Specialist burns staff at the Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow are warning families about the dangers of a growing online trend which encourages children to heat “squishy” toys in the microwave.
Videos circulating online show toys being heated to make them softer. However, experts say this causes pressure to build inside the toy, increasing the risk of it bursting and releasing hot gel that can stick to the skin and cause severe burns.
Over the past eight months, the RHC has treated six children with injuries linked to this trend, with some requiring surgery including skin grafts.
One of those patients, eight-year-old Joseph Erskine from Clackmannanshire, required weeks of treatment and a skin graft after a toy burst across his chest and hand. His mum, Stephanie Ewing, said:
“My husband and I were home. We were sitting in the living room next door when Joseph came in holding a towel to his face. He had already wiped off the burning gel which had also taken off his skin. He was saying that his squishy burnt him and we initially thought he meant a chemical burn. Then he told us that he had put it in the microwave.
“We were shocked as it had never crossed our minds that he would do that with a toy. He has never used the microwave before. One of us had heated something earlier and so the clock was already set at 40 seconds. Joseph just hit start. It was that quick and easy for him. He said that he had seen it on YouTube and I have since noticed that these videos are even on YouTube kids.”
Stephanie also explained that it isn’t as simple as a wound healing and then moving on.
“Joseph’s burn wouldn’t heal on its own and required a graft, where skin was taken from his thigh and applied to his chest. He is normally such an active and sporty child with six clubs per week but all of that is on hold until he heals. I massage the area three times a day to support healing and avoid scarring, and he starts physio at the RHC in July. He also must avoid direct sunlight to the graft area for two years, which will be tricky over the summer months.
“My advice to all parents is to have the chat with their children and discourage them from doing something similar.”
Another young patient, Scarlet Rowe, was treated for burns to her face and eyelid after a similar incident shortly after receiving the toy.
Her mum, Gina Rowe, said:
“We didn’t realise what had happened at first, it just looked like slime on her face. It was only after a few minutes we realised it had been heated and was burning her skin. The swelling was so bad that we weren’t sure what the outcome would be. Thankfully, no graft was required but it is so close to her eye that this could have been a lot worse.
“These toys are very popular and easy to buy, but we had no idea about the risks. We had only bought them that day. I’d strongly advise parents to be vigilant and check what children are watching and trying online.”
Burns specialists say injuries caused by heated squishy toys can be particularly severe because the gel inside can remain extremely hot and adhere to the skin, prolonging the burn.
The Scottish National Burns Centre is hosted within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Sharon Ramsay, Burns Nurse at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow said:
“Unfortunately, we are seeing a growing number of children with preventable injuries linked to this trend. When these toys are heated, the contents can explode and stick to the skin, causing deep burns.
“These injuries can be very serious and may require long-term treatment, including surgery and rehabilitation. In some cases, children are left with permanent scarring. We strongly urge parents and carers to speak to their children about the risks.”
Children who suffer burns often require ongoing care including dressings, physiotherapy and scar management, with healing and recovery taking weeks or months. The RHC team is encouraging families to be aware of online trends and to remind children to seek adult supervision before attempting anything they have seen online.
Parents and carers are advised to:
- Explain that toys should never be heated in the microwave
- Encourage children to speak to them if they are curious about trying something they have seen
- Seek immediate medical advice if a burn occurs
Sharon also explained that, as parents head into the fun summer months with kids off school, there are other burn risks to keep their eye out for that they may not have considered.
“If you have a disposable BBQ on the beach, once done, when you lift, the sand will remain very hot. This is an easy place for little ones to run over, touch or sit which can lead to horrific burns. Cool the area by pouring cold water over it and make sure that nobody goes near that area until it has been cooled.
“We’ve had quite a few friction burns too from kids on eBikes and eScooters who have jumped on the back with their pal and then burnt their heel and calf off the back wheel.
“And another one that we’ve been experiencing recently is walking pads. Curious little ones are either playing with their toys on them or touch them when family members are using. This can cause really nasty friction burns too.”
Anyone concerned about a burn injury should seek urgent medical attention.
