Hey grandparents,
If you read GRANDparent Alert: Nine-year-old burns himself after learning of TikTok trend – The Needoh Cube and wonder what’s being done, below you will find the latest report from Consumer Reports on the safety risks of the entire “Squishy Toys” category.
According to the Loyola Medical Center Report, ” On the morning of January 20, Whitney Grubb of Plainfield was getting her two sons ready for school. As she went to the garage to warm her car, she heard the microwave start. She assumed it was her 9-year-old son, Caleb, warming up his breakfast, which he occasionally does himself.
After hearing what she described as a blood-curdling scream, she knew something was wrong. Caleb had microwaved a Needoh cube, a popular sensory toy used by adults and kids. As Caleb opened the microwave, the cube, filled with gelatinous material, exploded on his face and hands.” Read more
Zest Years reports, “Grandparents have become one of the country’s most influential family shoppers, spending more than $172 billion on their grandchildren each year, according to AARP’s 2026 Grandparenting Study. Their role extends well beyond gift giving. Nearly 7 in 10 grandparents (69%) provide care for their grandchildren, averaging more than 500 hours each year, giving them firsthand experience with the toys, baby gear, feeding products, games, travel gear, and everyday essentials families rely on. Yet despite their enormous buying power and hands-on involvement, few brands market directly to grandparents, and very little product content exists specifically to help them make informed purchasing decisions.
Consumer Reports Urges CPSC to Investigate Safety Risks Across the Entire “Squishy Toys” Category, Not Just Counterfeits
Following the agency’s recent alert, CR points to 33 incidents reported to the CPSC—including chemical burns and skin irritation reported with squishy toys, some sold at major retailers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consumer Reports (CR) is calling on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to investigate safety risks across the entire category of sensory gel toys—often called “squishy toys”—warning that the hazards may not be limited to the fake and counterfeit products the agency highlighted in its recent consumer safety alert.
As detailed in a letter sent to the agency, CR has analyzed reports to the CPSC’s SaferProducts.gov database and identified 33 incidents between January 2025 and July 2026 in which consumers reported that squishy toys caused chemical burns or skin irritation, or emitted strong chemical odors that in several cases reportedly caused symptoms, including nausea, headache, watery eyes, or a sore throat.
Of the 25 reports that included retailer information, 13 involved products purchased at major retailers including Walmart, Five Below, WinCo Foods, and Dollar General. In one report, a parent said that minutes after her child put a squishy toy on her face, the child broke out in a rash and her whole face looked swollen. Other reports describe odors compared to gasoline or nail polish remover that consumers said left them nauseated or short of breath.
Gabe Knight, Senior Safety Policy Analyst at Consumer Reports, said: “We appreciate that the CPSC is warning families about the dangers of microwaving squishy toys and the risks posed by counterfeit products, and these are important messages for parents to hear.
“But the safety risks may not be limited to fake or off-brand products. Consumers have reported chemical burns, skin irritation, and strong chemical odors linked to popular, name-brand squishy toys or ones bought at major retailers—even when the toys were used as intended.
“Parents shouldn’t have to figure out on their own which of these toys are dangerous. We’re urging the CPSC to investigate the entire category of sensory gel toys and take whatever further action is warranted to keep children safe.”
Consumer Reports offered the following tips to help families reduce the risk of injury from sensory gel toys:
- Don’t give sensory gel toys to babies or to children of any age who might bite them or put them in their mouths, since any toy like this can break open.
- Know the seller. Buy from reputable sellers with clear contact information and correctly spelled marketing language, and be wary of prices far below comparable products.
- Check often for damage like holes or tears, and throw the toy away if anything appears to be leaking.
- Never microwave or freeze these toys. Extreme temperature changes can cause them to break open, and heating in particular has caused severe burns.
- Don’t leave gel toys in the car, near a heater, or in direct sunlight, which can cause them to heat up unexpectedly.
- Use caution during cleanup. If a toy bursts, avoid skin contact with the inner material; if it gets on skin, clean it off gently with water and a mild cleanser, or a product like Vaseline or mineral oil if it’s sticky
