Doctors issue warning over massively popular toy thats hospitalizing children with excruciating injuries

Around the world, brightly-colored squishy toys marketed as harmless “sensory” gadgets designed to be squeezed, stretched and smushed have surged in popularity.But behind the viral appeal of NeeDoh toys, doctors say a dangerous pattern is emerging — one that is sending children and teens to the hospital with severe burns amid “blood-curdling screams” of pain, requiring everything from skin grafts to medically-induced comas for treatment.And all it takes for disaster to occur is for the toys to be heated, frozen or microwaved, whether as part of a viral social media challenge or totally by accident.NeeDoh toys are typically filled with a gooey material that can transform into a thick, glue-like substance when exposed to heat.A popular model, the Nice Cube, contains a natural sugar-based filling that expands rapidly when heated, increasing internal pressure and, in some cases, causing the toy to burst.Despite clear manufacturer warnings that read “Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave, may cause personal injury,” doctors say children are being exposed to increasingly dangerous online trends encouraging exactly that.The issue is not just the toy, but the social media environment pushing children to experiment with it, according to Dr.

Alicia Webb, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s of Alabama.“Parents need to be aware of this trend and all dangerous social media challenges because they can pose a serious risk to children, and the children participating are not yet mature enough to recognize the danger for themselves,” she told the Post.Burns are already one of the most common injuries in children, but these NeeDoh cases are proving especially severe because of the way the heated material behaves.“The hot NeeDoh toys can easily explode, causing burns to the face, eyes, mouth, body, and can even cause internal damage if the hot substance is swallowed,” explained Webb.Dr.

Michael Cooper, director of Burn at Northwell’s State...