guy, RoSPA’s senior policy manager, told HuffPost UK: “While these incidents are not widespread, the injuries we are hearing about are serious and entirely preventable.

“Toys and novelty items should only ever be used in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. Unless a product clearly states that it is safe to be heated, it should never be put in a microwave, as doing so can cause it to overheat, burst or explode, leading to burns.”

She urged parents and carers to have open conversations with children about the risks of copying things they see online or hear about from friends, and by making it clear that microwaves should only be used for their intended purpose in line with manufacturer guidance.

“Checking age guidance, reading safety instructions, and supervising play where appropriate can all help reduce the risk of accidents like this happening,” she added.

If your child does suffer a burn or scald, you should place the area under cool running water for at least 15 minutes, the NHS advises. If there’s no running water available, use cool bottled water.

If possible, remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the affected area (but if their clothing is stuck to the affected area, don’t try to remove it).

“When the burn or scald has cooled, lay cling film over it if you can. Do not wrap the cling film around it,” advises the NHS.

Parents shouldn’t put any creams, oils or butter on burns or scalds, or use plasters or sticky dressings.

Call 999 or take your child to A&E if the burn is very large or deep; is on the face, genitals or bottom; or has been caused by an acid or chemical.

If the burn is smaller and you’re unsure what to do, call NHS 111.