Health officials have reported a surge in severe burns among children caused by heating popular squishy toys before use.
In May, an eight‑year‑old boy from Clackmannanshire suffered extensive burns when a heated toy exploded across his chest and hand, requiring weeks of treatment and a skin graft taken from his thigh.
The child’s mother explained that he had placed the toy in a microwave after seeing a viral online trend, mistakenly assuming it was safe to heat.
She added that the burn did not heal naturally and that the graft will necessitate protection from direct sunlight for up to two years, limiting his outdoor activities.
A separate case involved an eleven‑year‑old girl from North Ayrshire who incurred burns to her face and eyelid after a similar incident, though she avoided surgery.
Her mother described the initial confusion, noting that the heated gel appeared as slime before it began to burn her daughter’s skin, causing significant swelling near the eye.
Medical staff at a children’s hospital in Glasgow warned that the gel inside these toys can retain extreme heat and adhere to skin, prolonging injury and increasing the risk of deep burns.
A burns nurse emphasized that the growing number of preventable injuries is linked to children heating the toys, which can explode and cause scarring, long‑term rehabilitation, and in some cases permanent damage.
Health professionals urged parents to discuss the dangers of this practice with their children and to discourage any heating of such toys.
An urgent recall has been issued for a brand of squishy dumplings sold by a national wholesaler after tests revealed an excessive concentration of benzene, a chemical that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat if inhaled.
