Doctors warn of severe burns from popular NeeDoh stress toys

Medical professionals in the United States are warning parents about popular soft, squishy stress toys, such as NeeDoh, which are causing severe burns in children and adolescents. The injuries are linked to social media challenges where users attempt to heat the toys in microwaves or change their temperature.

Doctors, including pediatric emergency specialist Dr. Alicia Webb at Alabama Children's Hospital, report treating patients who required skin grafts due to these incidents. Experts explain that certain models, like the NeeDoh Nice Cube, contain natural sugar-based fillings that expand rapidly when heated. This increase in internal pressure can cause the toy to deform or burst, spraying hot material onto the user.

Dr. Michael Cooper of Staten Island University Hospital noted that children are particularly vulnerable to these burns because their skin is thinner and more sensitive than that of adults. Although manufacturers explicitly warn against heating, freezing, or microwaving the products, these instructions are frequently ignored during online trends.