Harri’s son had copied an online trend that claims if you heat the popular fidget products in the microwave, it gets softer and more squishy.
An 8-year-old Auckland boy suffered burns after microwaving a squish toy. Photo / Richard Harri
Videos promoting the dangerous activity have been posted across YouTube, Facebook and TikTok, the father told the Herald.
The toy felt a normal temperature on the outside despite the interior gel being very hot, Harri said.
“It feels normal, and then you squeeze it, and then the thing explodes.”
Harri said he wanted to warn other parents about the potential dangers of heating the toys and the trend.
A burn Richard Harri’s son suffered after his squish toy exploded. Photo / Richard Harri
“Your kids go through all this pain, there’s nothing you can do.
“You just want to protect other kids and parents from going through what you’ve been through, like it was just horrendous.”
Incidents of the same thing happening have occurred around the world, with a 10-year-old girl in the United Kingdom suffering serious facial burns after participating in the trend this month, the BBC reported.
Cases have also been reported across the United States.
US toy company Schylling, which owns NeeDoh, a popular brand of squish toy, said it was “disappointed” by the misuse of its products becoming a viral trend.
Microwaving, heating, or freezing the toys “is dangerous and could cause injury to the consumer,” Schylling said in a statement to USA Today.
The toy Harri’s son used was unbranded and he did not know where it was purchased.
Aftermath and emergency department
Following the incident, Harri said he called the poison hotline and, on its advice, put his son in the shower for 10 minutes.
Harri then wrapped him in wet tea towels before taking him to Auckland City Hospital’s emergency department.
Richard Harri’s son’s squish toy, which exploded after being microwaved. Photo / Richard Harri
A 45-minute shower at the hospital followed, with staff then giving Harri’s son different drugs so he could deal with the pain.
“They had to peel some more of the skin off and pop a giant blister on his chin, and then they put Gladwrap on it and dressed the wounds.”
Harri’s son has a follow-up appointment this week, when they will learn how severe the burns are.
Official Advice
Netsafe chief online safety officer Sean Lyons told the Herald parents of children with the toys and who may be consuming content suggesting they heat them should talk to them about the potential dangers.
Any potentially harmful content should also be reported to the social media platform it was posted on, Lyons said.
Consumer NZ said the viral trend was concerning.
Manufacturers should assess whether additional safety measures, such as clear warning labels, are required, it said.
“We also encourage parents and caregivers to supervise use of these toys and to talk with their children about their intended use.”