A 10-year-old girl was burned after putting a squishy toy in the microwave for 30 seconds, according to Business Insider's reporting. Her mother, Katie Zerbst, said the toy erupted like a volcano and left steaming hot goo on her daughter's face.
That case is not isolated. Business Insider reviewed dozens of incident reports and spoke with parents, doctors, and regulators about squishies, the slime-filled toys sold in shapes like dumplings, fruit, and ice cubes. The outlet found reports of burns, ruptures, and chemical smells tied to toys that are supposed to be squeezed, not splattered.
America's Poison Centers told Business Insider that more than half of the 11,500 reports about squishies received by its member organizations since 2024 came in the first six months of 2026. Only a small portion of the ruptures caused severe injury, but the volume is still a warning sign.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also seen a spike in incident reports this year. Business Insider found about two dozen consumers describing ruptures from microwaves, hot cars, and squeezing that burned children. Roughly 20 more reported strong smells from the toys. Hospital reports collected by the CPSC showed about a dozen explosion cases in 2025, the latest year available.
Schylling, which makes the NeeDoh brand, was hit with two lawsuits in July over squishy explosions that plaintiffs say caused severe burns. One complaint said a NeeDoh Nice Cube sat cool to the touch, then erupted with a scalding gel when squeezed. Lawyers for the company declined to comment on the allegations.
The CPSC issued guidance in August warning shoppers about serious burn hazards from exposing these toys to heat. A spokesperson said the toys raise longstanding concerns for the agency, including water beads and possible exposure to unsafe chemicals. The agency also said microwaving them counts as improper use, and it does not typically punish companies when consumers ignore safety warnings.
The business risk is clear. Squishies have gone from zero to hero, Five Below CEO Winnie Park told investors in June, and Kohl's also credited the toys with a sales bump. But fast-selling products that sit in a regulatory gray area can turn a trend into a liability.
Founders and retailers should read this as a basic incentive problem. If ingredients are not clearly listed, if knockoffs flood the market, and if federal safety rules are patchy, the cost gets pushed onto families and hospitals. The market rewards novelty, but the public pays when product safety is left to chance.
For parents, the playbook is simple. Keep heat away from these toys. For sellers, the lesson is tougher: a viral product is not a safe product just because it moves on the shelf.
