Soft toys may seem harmless and cute, but some of the products that children love to squeeze can become dangerous in unexpected ways. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned about several soft toys containing water beads, which can expand after being swallowed and cause serious health problems. The warning comes as other soft toys have also been linked to terrifying burns after being heated or left in hot places. serious injuries. Similar toys have been linked to serious burns when heated in microwaves. Several children have been reported to have been injured after participating in associated challenges on social media. Two popular soft toys have been recalled over alarming safety risks. Consumer Product Safety Commission According to the CPSC, the latest recall involves two soft toys: Squeezy Dumplings from GIHNJSI and Rainbow Mystery Squishy Buns from OKK Trading. Both toys contain water beads. The problem with them is that the water beads can grow much larger after coming into contact with the liquid. If a child swallows one, it can expand inside the body and cause suffocation or intestinal obstruction. The CPSC warned that the toys could cause “serious discomfort” and even the “risk of death.” About 8,000 Squeezy Dumplings were included in the recall. They were sold on Amazon in May and June 2026. The toys have a soft, round design with glitter-like material inside and cartoon faces. Its packaging looks like a small bamboo steamer and bears the words “SQUEEZY DUMPLINGS” and “SQUEEZE ME.” More than 7,200 Rainbow Mystery Squishy Bun Toys were also recalled. They were sold through third-party stores in the US between May and August 2026. They look a lot like Squeezy Dumplings, including the cartoon faces, glitter filling, and steamer-style packaging. Its packaging says “Rainbow Mystery” and “SUGAR EDITION.” The CPSC said no injuries had been reported from these recalled products at the time of the warning. The commission also said people who have one of the affected toys should write “RECALLED” on both the toy and its packaging with a permanent marker before throwing it away. Some soft toys have left children with serious burns The Hartcliffe Dingles/Facebook Several incidents have involved children being burned after soft toys were heated. Some happened during online challenges, while others happened after the toys were accidentally left in a hot place. A recent case involved a West Virginia teenager who was hospitalized after a soft toy was accidentally left inside a hot car. The vehicle became extremely hot, causing the toy to heat up, weaken, and expand. When the teen got into the back seat, the toy exploded and sprayed hot material on her legs. The Hartcliffe Dingles/Facebook Another case involved a 10-year-old British girl named Bella. She was at a friend’s house when a soft toy exploded in her face after participating in a TikTok trend that involved heating the toy. Her mother, Charlotte, told the BBC in May that her daughter came home with her face badly burned. “They hit him in the face,” Charlotte said. He said Bella’s face was bright red, with a scald mark, no skin and blisters. “He was completely crying,” the mother said. Hartcliffe Dingles/FacebookCharlotte later learned that children had been sharing videos of soft toys frozen and then placed in a microwave to make them softer. She warned other parents after seeing how badly injured her daughter had been. “Please talk to your children about the dangers, if you Google it, there have been so many children with horrible burns from doing this,” Charlotte wrote on Facebook. She added that she wanted other families to know about the trend before another child was injured. These incidents mention the NeeDoh cube, manufactured by the toy company SchyllingNathan Dumlao/Unsplash (not the actual photo). The most popular squishy toy, called NeeDoh, comes in different shapes and sizes and is designed to be squeezed, pulled, and stretched. so popular that some were reportedly resold on eBay for up to $500. But its popularity has also generated complaints. Consumer Reports received complaints from customers who said their toys broke or leaked. One customer said the toy “broke after not even a day.” Schylling has said that the filler in some NeeDoh products is maltose, also described as “100% malt extract.” The company said NeeDoh Groovy Glob contains polyvinyl alcohol gel, or PVA. The company also has a clear warning on its website. “DO NOT heat, freeze or microwave, it may cause personal injury.” That warning hasn’t stopped some children from testing the toys in viral online challenges. Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash (not the actual photo) In 2025, a 7-year-old girl from Missouri named Scarlett Selby was left in a coma after a soft toy. It exploded when he put it in the microwave. His father, Josh, later warned other parents about what could happen when these toys get hot. “I have told absolutely everyone to throw them away if they have them,” he said. He described the hot filler as similar to glue and warned that it could stick to the skin after an explosion. “Once it hits you, there’s no way to take it away,” Josh said. “Parents should be more responsible,” wrote one reader.
