• The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has re-issued a consumer safety alert about the possibilities of burn hazards related to squishy toys.
  • Squishies can become dangerously hot if left in hot cars, near heaters, or in other unsafe conditions.
  • The CPSC also warns to never heat up squishy toys in the microwave.

Pity the poor squishy toys—they’re always on the receiving end of bad news. One day, it’s a story about recalls in other countries because of chemical hazards, the next it’s the proliferation of counterfeits, fakes, and scams. And today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning families about burn hazards associated with squishy toys. And yet, these toys remain incredibly popular with kids. What’s a conscientious caregiver to do?

The CPSC’s notification is especially worrisome. “Squishy toys can become dangerously hot when left in direct sunlight, inside a hot vehicle, near a heater, or in another high-temperature environment,” it says in a consumer safety alert. “Heated toys may burst and release material that can cause severe burns. Because the filling may be sticky and adhere to the skin, it can continue transferring heat and worsen the injury.” This is bad news for those of us who use the family car as a secondary toy bin, but as kids collect more and more squishies, it’s important to remind them not to leave any in the back seat and keep others away from windows that get direct sunlight.

This warning comes on top of a growing social media trend that sees people heating up squishy toys to see them expand, change shape, or burst. “These demonstrations are dangerous and should never be attempted or imitated,” the CPSC warns.

In addition to burns, heating squishy toys can cause the outer covering to break or tear, exposing kids to whatever material is on the inside—which can include hazardous chemicals, choking hazards like water beads, or filler material that can be breathed in or ingested. This is especially true of counterfeit products, and the CPSC has already worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prevent more than 355,600 units of violative squishy toys from entering the country.

At the moment, there are no CPSC recalls in the United States for any specific brands of squishy toys, just safety alerts to look out for counterfeit items and a warning to keep all squishies from being heated.

What to do if you or a family member is burned by a hot squishy toy

First of all, the CPSC warns, do not use ice on the burn.

Instead, it recommends running the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes. After that, use soap to try to remove any remaining material. Once it’s clean and dry, it can be covered with a clean bandage.

For severe burns, burns involving children, or wounds that look infected, the CPSC notes, seek out proper medical attention.