Urgent warning to parents about dangerous TikTok trend of microwaving soft toys – as children suffer ‘traumatising’ burns

Experts have issued an urgent warning to parents as a terrifying TikTok trend is prompting children to microwave popular soft toys.

On social media, young people tell each other to warm up squeezable toys to make them more pliable.

Most involve the NeeDoh, a cube-shaped toy made from a type of gel-filled rubber that is sold out everywhere.

But several children suffered serious burns after the squishy exploded, leaving them covered in hot goo.

Gruesome footage shows a nine-year-old boy with extensive burns to his face, while a seven-year-old was left in a coma with third-degree burns after being sprayed in the face and chest with scalding goo.

Recently, a British mother revealed that her 10-year-old daughter suffered “traumatizing burns” after copying the trend.

Now experts are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of copying online fads.

Rhiain Reynolds, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, warned that ‘misuse of home appliances can have devastating consequences’ and that parents should emphasize that ‘microwaves are not toys’.

Nine-year-old Caleb (left) suffered severe burns to his face after participating in a dangerous TikTok trend on January 20. Scarlett Selby (right), aged seven, fell into a coma and suffered horrific third-degree burns after a popular soft toy she microwaved exploded in her face

A devastated mother from Bristol has written an online post highlighting the dangers of the trend.

“Squishes – the latest toy that all the kids want, but there’s also a TikTok trend of putting them in the microwave,” she wrote on Facebook.

‘Please talk to your children about the dangers. If you google there have been so many children who have suffered terrible burns from doing this.

‘My arms [child] be one of them. She wasn’t home and wasn’t the one who did it, but she was there. It could have easily happened at home because it was 100 percent something she would do.

“Squishy was only microwaved for 30 seconds. The silicone outer layer of the squishy hid how hot the liquid inside was.”

She revealed that her daughter had been referred to the burn unit and would not be able to have her face in the sun for the next two summers.

“They’re not sure if it will scar,” she added. ‘She’s a very happy girl [that] this did not enter her eye.’

Other parents commented on the post saying the same thing happened to their children and it was the ‘scariest thing ever’.

Toy company Schylling Toys, which produces NeeDoh toys, has a warning on their website that reads ‘DO NOT heat, freeze or microwave as this may cause personal injury’

Last month, a family revealed that their daughter was left in a coma and suffered horrific third-degree burns after microwaving her NeeDoh.

Scarlett Selby of Festus, Missouri, put the toy in the freezer and zapped it for a few seconds to make it more pliable.

But the innocent playtime quickly turned into a nightmare when she pulled out the toy and it exploded, covering the seven-year-old’s face and chest in scalding hot goo.

Shocked dad Josh Selby, 44, ran to her when he heard a ‘blood-curdling scream’ and desperately tried to scrape the sticky substance from her skin and clothes.

The machine operator rushed Scarlett to hospital, where doctors placed her in an induced coma out of fear that the burns to her mouth would cause her airways to swell and close.

Months after the October 1 ordeal, Scarlett must wait anxiously to see whether she will need skin grafts for the second and third degree burns she suffered.

Doctors are warning other parents to take note of the incident to avoid similar scenarios.

Dr. William Schaffner, who works at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, told DailyMail.com: ‘Toys are not designed to be microwaved, so children and adults are strongly advised not to do so. This can lead to tragic events, such as exploding toys causing serious burns. Be careful – be careful!’

Dr. Matthew Harris, co-chairman of pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, warns, “Toys often contain plastic or metal that can expand or ignite when heated in the microwave.”

‘This could set the microwave on fire and cause an explosion that could cause devastating burns and blunt trauma.

“It is critical for parents to educate their children not only about the dangers of placing any item in the microwave, but even some dishes and plastic items can ignite and cause a fire or explosion.”

Scarlett’s mother, Amanda Blakenship, said her daughter had seen videos of people microwaving the toys and wanted to try it out for herself.

She also urges anyone with these toys to throw them away to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else.

Toy company Schylling Toys, which produces NeeDoh toys, has a warning on its website that reads ‘DO NOT heat, freeze or microwave as this may cause personal injury.’

A TikTok spokesperson said any content that promotes dangerous behavior that could lead to serious injury violates the company’s Community Guidelines and will be removed.