Connecticut doctor warns heated NeeDoh toys can cause serious burns
A Connecticut burn specialist is warning parents that NeeDoh squishy toys can cause serious burns if they heat up and break, releasing a thick, sticky gel.
Dr. Alisa Savetamal, Medical Director of the Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital, said the center has seen cases involving children who were burned by the substance after the toys were heated.
“It’s almost like a syrup, or you know, a more solid syrup inside. And once they get heated, and then the outer layer kind of breaks down,” Savetamal said. “It sticks on the skin once it’s on it, and that can deepen the burn as well.”
The injuries can vary in severity.
“It ranges from just superficial burns, which is, you know, redness and pain, kind of like a bad sunburn, to second-degree burns, which is more like when it blisters,” she said.
Schylling, the maker of NeeDoh, said:
The safety of our consumers, especially children, is Schylling’s top priority. We are disappointed by recent social media content depicting misuse of our NeeDoh® products. We take these reports seriously.
NeeDoh® products are designed and tested to meet applicable toy safety standards. NeeDoh® products are not intended to be microwaved, heated, frozen, or otherwise exposed to extreme temperatures. Use of a NeeDoh® product in a manner inconsistent with its instructions and warnings may pose a safety risk.
Schylling has been working directly with social media platforms, including TikTok, to remove content that depicts or promotes this type of misuse. We have also reinforced safety warnings on NeeDoh® product packaging and across our e-commerce listings.
We encourage parents and caregivers to supervise children during play and to review all product instructions and warnings before use. Consumers with questions about the safe use of NeeDoh® products, or who wish to report a concern, are encouraged to contact Schylling customer service at info@schylling.com.
A TikTok trend was blamed when a 9-year-old in Illinois suffered burns to his face after placing a squishy toy in a microwave. The trend prompted a warning from Long Island police earlier this month.
Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro said, “bad idea, very dangerous, you’re going to get hurt, don’t do it.”
Microwaves are not the only potential danger. Temperatures inside the toys can also rise when they are left in a hot car or out in the sun.
“It’s really not implausible that a patient could get badly injured from one of these balls that’s sitting out in in a hot car,” Savetamal said. “It doesn’t have to be as hot as boiling water, for example. Especially children, their skin is thinner, and it doesn’t take that long for something that is 140 degrees to cause a deep burn.”
“They’re great toys, right? Everybody loves them. Just make sure the kids are using them the way that they’re designed to be used,” she said.
If a child suffers a burn, Dr. Savetamal said parents should remove the burning substance from the skin and run cool tap water over the affected area for 20 minutes.
If you are burned, seek medical attention if severe pain persists or if the burn covers a large portion of the face or hands.
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